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Securing the border with the United States will cost Canada $1.3 billion

Securing the border with the United States to meet President-elect Donald Trump’s demands will cost $1.3 billion over five years. This is what emerges from the announcement by the Trudeau government, which notably wants to thwart fentanyl trafficking, strengthen the surveillance tools of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and increase cooperation with American authorities and the provinces.

The amount was already included in the fall economic update presented yesterday in Ottawa by the Trudeau government.

The fight against drug trafficking and illegal immigration will involve the addition of reinforcements to inspection teams at ports, at borders, but also in the air, with the addition of drones and helicopters. These devices could be rented in order to obtain them more quickly. Their number was not specified.

Improved information sharing will allow authorities to identify, monitor and work with partners to intercept high-risk individualsmentions the press release.

New detection technologies will also be deployed and penalties against traffickers will be toughened. Fines against banks will also be increased for cases of non-compliance with the fight against money laundering.

Furthermore, border agents will soon be able to inspect goods intended for export at ports, as they already do for imports.

These investments, proposals and legislative measures will significantly increase our strength at the border.

A quote from Dominic LeBlanc, Federal Minister of Public Safety

you tower of the pole

In order to reduce the volume at the borders and thus facilitate the work of border agents, it will no longer be possible to do the tower of the pole to renew a temporary visa (study or work).

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

This practice uses significant resources at the border, diverts the attention of border agents from control activities and slows down cross-border trafficspecifies the press release.

On the other hand, Ottawa has not indicated anything regarding 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. The Trudeau government wants to give itself the means to send these people back to their country of origin, without allowing them to request asylum, but it is a discussion that must first be had with the United States indicated Federal Minister Marc Miller who was present during the announcement. Any other legislative avenue requires the consent of Parliament; but the latter has been in a blocked situation for several weeks, he said.

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Minister Marc Miller. (Archive photo)

Photo: The Canadian Press / PATRICK DOYLE

Volatile political context

This plan is presented in an extremely volatile political context. Three weeks ago, US President-elect Donald Trump indicated that tariffs of 25% would be in effect as soon as he took office, until Canada and Mexico acted to ensure that drugs, in especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop invading our country.

However, the provinces do not agree on the position to adopt. While Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut electricity exports to the United States, Alberta, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador say they are against the idea of ​​interrupting the energy supply of the United States.

Added to these tensions with the United States is the volatile climate in which the Trudeau government has evolved since the Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, slammed the door of the Trudeau cabinet on Monday, formulating harsh criticism. against the tactics of the Prime Minister’s Office.

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