Canada Fentanyl Czar: Canada appoints Kevin Brosseau as fentanyl czar amid US tariff threats

Canada has named a former senior intelligence official as its first fentanyl czar, in a move aimed at curbing the flow of the synthetic opioid and easing tensions with the United States.
Kevin Brosseau, a former deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and most recently the deputy national security and intelligence adviser to the prime minister, will take on the role. His appointment follows pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs on all Canadian imports unless stronger measures are taken to stop fentanyl from reaching the United States.
“Fentanyl is a lethal drug that must be eradicated from our communities,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. “The 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.”
Trump recently warned of high tariffs over drug smuggling and migration. After two calls with Trudeau last week, he agreed to delay them for a month while assessing Canada’s actions. A key condition was appointing a fentanyl czar.
Public safety minister David McGuinty described Brosseau’s role as essential for enhancing coordination between agencies and ensuring close collaboration with US counterparts to dismantle the illegal drug trade.
While the US government has identified Canada and Mexico as transit points for fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, official data shows that a very small portion originates from Canada. U.S. customs officials seized just 43 pounds (19.5 kilograms) of fentanyl at the Canadian border in the last fiscal year, compared to 21,100 pounds (9,570 kilograms) at the southern border.
White House officials argue that fentanyl is often smuggled in small, hard-to-detect packages. In response, Canada’s government has pledged to strengthen enforcement measures and improve intelligence-sharing with US authorities.
The appointment of Brosseau marks an effort by Canada to address US concerns while maintaining stable trade relations, as officials work to prevent another tariff standoff between the two countries.