Ottawa’s inaction as Canada becomes a fentanyl source state. Garry Clement, a former senior RCMP officer, breaks down Canada’s security crisis.

By Garry Clement | The Bureau

As CCP-backed networks and Mexican cartels exploit Canadian labs and border weaknesses, Ottawa stalls, the RCMP falters, and the consequences escalate on both sides of the 49th parallel.

In Brief

Canada faces a dual security crisis, marked by porous borders and a faltering national police force, that threatens both domestic stability and international relations, claims former senior RCMP officer Garry Clement, and a regular contributor to The Bureau news channel.

Clement continues:

Escalating border threats have transformed Canada into a major fentanyl exporter, fueled by access to the precursors that enable domestic production. Recent data underscores this surge: the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported a 775% spike in fentanyl seizures (4.9 kg) in 2023–2024, alongside over 35,000 seizures of drugs and precursor chemicals. Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded a 2,000% rise in fentanyl seizures along the northern border, from 2 pounds in 2023 to 43 pounds in 2024. Compounding this, cartels such as Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation exploit Canada as a transit hub, driving a 200% increase in human smuggling.

The RCMP’s institutional decline deepens the crisis. Chronic leadership failures—evident in the botched response to the Portapique mass shooting and a toxic internal culture—have eroded public trust. Politicized intelligence practices and the misuse of surveillance tools, such as ODITS targeting dissenters, further undermine credibility. Judicial bottlenecks delay prosecutions and hamper efforts to dismantle organized crime networks.

Political inaction exacerbates the turmoil. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposals—including adding 1,000 RCMP officers and tightening bail laws—gloss over systemic flaws. U.S. frustration mounts, with retaliatory tariffs and intelligence alerts highlighting Ottawa’s failure to counter CCP-linked crime syndicates and cartels.

Urgent reforms are imperative and the time for Carney’s government to lead is now, writes Clement. His recommendations include investing in advanced border surveillance and deepening collaboration with U.S. agencies for joint operations. To end cronyism, enforce accountability, and establish independent oversight, the RCMP requires an overhaul. Addressing judicial delays and prioritizing hybrid threats—from cyberattacks to election interference—is equally critical.

Read the original text at the publisher’s website here.