The Canadian government on Tuesday announced a new plan to strengthen border security and the immigration system. Such a plan comes in response to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports unless Canada stops the flow of illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling into the US.
As part of a new C$1.3 billion (US$908 million) plan to address US President-elect Donald Trump’s concerns about migrants and fentanyl coming across the northern border, Canada is deploying what it calls an “aerial reconnaissance task force.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will operate the task force, which consists of helicopters, drones and mobile observation towers. It’s one of many measures unveiled by the Canadian government on Tuesday in an attempt to stave off Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods from the country unless it strengthens border security.
The announcement came a day after the country’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly resigned, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of failing to seriously prepare for a Trump presidency. She was replaced by Dominic LeBlanc, the minister of public safety, who unveiled a border management plan on Tuesday.
The funding was first announced in the government’s budget update on Monday. Trudeau has promised to strengthen measures at the border after Trump threatened Mexico and Canada with tariffs if they don’t – though problems at the northern crossing pale in comparison to those at the southern crossing.
The plan would also expand the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment’s cybersecurity agency. The Government plans to increase fines and criminal penalties for money-laundering and to establish a task force on the issue involving law enforcement and the financial sector.
In addition, the government intends to increase information sharing between Canadian and US officials, as well as between the federal government and the provinces. The Trudeau government said it will propose that the US create a new “North American Joint Strike Force” to combat transnational organised crime.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhem explained that the “strike team” would work with the US to train officers and law enforcement partners who specialise in fentanyl. They will work both domestically and in source countries of the deadly drug to disrupt its illegal trade, he said.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced changes to end a practice known as “flagging,” where a temporary resident leaves Canada and immediately returns to the point of entry to receive immigration services. He also said the government plans to expand its ability to cancel, amend or suspend immigration documents and stop accepting new applications.
In addition, the government will use artificial intelligence and visualisation tools and train new canine teams to help detect illegal drugs before they enter Canada. In addition, the government plans to create a new unit within the country’s health department to crack down on the importation of precursor chemicals, and will speed up the process of banning these materials to six months from three years.
