An RCMP vehicle patrols the border between the U.S. and Canada near Champlain, N.Y., on Feb. 4.Brian Snyder/Reuters
The federal government has appointed former RCMP deputy commissioner Kevin Brosseau to be Canada’s fentanyl czar, as Ottawa seeks to demonstrate to the United States that it is working hard to disrupt illegal production and distribution of the deadly opioid.
While Mr. Brosseau has little national profile, he served as deputy national security and intelligence adviser to the Prime Minister until his appointment to the newly created position.
A fentanyl czar was one of several border-control measures Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised Donald Trump on Feb. 3 to avert across-the-board tariffs the U.S. President had threatened to impose on Canada this month. Those levies were delayed for 30 days until early March, “to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Mr. Trump said in a social-media post last week, though none of the measures promised by Ottawa were related to economic matters.
Mr. Trump, despite evidence to the contrary, has said illegal migration and the smuggling of fentanyl from Canada constitute part of “a grave threat” to the United States. Canadian officials have pointed to U.S. customs and border-patrol data showing that activity originating in Canada is only a tiny fraction of the same illicit traffic from Mexico into American territory – but to no avail.
Kevin Brosseau served as deputy national security and intelligence adviser to the Prime Minister until his appointment to the newly created position of fentanyl czar.PMO/Reuters
The Prime Minister in negotiations last week with Mr. Trump committed to creating the czar position, designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations and implementing an already-announced $1.3-billion in new border-security measures, including Black Hawk helicopters.
Mr. Brosseau’s appointment Tuesday came as Canada’s premiers descended on Washington to lobby U.S. officials against punishing new tariffs. On Monday, Mr. Trump announced 25-per-cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada, that will come into effect on March 12.
Ottawa has not yet unveiled counter-tariffs, but Mr. Trudeau, speaking to reporters during a visit to Paris, said Canada will retaliate if the United States proceeds with what he called “entirely unjustified” tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
In a statement on the new drug czar, which appeared to be directed at the U.S. government as much as Canada, Mr. Trudeau talked tough on fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is a lethal drug that must be eradicated from our communities,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the appointment of Mr. Brosseau will “accelerate Canada’s efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle the fentanyl trade, in partnership with the United States.”
The announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office echoed comments employed by the Trump administration to describe the death toll and destruction caused by the highly addictive opioid, saying it has “torn apart communities and families across Canada and the United States.” It added: “The scourge of fentanyl must be wiped from the face of the Earth, its production must be shut down, and its profiteers must be punished.”
Mr. Brosseau served in the RCMP for more than 20 years, including as deputy commissioner and commanding officer for Manitoba.
“Recently, as deputy national security and intelligence adviser to the Prime Minister, Mr. Brosseau navigated Canada’s most sensitive security challenges. His demonstrated expertise tackling drug trafficking, organized crime networks, and other national security threats will bring tremendous value to this position,” the PMO said.
Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, welcomed the appointment. While on a visit to Washington, he said American officials are closely tracking Canada’s action on fentanyl. “It’s important that the United States sees Canada keep its commitment in this regard, as it should, in others, like NATO,” he said, referring to defence spending targets set by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Jody Thomas, who has served as national security adviser to the prime minister as well as deputy minister of national defence and commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, has worked with Mr. Brosseau over the years. She called him the “perfect choice” for fentanyl czar and said it made sense to appoint someone who is still in government rather than bringing back someone who has already retired.
“He understands policing. He understands the provinces,” she said of Mr. Brosseau. “He understands the federal system. So, he can work with the deputy minister of public safety. He can work with the Minister of Public Safety,” Ms. Thomas said. She said Mr. Brosseau was well-respected in American law enforcement.
“I think that he is the right person to be able to bring provinces together, municipalities together, speak to the federal aspect of this and start to look at what we can do to stop this problem.”
Ottawa is heaping a lot of expectations on this job. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said Tuesday that as fentanyl czar Mr. Brosseau’s remit will be broad.
“Between cities and provinces, as well as our international borders, this person will need to work with all levels of government, with credibility as a team player. Working closely with our American counterparts to disrupt and dismantle this illegal drug trade crossing our border, the fentanyl czar will need expertise in drug trafficking, organized crime networks, and other national security threats.”
Mr. Trump’s tariff threats, however, appear to be based on faulty data. The White House justified the now-delayed across-the-board levies against Canada by noting 43 pounds of fentanyl had been seized at the northern border last fiscal year, representing a “massive 2,050-per-cent increase” compared with the fiscal year prior, when two pounds of fentanyl was intercepted.
As The Globe and Mail recently reported, however, court records and interviews indicate that about one-third of this 43-pound tally was seized in July in Spokane, Wash., – more than 150 kilometres from the border with Canada – as part of an investigation that led to charges against three Mexican nationals. That bust has no known connection to Canada.