Ottawa could spend more than a billion on the border with the United States

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government plans to devote a significant amount to protecting the Canada-US border in an attempt to calm Donald Trump’s concerns and avoid being subject to his 25% tariffs.

According to several sources who spoke to -, the total sum could exceed a billion dollars, information first reported by the Hill Times.

However, the final plan has not yet been finalized and different scenarios will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers.

Many ministries will work together on this. We will consider all options on the tabledeclared this morning the President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand, during a press briefing in the suburbs of Ottawa.

In recent days, the Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, expressed his intention to increase the number of agents at the border and to purchase additional equipment, such as drones and helicopters, to increase patrol operations.

- also revealed last week that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was preparing to purchase 17 new drones with purchase options for at least 14 others.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, the intention is to announce the border plan by Christmas, a few weeks before the inauguration of the new American president on January 20.

In an interview broadcast on NBC on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his threat to impose 25% tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico.

I am a big supporter of tariffs. I think the word “rate” is the most beautiful wordhe declared on the show Meet the Press. Donald Trump added that tariff barriers would make the United States riches.

The president-elect criticizes porous borders and says tariffs will remain in place as long as drugs, particularly fentanyl, and immigrants he calls of illegals will continue to flow into the United States.

Two changes in immigration

According to a well-informed source, the Trudeau government also wants to take advantage of this investment at the border to make changes to its immigration policies.

The strategy is twofold: reduce irritants for American customs officials and guard against a possible increase in migrant crossings from the United States, if Donald Trump moves forward with his program of mass expulsions.

According to our information, Ottawa is considering plugging a breach resulting from the agreement on safe third countries.

Currently, people who cross irregularly from the United States to Canada and manage to spend 14 days in the country without being detected gain the right to apply for asylum.

However, the Trudeau government wants to give itself the means to return these people to their country of origin, without allowing them to request asylum.

These migrants would still have recourse to avoid expulsion: submit a request risk assessment before removalif they consider themselves to be at risk of torture or cruel treatment, for example, in their country of origin.

The Bloc Québécois has already called for this loophole to be closed.

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Furthermore, Ottawa will try to stem the tactic of tower of the pole – a method for holders of temporary visas (study or work) who wish to renew them quickly and easily.

The practice consists of leaving Canada through a land crossing point, without entering the United States, and requesting visa renewal from Canadian customs officers upon return. For permit holders, the tactic avoids the lengthy process of applying online or by form.

However, the tower of the pole irritates American customs officers who have to manage increased traffic.

Thus, to reduce pressure on American agents, the Trudeau government wants to create service points near major centers in Canada so that visa holders can apply for renewal in person, without leaving the country.

It is impossible to know, at this time, which proposals require legislative changes. It is also unclear whether this border plan will be the subject of an individual bill or whether it will be included in the fall economic statement which is due to be presented shortly.