Days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the federal government announced it would deploy a large number of drones and two Black Hawk helicopters to the common border and begin increased patrols. At the same time, he added that he hoped that the situation would be sufficiently contained within 11 hours. The next government.
“We remain hopeful and continue to hope that the new administration understands how serious this northern border issue is,” new Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said Wednesday. He said this at a press conference.
In its fall economic announcement in December, Ottawa introduced $1.3 billion in spending aimed at stemming the flow of fentanyl and increasing 24/7 surveillance of the Canada-U.S. border.
The move to strengthen border security follows President Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods, saying it is necessary to address concerns about border security, immigration and illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl.
McGuinty, accompanied by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) chief and senior RCMP officials, said Wednesday that the government has already deployed 60 new drones and installed surveillance towers along the 8,891-kilometre border.
Deputy Commissioner Brian Larkin said the RCMP has leased two Black Hawk helicopters, which will be used starting Friday for increased surveillance.
Mr McGuinty said the government was also introducing new technology, such as X-rays and handheld chemical analyzers, to curb drug smuggling. He added that the amount of fentanyl the United States has seized at the northern border is only a fraction of what is being observed at the southern border.
“We have an obligation to relentlessly pursue our relationship with the United States and sometimes expose inaccurate information.”
Canadian officials fear Trump is ready.
The press conference and shopping items come amid growing concerns that President Trump’s tariff threats will become a reality for Canada.
President Trump in November threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all goods entering the United States from Canada and Mexico starting January 20, his inauguration day, unless countries curb the flow of drugs and immigrants across their borders. .
Just after Christmas, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominique LeBlanc flew to Florida to brief the presidential transition team on the government’s plans to improve border security and impose high tariffs on all Canadian exports to the United States. President Trump’s threat to do so will damage both countries’ economies.
But officials close to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are growing concerned. The next president of the United States has made up his mindand he will make good on that threat.
The border issue will be raised later Wednesday when the prime ministers gather in Ottawa for talks with Trudeau.
“We’re not interested in drama,” McGuinty said Wednesday. “We are interested in making progress and showing the newly elected U.S. government that we are serious about border relations.”
Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign last week, Parliament has been adjourned and business in the House of Commons will be suspended until a successor is chosen.
Mr McGuinty said he was confident the government had existing resources to implement the border plan.
