Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it鈥檚 early days on figuring out how the province will patrol its border with Montana but says there are options, and pointed to existing specialized sheriff units as a model.

Smith鈥檚 pledge came after an emergency meeting this week to strategize with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers over threats from incoming U.S. president Donald Trump.

Trump has said he will slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports on his first day in office in January until the flow of illegal migrants and drugs is stemmed.

Smith is urging the federal government to come up with a better border security plan, but said Thursday she鈥檚 prepared to pony up provincial resources.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 unusual to have the Alberta government take an interest, through our various law enforcement mechanisms, to make sure that we鈥檙e addressing the illegal flows, whether it鈥檚 people or drugs across the border,鈥� she said.

The premier suggested Alberta鈥檚 special border patrol could operate much like an existing, specialized fugitive apprehension team of sheriffs, who support police services across the province.

Smith said the province is responsible for policing land near the border, and it鈥檚 incumbent on them to work with their federal counterparts, Canadian border security and Montana officials.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a joint effort that we need to have. We do joint operations all the time,鈥� she said.

When asked how the provincial effort will work, given that international borders fall under federal jurisdiction, Smith said that federal jurisdiction over the border is actually 鈥渘arrow.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of land mass right after you cross the border that we鈥檙e responsible for,鈥� she said.

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Thursday that Smith hasn鈥檛 thought through her border patrol plan, and is undermining Canadian negotiations with the U.S. by conceding that Trump鈥檚 demands are valid.

Nenshi said everyone benefits from a strong, secure border, but 鈥渋f your problem is illegal stuff coming in, then you have to fortify your side of the border.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 not sure if Premier Smith is now suggesting that Alberta sheriffs, an Alberta border patrol will now search every single person going down to the Walmart in Billings, Montana,鈥� he said.

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis reiterated the United Conservatives鈥� position that Americans are right to be concerned about drugs entering their country from Canada.

Ellis said he鈥檚 reaching out to the attorney general of Montana to talk about working together on border measures.

鈥淲e鈥檙e formulating a plan right now,鈥� he said.

Earlier this week, Ellis said the province has been talking for more than a year about placing more sheriffs along the border with the U.S.

The minister also said the government has been considering sending additional sheriffs to the provincial boundary along the Rocky Mountains in an effort to stem potential drug trafficking from B.C.

His office did not provide details about how much money the province is willing to put into the promised new border patrols.

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press