OTTAWA — Provinces that are sending conservation officers and other local authorities to patrol the Canada-U.S. border are setting up what the president of the union representing border officers calls “history’s most expensive taxi service,” given that anyone caught crossing illegally must ultimately be delivered to border agents.

Mark Weber, national president of the customs and immigration union, questions what role these officers are playing, outside of being sent to try and soothe the border security concerns being expressed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has demanded Canada take additional steps to prevent the flow of migrants and fentanyl from making its way south of the border, under threat of hitting the country with 25 per cent tariffs.