Trump declaring early victory as Canada adds $1.3 billion to border ...

United States president-elect Donald Trump is declaring early victory as Canada steps up border security.

A news release from his team, titled “President Trump is securing the border and he hasn’t even taken office yet,” said it didn’t take long for Canada to heed his warning that if the border is not secured, Canada would face a 25 per cent tariff on all products going into the United States. A similar ultimatum has been given to Mexico as well.

“Facing an uproar among his own citizens, embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just announced a billion-dollar plan for major border security improvements and increased border patrols in an effort to stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking and deadly drugs into the United States,” the Dec. 18 press release said.

The news release didn’t specify if the Canadian measures are enough to call off the tariffs.

For weeks Trump has publicly stated the tariffs would be slapped on Canadian and Mexican goods if the two countries didn’t stop the flow of undocumented migrants and illegal drugs into the United States.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote in a late-November post on Truth Social.

“On Jan. 20, as one of my many first executive orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the United States and its ridiculous open borders.” The post further added tariffs would remain in place until drugs, particularly fentanyl and undocumented migrants stop entering the U.S.

Enter Canada’s response, announced Dec. 17: an additional $1.3 billion to bolster security at the border and to strengthen the immigration system.

“Canada takes pride in our border and law enforcement agencies that protect our communities and support our economy day in and day out. They also expect their government to support them in their ability to do that important work — and that’s exactly what Canada’s border plan will do,” said Dominic LeBlanc, minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs, in a news release.

Canada's border plan

The border plan features five pillars: detecting and disrupting the fentanyl trade; introducing significant new tools for law enforcement; enhancing operational co-ordination; increasing information sharing; and minimizing unnecessary border volumes.

The plan includes $666.5 million for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), $355.4 million for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), $180 million over six years for the Communications Security Establishment, $77.7 million for Health Canada and $20 million over five years for Public Safety Canada.

Fentanyl detection

Measures to detect and disrupt the fentanyl trade include new and expanded detection capacity. This will better detect illegal drugs and other threats such as guns and gun parts at the border. A new drug profiling centre will support 2,000 investigations per year and expand capacity at regional labs. New chemical detection tools will be deployed at high-risk ports of entry and new canine teams will be added to intercept illegal drugs and more.

New law enforcement tools

A new RCMP aerial intelligence task force will use helicopters, drones and mobile surveillance towers, supported by artificial intelligence and counter-drone technology, to provide more comprehensive surveillance between points of entry, the Canadian government said.

Port owners and operators will also be required to provide facilities to the CBSA, free of charge, to conduct export inspections. They already do this for imports.

Other tools include expanded intelligence collection capacity to target transnational organized crime and fentanyl trafficking more effectively, plus other measures.

Operational co-ordination

The plan intends to increase information sharing between Canadian and U.S. officials and allow for enhanced intelligence sharing in real time. It will monitor illegal migration trends and hot spots, improve operational interoperability, include proactive resource planning and deployment and target and disrupt organized crime groups from crossing the border illegally.

There will be three regional hubs that will bring federal, provincial and local enforcement officers together to intercept organized crime and illegal drugs faster.

The Canadian government also proposes the U.S. creation of a new North American joint strike force to target transnational organized crime.

Increased information sharing

The government said enhanced information sharing will allow authorities to identify, monitor and collaborate with partners to intercept high-risk individuals at the border.

Minimizing unnecessary border volumes

The Canadian plan intends to end “flag poling,” which is when a temporary resident leaves Canada and immediately returns to get immigration services. The government said this takes up significant resources at the border, distracts border officials and slows cross-border traffic.

An amendment to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act would give authorities more power to cancel, change or suspend immigration documents and to cancel, suspend or stop accepting new applications. The government said this could help prevent individuals who may pose a risk to Canada from entering the country, as well as to prevent them from migrating south.

The safe third country agreement remains in place, in that people must claim asylum in the first country they enter, whether it’s Canada or the U.S.

Complete details of the border plan are available on the Canadian government’s website.