Trump tariff effect: Canada to boost border spending to curb migration, smuggling

Canada has announced that it will allocate more funds to border security days after US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods unless it clamps down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border.

In an emergency meeting on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and provincial and territorial leaders said the government will boost spending on the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said after the meeting, “We believe that there is a circumstance where we can make additional investments to reassure Canadians that all of the measures necessary are in place and will continue to be in place.”

“We need to reassure Canadians and Americans that we are very much on top of this,” he added.

Trudeau govt pushed for better measures

Noting that things might get difficult for Canada once Trump formally takes charge in January, several premiers addressed their urgency saying that the government should start taking serious steps to respond to Washington’s economic and security concerns.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that during the meeting with Trudeau , he complained about Ottawa’s “slow reaction” and that the federal government  “is stuck on its backfoot.”

“I expressed my hope that this evening’s meeting is the start of a more pro-active approach from the federal government, including by showing that it takes the security of our border seriously by cracking down on illegal border crossings and stopping the transport of guns and illegal and illicit drugs like fentanyl, or risk the economic chaos of Trump tariffs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her province will “act urgently and decisively to patrol our own shared border with Montana, with more details to be announced soon in that regard.”

“We know that the problem is much more serious at the Mexican-U. S. border, however, that does not diminish the need for the federal government and every province bordering the United States to take immediate steps to crack down heavily on these illegal border activities,” she said.

Canada pumps money into ads

Canada is ready to do whatever it takes to maintain its relationship with the US amid Trump’s threats.

The Ontario government has unveiled plans to launch a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign in the United States, emphasizing the strong economic ties between the province and its southern neighbour. The campaign, set to begin on Monday, aims to highlight the potential for future collaboration and trade opportunities.

A senior Ontario government source told Global and Mail, that the advertisements were filmed before the US election to proactively address concerns over a potential increase in protectionist trade policies, regardless of the election’s outcome. This strategic move reflects the province’s commitment to preserving and strengthening cross-border economic relationships.