OTTAWA—The federal government will soon deploy two leased Blackhawk helicopters as part of its $1.3-billion border security plan that was made in the shadow of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump‘s threats to trigger a trade war with Canada.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Immigration Minister Marc Miller detailed part of that plan on Wednesday, ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s gathering to discuss Trump’s threatened tariffs with the premiers of the provinces and territories.
Alongside the two Blackhawks, which are being leased for $5.3 million, the government is also adding 60 new surveillance drones and is looking to acquire new “mobile surveillance towers” and other new technologies to beef up border security.
The plan was part of last fall’s fiscal update, and came after Trump first threatened to impose punishing 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian imports into the United States. In laying out that threat, Trump cited the flow of illegal migrants and drugs like fentanyl from Canada and Mexico into the U.S.
On Wednesday, both cabinet ministers repeatedly made the case that apprehensions of asylum-seekers and fentanyl at the northern U.S. border is a fraction of the levels at its frontier with Mexico. They also argued that Canada has been nonetheless taking steps to improve security at the border, and shared statistics like an 89-per-cent decrease in the number of apprehensions heading into the U.S. from June to December 2024.
Earlier this week, after being briefed on the plan, Premier Doug Ford called it “phenomenal.”
Asked about how the border plan has not caused Trump to withdraw his threat of tariffs — which he said he would impose on Monday, after he is sworn-in for a second time as U.S. president — Miller said there is no “magic potion” to solve all issues with the incoming American administration.
McGuinty added that Canadian leaders need to work together and avoid “intemperate” pronouncements that shouldn’t be taken seriously, and noted Trump’s repeated taunts that Canada is a “51st state.” Trump also said last week he would use “economic force” to annex Canada, and spoke of erasing the border.
“We’re not interested in drama, we’re interested in making progress,” McGuinty said.
“We are hopeful, and remain hopeful, that the new incoming administration will understand just how incredibly serious we are.”
Since Trump’s tariff threat, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has claimed the government has lost control of the U.S.-Canada border, and has demanded an immediate election so that his party can better deal with Trump.
At the same time, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has described Trump as a bully and insisted the government must retaliate against any tariffs the Americans impose.
The Liberal government has been working on a potential response to the threatened tariffs, as the Star has reported. It has also not ruled out more extreme measures, such as slapping an export tax on Canadian fossil fuels that get sent to the U.S. — exports that Statistics Canada has said were worth almost $120 billion in 2023.
Premiers, meanwhile, have put forward proposals as well. Ford has pitched co-operation with the U.S. on critical minerals and energy, after previously musing about cutting off electricity that is sent to the U.S. if Trump follows through with his tariffs.
Alberta premier Danielle Smith has pushed back against proposals to restrict energy exports, which are a boon to her province’s economy. In December, Smith’s United Conservative government announced a $29-million plan to increase security at its border with the U.S. state of Montana.
Smith refused to sign on to a joint statement that Trudeau and the premiers released on Wednesday, over the refusal of other leaders to take export tariffs on fossil fuels off the table of any Canadian response to Trump’s tariffs.
On Wednesday, the public safety and immigration ministers insisted Canada is also preparing in case Trump’s campaign pledge to start mass deportations of illegal immigrants from the U.S. prompts a surge of asylum-seekers trying to claim refuge in Canada.
Noting no spike has happened yet, Miller said the U.S. needs to make sure no such surge happens, and said migrants who enter into Canada without stopping at a border crossing are “not welcome.”
McGuinty added that he plans to invite Trump’s incoming “border czar” Tom Homan to go fishing, and wants to discuss the promised mass deportations when they first meet.
