Residents along the St. Lawrence river are accustomed to listening to the shudder of the ship’s horns, but in recent weeks they have noticed a new noise: the strong blow of the helicopter blades when the black hawks are pounced on Your homes.
“It’s a Ferno sound,” said Patricia Baker who lives with her husband Ralph in Iroquois, Ontario. “It’s quite noisy.”
The rhythm of the Choppers droning is not the only evidence of the improved security of Canada along the American border.
During the daily lunch trips to the public docks in the nearby Morrisburg, the bakers have also seen RCMP cruises patrolling the area.
“I think it is a good thing, especially with today’s political climate,” said Patricia, referring to the tariff threats of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who has cited border security as a main concern.
Bakers live so close to the border that they only need cross -linked to see the houses of their American neighbors through the frozen river.
The couple said they don’t mind having more police officers, or even the rumble of helicopters, but they are skeptical that it will make a big difference.
“I think we can do something to improve things, well,” said Patricia. “But I am not sure that much would be on the other side at this time.”
RCMP adds almost 200 officers on the border
The Black Hawks are part of a Federal Security Plan of $ 1.3 billion announced after Trump’s threats. The government is also adding drones and more first -line staff.
The RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the plan is to lease four helicopters next year, spreading them throughout the country.
“It’s having that ability to mobilize troops quickly to intercept anyone who is on the border,” he told CBC’s Tomorrow from Ottawa Thursday.
Duheme said RCMP has increased its presence on the border by 35 percent. He estimated that the increase works at approximately 200 more officers.
When asked about removing the personnel from his regular roles, the commissioner described the police as an “act of balance” between public safety and other priorities.
“In today’s world, priorities are changing rapidly,” said Duheme.
One of the officers who offered as volunteers for border duty is CPL. Daniel Cassidy.
Usually, he works in the Metropolitan Area of Toronto, but enrolled for a 60 -day rotation, an action that underlines the current importance given to security between Canada and the United States.
“We are with staff throughout the country, essentially, so it is difficult to find people,” said Cassidy, standing with his cruise in Gananoque, Ontario. “So [we] Simply trust people’s goodwill to come and do what we can to help where there is a crisis. “
The response of the residents in eastern Ontario has been positive, he added, but the increase in Mounties is also drawing many comments.
“Everyone who spoke says they are not accustomed to seeing RCMP walking on Ontario because we are rarely here,” Cassidy said.
The changes could stop illegal weapons, says the mayor
The mayor of South Dundas, Jason Broad, said he listens to community members every day about the impulse in the activity of application of the law.
“We see helicopters and police cars on our docks along our river,” he said. “Residents are happy that we are increasing our border control.”
Broad said he sees the change as offering benefits for Canadians.
“We are friends from the United States, but it is up to us to protect our border too,” he explained.
“We do not want illegal weapons to travel to Canada. Therefore, it is not just the export of fentanyl or immigrants to the United States. It is also about protecting us from them.”
The mayor said that an unexpected by -product of border fears is that he has approached his counterpart in Waddington, New York.
The two have opened lines of communication and started conversations about tourism and other possible associations.
Regardless of whether all increased security makes a difference, or actually applies to Trump, Broad said he thinks it is worth trying.
“We can’t leave anything at chance. Anything we can do can help,” he said. “We are together. The American public is our friends.”
