Threats from Trump: already 60 drones and helicopters deployed at the border

Five days before Donald Trump takes office in the White House, the federal government has taken the bull by the horns: around sixty drones and several helicopters are already deployed at the border.

• Also read: François Legault writes to the Americans: “A customs tariff on Canada would be self-inflicted damage to America”

• Also read: Provincial premiers meet in Ottawa to prepare response to Trump

New Public Safety Minister David McGuinty confirmed that all 60 drones are already flying over hotspots across the long border and that a number of “surveillance towers” ​​with motion detectors will soon be erected.

“Since this week, we have been deploying new helicopters to the Canada-US border. These will further strengthen our border surveillance and our intelligence operations with our American partners,” added the minister during a press conference in Ottawa, on the sidelines of a summit bringing together the premiers of the provinces and the Trudeau government. .

At his side, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin confirmed that six helicopters are already permanently patrolling the border, and that two other helicopters rented from an Ottawa company will be added and will enter service this Friday.

Canada will soon open its first Canadian “pre-clearance” center in the United States, more specifically, at the Cannon Corners Port of Entry, New York, a few kilometers from Roxham Road.

Other technologies will be deployed, including X-ray instruments, and border agents will be trained accordingly.

This array of new technologies is part of the $1.3 billion plan that the Trudeau government is deploying to try to reassure President-elect Donald Trump, who has made border security with Canada a condition for the non-imposition of tariffs. 25% on Canadian products.

Will Ottawa’s announcements satisfy him?

“We must make no mistake: this is not something that is going to be the solution to everything,” declared Immigration Minister Marc Miller, present at the press conference.

These measures were taken “in our national interest”.