(Ottawa) Border issues between Canada and the United States were central to the first “fruitful” meeting of the committee of the council of federal ministers on relations with the Americans.
Published at 12:50 p.m.
Updated at 3:44 p.m.
Emilie Bergeron
The Canadian Press
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who chairs the working group, insisted Friday on this priority and on Canadians’ concerns about the Canada-US border.
“Controlling our border, knowing that we are truly a sovereign country that controls our border, is fundamental for the security of Canadians everywhere in the country,” declared, at the end of the meeting, the one who led the negotiations with the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, during his first term.
The Republican candidate who emerged victorious in Tuesday’s US elections campaigned on promising the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants.
This comes in the context where Canada has just announced a significant drop in immigration levels, both for newcomers coming on a temporary basis and for those wanting to obtain permanent residence.
We know very well that Canadians have confidence in our immigration system, but it is up to us to work to maintain this confidence. This is why we reduced the immigration thresholds by 20% and this is why it is a priority.
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mme Freeland maintained that it is far from a coincidence that the vice-president of the committee she chairs is the Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc. She also noted that Immigration Minister Marc Miller is part of the group.
“We have a plan and we are working to develop it further,” added Mr.me Freeland, specifying that she was not ready to reveal details.
A little earlier, Mme Joly had also mentioned such a “plan” without drawing up its outlines.
Mr. Miller did not appear before journalists on Friday.
Anyway, Mr.me Freeland noted that economic issues are also a priority for the ministerial committee, while Mr. Trump has promised to impose widespread tariffs on American imports.
The Deputy Prime Minister did not fail to recall the episode of customs tariffs on steel and aluminum, during Mr. Trump’s previous presidency, during which Canada responded “dollar for dollar” with retaliatory measures.
The one who is also Minister of Finance noted that she met leaders of the steel industry on Thursday during a visit to the Toronto region.
The group of federal ministers dedicated to Canada-US relations was resurrected earlier this week with a new composition. Such a committee had not met since Donald Trump left office in early 2021.
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