The Windsor region will be able to apply for additional tools and technology to strengthen border security.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner was in Windsor on Tuesday and announced that the province will be investing $32.5-million in new tools, technology and investigative resources that will help police detect, deter and disrupt the smuggling of illegal firearms, drugs and other contraband into Ontario.
This funding will be used across two new border security initiatives as part of Operation Deterrence 2.0. The first is $30-million Border Security Grant to help eligible municipal police services purchase specialized equipment, including drones, marine vessels, radar, thermal imaging cameras, and more.
The second initiative will see a $2.5-million Border Integrity Investigative Fund to support investigations into illegal firearms trafficking, drug smuggling, organized crime and other cross-border criminal activity.
These new security measures will also coincide with $57-million announced in the 2025 Ontario budget for two new H-135 helicopters to support Niagara Regional Police and Windsor Police.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says applications are now open, and Windsor Police can benefit greatly with the helicopter and these new resources.
“We want that helicopter on deployment, fabricated, manufactured as soon as possible and in the sky. We’ve got a great partner, by the way, with the OPP because they are our coordinating partner. With regards to the other assets, the chief will source them. I want him to get his application in.”
Windsor Police Chief Jason Crowley says currently Windsor Police has two marine vessels, but they are aging boats.
“One is a little bit more robust for winter-like weather, one is very more suited for the summer with a soft cabin and things like that. They’re well suited for the river. But right now we’re in Amherstburg and we have the only boat available to the area right now is an OPP boat that is suitable to go into waters such as Lake Erie.”
Crowley says drones as first responders would be a great asset for the service.
“With the changes in legislation, we’re able to send a drone, say, check out a scene of possibly an accident or even we saw someone maybe fishing over here, they look suspicious, are they crossing? We send a drone, we don’t have to use police resources immediately until we see through video back at the station to say, yep, that doesn’t look great, we’re going to send a car there.”
An updated timeline for when the region could see the new helicopter in the sky was not confirmed during the announcement; however, Solicitor General Kerzner stated that the orders for the helicopters were through Airbus Helicopters in Fort Erie, Ontario.
The helicopter for the Niagara Region is expected to be unveiled Wednesday, August 12.
The Border Security Grant is now available to eligible municipal and First Nations police services with direct international borders or strategic waterway access.