Poilievre calls for Canada to send troops to U.S. border

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for Canadian soldiers to be sent to the border, as the country faces the looming threat of a trade war with the United States. In a bold move, the United States is set to impose 25 percent tariffs against Canadian goods in just a few hours. U.S. President Donald Trump has cited illegal fentanyl coming from Canada into the U.S. as one of the reasons for engaging in this economically devastating trade standoff.

In a news conference and a social media post on Monday, Poilievre urged the federal government to deploy Canadian Forces troops, helicopters, and surveillance to the border immediately. This call to action comes after Mexico announced plans to deploy 10,000 national guard troops to the U.S. border, which resulted in a temporary reprieve from tariffs on Mexican goods.

The Canadian government has already committed $1.3 billion to enhance border security, including the installation of surveillance towers, drones, and leasing two Black Hawk helicopters to the RCMP. However, Trump’s insistence on imposing tariffs on Canadian goods has put more pressure on Canada to bolster its border defenses.

Despite efforts by senior government officials to pitch the border security plan to Republicans in the U.S., Trump remains unconvinced. The president has accused Canada of having a trade deficit and not doing enough to combat the flow of fentanyl and migrants across the border. However, U.S. data shows that only a small amount of fentanyl is seized at the northern border compared to the southern border.

Poilievre, who is leading in public opinion polls, emphasized the need to protect Canada’s borders without bowing to the demands of foreign leaders. He proposed hiring 2,000 more CBSA agents and extending the agency’s powers along the entire border to strengthen security measures.

In a bid to counter Trump’s tariffs, Poilievre called for Parliament to be recalled to pass a “Canada-first plan” to protect Canadian interests. However, with Parliament prorogued until March 24, the Liberal Party’s leadership race is currently underway, delaying any immediate action.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe suggested exploring the possibility of making the CBSA a branch of the Canadian Armed Forces to facilitate the deployment of military troops along the border. This move could address concerns raised by Trump and help Canada meet NATO’s military investment benchmark.

The availability of troops for border deployment remains a pressing issue, as internal Defence Department documents have highlighted shortages in personnel and aging equipment within the Canadian Armed Forces. Retired lieutenant-general Andrew Leslie emphasized the urgency of bolstering border security to meet international standards of readiness.

In response to Trump’s tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to retaliate with tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods. Trudeau and Trump were scheduled to have further discussions to address the escalating trade tensions between the two countries.

As the situation continues to unfold, the deployment of Canadian soldiers to the border could be a crucial step in safeguarding the country’s interests and maintaining strong bilateral relations with the United States.