Conservative leadership candidate Maxime Bernier says he would dedicate more resources to address the flow of migrants crossing the U.S.-Canada border illegally. And if that doesn't work, he'd consider temporary measures including deploying the military to the border.

Bernier's comments came after one of his rivals for the leadership, Kevin O'Leary, said in an email he'd use the constitution's notwithstanding clause to prevent people from claiming refugee status in Canada after crossing into the country from the United States outside of regular border crossings.

Bernier said he'd also consider using the nothwithstanding clause, as well as providing "whatever additional resources are required" for the RCMP and CBSA to respond.

"If it takes too long to put that additional manpower in place, I will look at additional temporary measures — including deploying Canadian Forces in troubled border areas," Bernier said.

The notwithstanding clause allows the federal and provincial governments to enact legislation that overrides some sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and has only been used a handful of times.

Some commentators noted the clause does not apply to international agreements on refugees, nor to the Safe Third County agreement between Canada and the U.S.

The notwithstanding clause has nothing to do with what you're talking about. https://t.co/oEYRmVkXOz @EmmMacfarlane

The statements from Bernier and O'Leary came ahead of a Tuesday deadline for signing up new members to be eligible to vote in the Conservative leadership contest.

They followed comments made on the weekend by Steven Blaney, who sent out a strongly worded fundraising email denouncing alleged anti-Semitic remarks by some Muslim leaders.

And Pierre Lemieux reinforced his opposition to legalizing marijuana amid news that the Trudeau Liberals would introduce legislation this spring to legalize pot by July 2018.

The Conservatives choose a new permanent leader to replace interim leader Rona Ambrose on May 27.