Threat of tariffs | LeBlanc unveils his plan for the border

(Ottawa) Helicopters, drones and the creation of a new North American service to fight organized crime. The Minister of Public Safety, and new Minister of Finance, Dominic LeBlanc presented his $1.3 billion plan on Tuesday to ensure security at the Canada-US border.

The plan is structured around five priorities: countering fentanyl trafficking, giving new tools to law enforcement, improving coordination with the provinces and with the United States, increasing information sharing and reducing the volume irregular entries at the border.

This response to criticism of Donald Trump was expected by the provinces who had had a glimpse of it last week. The president-elect of the United States has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He criticized the two countries for not doing enough to limit fentanyl trafficking and the arrival of illegal immigrants on American soil.

Prime Minister François Legault demanded last week that the Trudeau government present a detailed plan to strengthen border security in order to avoid these customs duties.

“It is essential that the federal government’s border plan demonstrates strong and visible action to show that Canada is serious,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated Monday following a meeting between his counterparts from other provinces and territories on Monday.

The threat of tariffs was the first item on the agenda of this emergency meeting of the Council of the Federation, of which Mr. Ford is president this year.