Prime Minister Trudeau names Canada’s new fentanyl czar

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named Canada’s new fentanyl czar.

Kevin Brosseau takes on the role, effective immediately.

“As fentanyl czar, Mr. Brosseau will work closely with U.S. counterparts and law enforcement agencies to accelerate Canada’s ongoing work to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the fentanyl trade,” the federal government said in a release Tuesday.

Brosseau served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for over 20 years, including as Deputy Commissioner and top cop in Manitoba. Most recently he was Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister.

“Mr. Brosseau navigated Canada’s most sensitive security challenges,” the release states. “His demonstrated expertise tackling drug trafficking, organized crime networks, and other national security threats will bring tremendous value to this position.”

The new position was created after intense pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all goods if Canada didn’t take stronger steps to address border security and stop the flow of illegal migrants and fentanyl over the border.

In response, Trudeau announced that he would be appointing a fentanyl czar, listing cartels as terrorists, and launching a new Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime.

That was enough for Trump to put a 30-day pause on the tariffs, although the U.S. President signed executive orders on Monday to slap 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States — including Canadian products, effective March 4.

“Fentanyl is a lethal drug that must be eradicated from our communities,” Trudeau said in a statement. “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 files from The Canadian Press