Federal government considering spending $1 billion on border security: sources

The Trudeau government is in talks to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into securing the Canada-U.S. border in order to address concerns raised by Donald Trump and prevent the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs, as per sources cited by Radio-Canada and CBC News.

Reports suggest that the proposed investment could exceed $1 billion, although the final plan is yet to be confirmed and will be presented to the federal cabinet in the near future. Treasury Board President Anita Anand highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance border security and mentioned that “hundreds of millions of dollars in government initiatives” are being directed towards this cause.

Recent announcements by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc indicate a plan to bolster border security by increasing the number of officers and acquiring additional equipment such as drones and helicopters for enhanced patrols. The RCMP is reportedly gearing up to purchase new drones to bolster surveillance capabilities at the border.

The government aims to unveil the new border security plan before Christmas, just weeks ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has reiterated his threat to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products unless measures are taken to address issues related to drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

In addition to fortifying border security, the Trudeau government is considering revising immigration policies to align with the proposed investment. One key aspect involves closing a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S., which currently allows individuals crossing illegally from the U.S. into Canada to claim asylum after 14 days in the country undetected. The government intends to empower itself to deport such individuals without granting them asylum, while allowing for a potential risk assessment to prevent deportation in cases of torture or cruel treatment in their home countries.

Furthermore, efforts will be made to crack down on the practice of ‘flagpoling,’ a method used by visa holders to renew their permits quickly by exiting and re-entering Canada through a land crossing without entering the U.S. The government plans to establish service points near major centers in Canada to facilitate in-person visa renewals and alleviate the burden on U.S. border officials.

The specifics of these proposed changes, including any necessary legislative amendments, remain unclear. It is yet to be determined whether the border plan will be introduced as a standalone bill or incorporated into the government’s upcoming fall economic statement.