Earlier this month, in a striking display of national pride, fans of the Vancouver Canucks booed the U.S. national anthem as their team was set to face off against the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Moments later, “O, Canada” was met with hearty applause from the hometown crowd. That scene has repeated itself at NHL and NBA games in Toronto, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Calgary.
The current climate poses challenges for our longstanding relationship as friends, neighbors and trading partners who have historically stood together in times of war, crisis and strife. Some pundits say that our cherished relationship is under strain. Yet, as law enforcement professionals, we recognize that our bond transcends politics and the vicissitudes of time. Our connection runs deeper and longer than the 5,000-mile border that unites us.
In both World Wars, thousands of U.S. citizens joined the Canadian military to fight for the Allied nations before the United States entered those conflicts. Our soldiers battled together fiercely against Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Twenty-thousand Canadian citizens stepped up to join the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. In the aftermath of 9-11, U.S. and Canadian forces again stood shoulder to shoulder in the mountains of Afghanistan, exemplifying their enduring alliance.
Fighting crime across borders
Cross-border crime poses a persistent threat to both nations, with the trafficking of drugs, humans and illegal firearms moving in both directions and leaving devastating consequences.
The opioid crisis, for instance, has claimed thousands of lives on both sides of the border. Illicit opioids entering the United States are primarily produced in clandestine Mexican laboratories operated by drug cartels, using precursor chemicals sourced mainly from China. These cartels smuggle the finished fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border. Although only about 0.2% of fentanyl is intercepted at Canadian ports, recent evidence indicates a rise in clandestine production within Canada. In these cases, precursor chemicals from China are processed in covert Canadian laboratories before the finished fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S.
Similarly, firearms manufactured in the U.S. are frequently trafficked into Canada, contributing to escalating gang violence in cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
As our military counterparts have done during times of war, our collective federal, state, provincial, local, municipal, Indigenous and tribal law enforcement agencies have bonded to tackle mutual challenges. We cooperate on both sides of the border to combat the fentanyl scourge that is tragically taking our sons and daughters. Our joint maritime patrols of shared waterways are a model of comity.
The Canada–U.S. Cross Border Crime Forum serves as a key platform for senior law enforcement and justice officials on both sides of the border to collaborate, exchange critical intelligence, identify emerging trends and address shared concerns. Author Paul Goldenberg, a U.S. citizen, has long worked closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies. These are among countless examples of a productive partnership.
Some stakeholders are reinforcing this relationship even further. For example, members of the RCMP recently met with members of the National Sheriffs’ Association to fortify cross-border law enforcement ties. Likewise, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the OPP have ramped up their levels of cooperation.
Collaboration between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement goes far beyond crime prevention; it is about protecting the lives of our citizens, ensuring long-term stability and upholding the democratic values we both cherish. Our shared border extends well beyond the point where Canada and the United States meet; it stretches into the Arctic, a region that has emerged as a geopolitical hotspot amid growing tensions with Russia and China. State, local, provincial, tribal, and Indigenous police, as well as the RCMP, serve as the first line of defense in protecting our Arctic borders.
Strengthening the bond for the future
Through our travels and experiences working with law enforcement agencies worldwide, we have learned that policing is more than just enforcing laws — it is fundamental to upholding democracy. In many countries, when law enforcement fails due to corruption, disorganization, or political interference, democracy falters, leading to instability, unrest and the erosion of public trust. This is why our agencies must remain above the fray and focused on their mission — protecting citizens and upholding the law.
To maintain the strength and effectiveness of our partnership, we must focus on the following critical pillars:
- Intelligence sharing: The rapid and accurate exchange of information on emerging threats, criminal networks and terrorism is vital. Initiatives like the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) should be further supported and expanded.
- Joint operations: From combating human trafficking to dismantling drug cartels, law enforcement agencies must continue working together on operations that cross national lines.
- Cross-border training: Joint training exercises enable agencies to understand each other’s tactics, protocols and legal frameworks, leading to more effective cooperation during crises.
- Personal relationships: Law enforcement is built on trust, and that trust is developed through personal connections. Continued meetings, partnerships, exchanges — and even informal conversations — between agencies will strengthen this bond, enhancing overall collaboration.
We must not allow this unique relationship — rooted in shared history, values and mutual trust — to falter. Together, we look forward to attending our next sporting event between Canadian and U.S. teams — where we will heartily cheer both national anthems.
