Canada Unveils $1.3B Border Plan With Aerial Surveillance Amid Trump’s 25% Tariff Threat

Dec 17, 2024, 09:56 PM

The Canadian government has announced a $1.3 billion (CAD) border security plan aimed at addressing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s concerns about illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking across the northern border. The measures include the deployment of an 'aerial intelligence task force,' which will utilize helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers to enhance monitoring with round-the-clock surveillance. The plan also involves the creation of a joint strike force with the U.S. to combat transnational organized crime, including fentanyl trafficking. Additional measures include increased funding for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), enhanced drug detection capabilities using sniffer dogs and imaging tools, and bolstered efforts to combat money laundering. The announcement follows Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods unless border security is improved. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who also temporarily holds the finance portfolio following Chrystia Freeland's resignation, emphasized that the plan aligns with Canada's commitment to secure its borders while addressing U.S. concerns.