Canada Allocates C$1.3 Billion ($908M) for Border Security, Proposes Joint Strike Force Amid Trump Tariff Threat

Dec 17, 2024, 09:25 PM

The Canadian government has announced a comprehensive C$1.3 billion ($908 million) plan to enhance border security, a move prompted by US President-elect Donald Trump's threat of imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian exports unless Canada addresses concerns about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs across the northern border. The plan, which was part of the fall economic statement, includes the establishment of an aerial intelligence task force by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), utilizing helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers for round-the-clock monitoring. Additional measures involve deploying new scanners and sniffer dog teams to detect and seize fentanyl, and increasing efforts to combat money laundering that finances cross-border crime. The initiative also proposes the creation of a 'joint strike force' with the US to patrol the border, aiming to strengthen security and monitoring efforts.