Ottawa promises $1.3 billion for border security as U.S. tariff threat looms

OTTAWA — The federal government is promising to spend $1.3 billion to beef up Canada’s border security over six years but has provided few details yet on how it will be spent.

The figure is one of the highlights of the government’s fall economic statement which was tabled in the House of Commons in Ottawa Monday afternoon.

Ottawa committed to inject $81 million into border security by the end of March, before more than tripling its spending by 2026-2027. By 2028-29, it anticipates spending an additional $282 million on the new border measures.

The urgency to shore up the border comes amid a threat from president-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports if Canada doesn’t address the perception that migrants and fentanyl are flooding into the United States from the North.

The funds will be shared by multiple departments including Public Safety, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Communications Security Establishment and the RCMP.

Following Trump’s tariff threat made in late November, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the government will introduce upgrades to border security before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

Leblanc has said there will more “boots on the ground” at the border, and is expected to supply the RCMP and CBSA with additional drones and helicopters.

The government also signalled a new intent to enact legislative change to help the CBSA combat vehicle theft in its fall economic statement.

The proposed changes would make it mandatory for warehouse operators and shippers to provide a space for CBSA to inspect goods destined for export. Some operators already do it voluntarily, helping the CBSA intercept more than 1,900 stolen vehicles already this year.

The government also elaborated on its recent announcement banning more than 300 more types of assault-style guns. It committed $597.9 million over three years for the RCMP and Public Safety to remove the now-banned guns and compensate those gun owners.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024.

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press