Federal government pitch border ‘strike force’ [Video]

The federal government will pitch a five-point plan on border security in hopes of appeasing U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat.

Finance, Public Safety, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc led a late Tuesday afternoon news conference in Ottawa to announce details of the plan, accompanied by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, International Trade Minister Mary Ng, and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks.

The plan’s five pillars include:

• detecting and disrupting the fentanyl trade
• introducing significant new law enforcement tools
• enhancing operational coordination
• increasing information sharing
• minimizing unnecessary border volumes

“It’s an important step to show Canadians and our American partners that we share their concern around border security and border integrity,” said LeBlanc.

Trump has suggested tariffs could begin as soon as he’s sworn in on Jan. 20, unless Canada (and Mexico) satisfy his concerns about drugs and migrants at the border.

Monday’s fall fiscal updatebudgeted $1.3-billion over six years for border security. Of that total, $42 million was earmarked for …