Latest news with #KevinBrosseau
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Fentanyl czar focused on combatting opioid trade, despite tariff distraction
Canada's fentanyl czar says he is 'singularly focused' on disrupting the flow of the synthetic opioid, regardless of U.S. efforts to weaponize trade policy over debunked claims that it is pouring south across the border. In a wide-ranging interview with The Globe and Mail, Kevin Brosseau said evidence shows that Canada is not the provenance of the illicit fentanyl being seized stateside – despite President Donald Trump using that as a basis to justify some of his tariffs. However, the rise of sophisticated, large-scale drug labs in Canada – including one dismantled last October in British Columbia that Mounties called the country's biggest and most sophisticated to date – shows that domestic production is happening. 'I don't want Canada to ultimately be a potential source,' Mr. Brosseau said Thursday. 'I don't want anybody to rest on their laurels. The efforts that we take, with respect to strong measures taken against organized crime, will benefit Canadians – and, at the same time, will be seen to be benefiting Americans.' White House using misleading fentanyl data to justify tariffs Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau appointed Mr. Brosseau in February, 10 days after Mr. Trump signed an executive order saying that the flow of illicit drugs from Canada constituted an 'unusual and extraordinary threat' that required expanded executive authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The White House repeatedly cited U.S. Customs and Border Protection data to assert that 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the northern border last year, and that this represented a 'massive 2050% increase' compared with the year prior. However, a Globe investigation and subsequent reporting found that just 0.74 pounds of fentanyl had originated in Canada. On April 2, a bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators voted in favour of ending what Senator Tim Kaine called a 'fake emergency,' and, on May 28, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that Mr. Trump does not have 'unbounded authority' to impose tariffs under the act. 'I try not to get mired in that mud, because I feel that would be a distraction to really trying to be clear with officers, police chiefs, prosecutors and others to say that, at the core, about 21 Canadians are dying per day of an opioid overdose,' Mr. Brosseau said. 'Surely that ought to incentivize us to do as much as we can.' Mr. Brosseau said his primary role is to integrate the various efforts under way to combat fentanyl. Mr. Trudeau in December announced a border plan that will inject $1.3-billion over six years to support the work of the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Canada's cyberspies and the federal Public Safety Department. How fentanyl transformed Victoria's Pandora Avenue from downtown hub to open-air drug market And on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government tabled a border-security bill that would give police authority to search mail and compel electronic service providers to hand over information to support criminal investigations, among other new powers. Mr. Brosseau described the bill as a concerted effort to respond to some long-standing concerns raised by police and a recognition that so much crime is being carried out in the digital space. The bill would also give the Minister of Health power to more quickly classify as controlled substances precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Jennifer Pelley, director of legislative and regulatory affairs for Health Canada, said the country already has 'very strict' controls and regulations in place for these chemicals. In February, a ministerial order was issued to control three additional fentanyl precursors, but this had to be done through an exemption. Ms. Pelley said the proposed legislative change would allow the minister to bar imported precursor chemicals used by organized crime and to allow companies to access them for legitimate needs. The chemicals are used in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, and companies must meet specific requirements to receive a licence. From increased police power to stricter immigration, here's what's in the new border bill Eight months after the bust of the so-called 'superlab' in Falkland, B.C., only one person has been charged. Critics have said that officers often work in siloes or even at cross purposes with investigators in other RCMP units or other police agencies, and better co-ordination is needed. Asked about this, Mr. Brosseau cited the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell launched in March as part of the border plan, saying it was the first time he had seen intelligence services sharing information on organized crime with law enforcement. Since his appointment, Mr. Brosseau says he has spoken with policy makers in both Canada and the U.S., law enforcement and experts from around the world. He has also met with front-line service providers, first responders, grieving family members and representatives from treatment and recovery centres. 'These problems aren't simply about enforcement,' he said. 'Arrests are obviously very important, and making sure police have the tools to be able to do so, but at the same time, this is so complex that that alone is not going to resolve it.' With a report from Kristy Kirkup
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Liberal border security bill poses serious risk to rights, liberties, coalition warns
Canada's fentanyl czar Kevin Brosseau, right, is seen with Denver, a Canada Border Services Agency narcotics detection dog, during a tour of the CBSA Lansdowne port of entry in Lansdowne, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — A national coalition of civil society groups says the Liberal government's new border security bill poses a serious risk to human rights and liberties. The Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is calling on the government to withdraw the bill and replace it with a more targeted response to specific border concerns. The coalition brings together dozens of non-governmental organizations, unions, professional associations, faith groups, environmental organizations, human rights and civil liberties advocates and groups representing immigrant and refugee communities. The Strong Borders Act, introduced this week, would give authorities new powers to search mail, make it easier for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications and expand the Canadian Coast Guard's role to include security activities. The government says the legislation aims to keep borders secure, fight transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and crack down on money laundering. The civil liberties monitoring group says the government is using the bill to seek powers on immigration and police access to personal information that are not related to securing the border. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Liberal border security bill poses serious risk to rights, liberties, coalition warns
Canada's fentanyl czar Kevin Brosseau, right, is seen with Denver, a Canada Border Services Agency narcotics detection dog, during a tour of the CBSA Lansdowne port of entry in Lansdowne, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — A national coalition of civil society groups says the Liberal government's new border security bill poses a serious risk to human rights and liberties. The Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is calling on the government to withdraw the bill and replace it with a more targeted response to specific border concerns. The coalition brings together dozens of non-governmental organizations, unions, professional associations, faith groups, environmental organizations, human rights and civil liberties advocates and groups representing immigrant and refugee communities. The Strong Borders Act, introduced this week, would give authorities new powers to search mail, make it easier for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications and expand the Canadian Coast Guard's role to include security activities. The government says the legislation aims to keep borders secure, fight transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and crack down on money laundering. The civil liberties monitoring group says the government is using the bill to seek powers on immigration and police access to personal information that are not related to securing the border. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Combatting fentanyl production and supporting law enforcement action
OTTAWA, ON, March 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada is taking significant action to stop the production and devastating impacts of illegal fentanyl and other illegal drugs on public health and public safety. Health Canada plays a critical role in supporting Canadian law and border enforcement in their activities to counter the global drug threat and is taking concrete action to keep communities safe on both sides of the border. Today, the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced new drug testing labs and a dedicated, full-time team focused on combatting illegal precursor chemicals and drug production. The Federal Government is actioning this by investing $30.7 million to launch a Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit (PCRMU) and $48 million to establish the Canadian Drug Analysis Centre (CDAC). The PCMRU will strengthen our ability to support law and border enforcement in stopping the production of illegal drugs and the importation of chemicals used to make them, including through 20 full-time employees. The CDAC will significantly expand our drug testing lab capacity and analysis capabilities including through new dedicated lab spaces in Toronto and Vancouver. As a result, the new lab could analyze up to 2000 illegal drug samples per year and trace the place and source of production of these samples. Such intelligence will be used by law enforcement and public safety partners to strategically target organized crime. These efforts will be supported by 26 additional full-time employees. We are working closely with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to enhance existing collaboration and information sharing between our governments. These actions will spearhead activities with allies, working collectively to protect communities from the scourge of illegal drugs, like fentanyl. Quotes 'Fentanyl is a threat to our communities and public safety. We need to do everything we can to strengthen law enforcement's capacity to combat the devastating impact of illegal drugs. The Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit and the Canadian Drug Analysis Centre are new tools as part of Canada's border plan to support law and border enforcement in detecting and disrupting the illegal fentanyl trade. This is an important step in addressing the overdose crisis and keeping communities safe.' The Honourable Ya'ara Saks Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health 'A stronger, tougher, and more comprehensive approach towards precursor chemicals plays a critical role in breaking the supply chains used by criminal networks on both sides of the border. The CDAC and PCRMU, combined with other significant measures that bolster law enforcement capabilities, will help us protect our communities, prevent overdoses, and save lives.' Kevin Brosseau Canada's Fentanyl Czar Quick Facts Health Canada plays a critical role in supporting Canadian law and border enforcement in their activities to disrupt the global drug threat and is taking concrete action to keep communities safe on both sides of the border. Canada and the US have one of the closest and most respected relationships in the world and we continue to work together to protect the security of our shared border while facilitating the secure transfer of services and goods. The PCRMU has already rapidly advanced a number of targeted regulatory actions. This includes a Notice of Intent to enhance oversight of precursor chemicals and drug equipment and increase regulatory flexibility and agility. As well as a Ministerial Order to rapidly schedule three new precursor chemicals (phenethyl bromide, propionic anhydride and benzyl chloride) and the drug, carisoprodol.
Bloomberg
19-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Canada Recruits Banks Into Fentanyl Fight as US Applies Pressure
The Canadian government has pulled the country's banks into the fight against fentanyl, recruiting them to join a money-laundering intelligence group that aims to cut off the funds that support trafficking of the deadly drug. Kevin Brosseau, the country's new fentanyl czar, met Wednesday with representatives from the largest domestic banks, the government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty told reporters.
