Multimillion-dollar contract for Black Hawk helicopters that patrol B.C. border up for renewal

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British Columbians who live near the border have taken note.

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On a recent spring day, the helicopter was seen near Vedder Mountain between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, flying over tractors plowing fields for corn seed and people mowing their lawns between breaks in rain showers.

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It also flew over White Rock beach, prompting a flurry of social media posts from people in South Surrey concerned about surveillance. That’s not uncommon when the helicopter makes an appearance, said Marissa Hadland, one of the administrators of a resident Facebook group.

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“We get posts sometimes a few times a week inquiring or complaining about those black helicopters, ever since last year,” she said. “Mostly about the noise over the beach from residents and visitors.”

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A Black Hawk helicopter flies near Vedder Mountain in Abbotsford. Photo by Glenda Luymes

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In South Langley a few blocks from the border, Jasmin Marten can hear the Black Hawk from inside her house.

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“When our kids are also outside playing, you can hear it and see it flying overhead, and it flies very low,” she said.

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While the Black Hawk seemed to go over almost every day at the start of the program, now it is more sporadic, flying over several days in a row and then disappearing for a week, she said. It often makes five or six passes on a single trip.

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“For the price, I honestly do not notice a difference from the last five years to what I see now,” she said.

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That is a common criticism of the program.

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In a recent article in the Toronto Star about the costly contracts for the Black Hawks, Wesley Wark, a national security and intelligence expert at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, questioned whether the helicopters were the most effective tool to protect the border, pointing out that drones could be cheaper and more stealthy.

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“I think they’re more symbolic than truly useful,” he said about the helicopters.

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The RCMP said the Black Hawk program has been effective.

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“Indicators show they are a strong deterrent to illegal activity, assist us in gathering critical intelligence, and improve our ability to respond quickly to incidents along the border, especially in isolated terrain like you would find in British Columbia,” said a statement.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it does not comment on specific operational tactics or equipment, but values its “ongoing collaboration with Canada.”

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“CBP works closely with Canadian law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, to secure our shared border and address cross-border threats. Our partnership is built on regular communication to address northern border challenges, information sharing, and co-ordinated enforcement efforts to prevent illegal activity, including the movement of illicit goods and unauthorized border crossings,” said a statement.

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With files from Nathan Griffiths

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