Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the federal government will “absolutely” increase the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP’s “human resources” at the border.
His comments echoed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a flat 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico until neighboring countries eliminate the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants across their borders. It was received and served.
In an interview with CTV News Channel’s Power Play on Monday, LeBlanc told host Vassy Kapelos that the department has been working to strengthen border security for months, and the move will appease Trump. He claimed that it was not intended for.
When asked if the additional funding would include slowing the contraction of the CBSA budget, LeBlanc said “yes.”
“We are working with the finance minister (Chrystia Freeland) on that matter,” LeBlanc said, adding that the government “will have more to say in the coming weeks.”
Documents show CBSA funding shrank by 2.6% in the most recent budget cycle. on the federal government website.
LeBlanc insisted that front-line officers were not being reduced. “These are not people in uniform guarding the border,” he told Kapelos. “There can be administrative savings and different back-office functions.”
However, when asked, the minister said the CBSA’s budget would not be reduced in the future.
“We have clearly stated that we are prepared to increase both human resources and equipment for the RCMP and CBSA,” he said. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”
LeBlanc also pointed to a series of job cuts at the CBSA under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012, when 1,100 jobs were cut. The union representing CBSA workers told Kapelos last week that those cuts were never reversed and CBSA was still short about 2,000 workers.
“The union can have its own views,” LeBlanc said. “I spoke with the president of the CBSA and he told me about the resources that the CBSA needs and how the government has supported the work that the CBSA has been doing.”
LeBlanc’s comments about increased border security echo those of Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who also said in a CTV Question Period interview that Canada’s presence on the U.S. border is “very important.” “It will be noticeable,” he said.
“It’s important for Americans and Canadians alike to understand that our borders are safe and that our security posture at our borders is strong,” LeBlanc said.
He also said that work has been going on for “many months” and that it is “the responsibility of a responsible government” to show the American people what is being accomplished.
Border security was a major topic of discussion during a surprise meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, a senior government official said. Mr. LeBlanc was one of only three Canadian officials seated at the table with Mr. Trump and other American guests.
LeBlanc said his dinner with Trump was “very amicable” and gave Liberals a “better understanding of America’s concerns,” pointing to the border, drugs and illegal and undocumented immigration. .
Two government officials also told CTV News that while the Canadian delegation to Friday’s Trump meeting said immediate tariffs were unavoidable, long-term solutions were being considered, especially once border security was ensured. He said he was told that
“I think it’s too early to know whether the first day tariffs will be in effect,” LeBlanc said. “If you apply, for how long?” he said? There’s a lot to do between now and January 20th. ”
Asked whether he thought President Trump was using the threat of tariffs to achieve public safety goals rather than economic goals, LeBlanc said he did not intend to speak for the incoming administration.
With files from Stephanie Ha, CTV News Supervising Producer
