Official joint announcements from the Canadian and U.S. governments

Canada Launches $1.3B Border Plan with Aerial Task Force, Joint Strike Force to Counter Trump's Tariff Threat on Fentanyl

Dec 17, 2024, 10:47 PM

The Canadian government has announced a comprehensive $1.3 billion plan to enhance border security in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods. The plan includes the establishment of an aerial intelligence task force by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), utilizing helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers for 24/7 monitoring. Additional measures involve deploying new scanners and sniffer dog teams to combat the flow of fentanyl, cracking down on money laundering, and proposing a joint strike force with the U.S. to address transnational organized crime. The initiative also includes the creation of a Canadian Drug Profiling Centre and a Precursor Risk Management Unit, alongside new port inspection facilities and immigration restrictions. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized that these steps aim to secure the border against illegal drugs and irregular migration while maintaining the free flow of legitimate trade.