(Quebec) François Legault says he is “very happy” with the Trudeau government’s strategy to secure the border and avoid the imposition of customs tariffs by Donald Trump. The day before, the Prime Minister affirmed the opposite.
Published at 10:50 a.m.
“I am happy this morning to see the reactions [des ministres] Dominique Leblanc and Chrystia Freeland who finally seem to understand the message that we need a plan to secure the borders against immigration and avoid the 25% tariff [douaniers] », Launched Mr. Legault on Thursday. He says he’s still waiting to see that plan.
“I hope that the federal government succeeds in avoiding the 25% and that we work together. But, I was very happy to hear Chrystia Freeland then Dominique Leblanc,” added the Prime Minister without taking questions from journalists.
After the virtual meeting between the prime ministers of the provinces and Justin Trudeau on Wednesday evening, François Legault deplored not having “had a clear response” from the Canadian Prime Minister on his request to submit a “detailed plan to better secure the borders” .
“I clearly asked Mr. Trudeau to table a detailed plan to better secure the borders, to avoid Mr. Trump’s 25% tariff. I didn’t have a clear answer, but we hope. Because there was support from other prime ministers as well,” he asserted.
Ottawa unveiled its strategy on Wednesday evening to increase security at the Canada-US border. The Trudeau government is promising new investments to ensure increased surveillance.
These investments will allow the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to hire new police officers, the Border Services Agency to recruit agents, and law enforcement to purchase drones and helicopters, indicated the Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc.
Mr. Trudeau had called an emergency meeting with the provincial premiers to discuss the president-elect’s protectionist threats. He took the opportunity to appeal for unity among Canadian leaders in the face of the new administration.
A call that made its way to Quebec. “I am happy that Mr. Leblanc responded positively to this request. What is clear is that we want to work in collaboration with Ottawa. We must do this together, secure the border, both from Quebec to the United States and from the United States to Quebec,” expressed the Minister responsible for Canadian Relations, Jean-François Roberge.
On Wednesday, Mr. Roberge called on the responsibility of the federal government to “secure the borders and ensure that there are no regular or irregular crossings, no illegal crossings.”
“It’s their responsibility, our border is very big. They must add all the necessary staff. It is an obligation to achieve results,” he argued.
