Tuesday February 11, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS (posted from VICTORIA, BC) | Posted at 2:50 pm PT | Last update 6:51 pm
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Effective immediately, Canada’s new — first ever — Fentanyl Czar will begin on the assignment to deal with the scourge of fentanyl in our communities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Kevin Brosseau as Canada’s new Fentanyl Czar, effective immediately.
The Fentanyl Czar’s role is to coordinate all aspects of drugs, border, crime and health impacts.
“Fentanyl is a lethal drug that must be eradicated from our communities,” says Prime Minister Trudeau in his news release today.
“As Fentanyl Czar, Mr Brosseau will work closely with US counterparts and law enforcement agencies to accelerate Canada’s ongoing work to detect, disrupt and dismantle the fentanyl trade,” said Trudeau in a statement from the prime minister’s office this afternoon.
“Today’s appointment of Kevin Brosseau as Fentanyl Czar will accelerate Canada’s efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the fentanyl trade, in partnership with the United States. With an over 20-year career in public safety and national security including tackling drug trafficking and organized crime, Mr. Brosseau will bring tremendous value to this position, and his work will help keep Canadians safe,” says Trudeau.
Political timing:
This new position was created following a two phone calls on February 3 between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump, as part of averting the application of US tariffs on Canadian product exports to the United States.
Trump has insisted that Canada needs to do more to prevent drug crime across the border between the US and Canada.
About Kevin Brosseau:
Kevin Brosseau has been Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans since November 2022. Before that he was Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Transport Canada (2019-2022).
Previous to those government positions, Brosseau was the Deputy Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2016 – 2019) and before that was a Commanding Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2012 – 2016).
This career profile covers both knowledge of how senior government works as well as operations of the police. One never knows where a career will take a turn.
Timing related to tariffs:
The timing is quick following the suspension of 25% tariffs that were to come into effect on February 4; that 25% tariff threat has been postponed for 30 days into early March.
But nothing seems fast enough for Trump. His modus operendi (MO) is to keep everyone on their toes as part of his attempt to achieve economic disruption and dominance.
Meanwhile, yesterday Trump suddenly announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum on all imports of those products from all countries, to be effective March 12, 2025 with no carve-outs or exceptions for any country. That will hit hard in towns and cities (primarily in Ontario but also in BC) where steel and aluminum products are manufactured. Jobs will likely be impacted.
Today February 11 and tomorrow February 12, Canada’s premiers are in Washington, DC en masse with a Team Canada approach to informing lawmakers, business leaders and labour leaders about the impact of tariffs on the economies of both the US and Canada.
Public safety minister McGuinty:
“Canada needs a fentanyl czar that will co-ordinate between agencies, move quickly to tackle challenges and bring over 20 years of RCMP experience to a crisis that is plaguing our communities,” said Public Safety Minister David McGuinty in a statement.
McGuinty remains responsible for both the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the minister of public safety.
McGuinty together with local Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew toured a border services drug detection lab last week.
===== RELATED:
- Fentanyl Czar, drug busts & 2024 BC drug deaths (February 9, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-USA | BUSINESS & ECONOMY | TARIFFS & TRADE