TORONTO — Ontario will beef up safety alongside its border with the US as a part of its response to tariff threats from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, Premier Doug Ford stated Tuesday.
The transfer, dubbed Operation Deterrence, will see some 200 Ontario Provincial Cops centered on boosting border safety. The OPP has been growing patrols alongside the huge border utilizing airplanes, helicopters drones, boats and patrol autos.
“Ontario has been calling on the federal authorities to step up and tackle security and safety issues on the border,” Ford stated in an announcement.
“We have to see phrases changed into seen motion. Within the meantime, Ontario is stepping up with Operation Deterrence to crack down on unlawful border crossings and unlawful weapons and medicines.”
Ford stated a “extra co-ordinated, Group Canada strategy that features extra boots on the bottom” is the one option to tackle the issue.
Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian items on his first day in workplace on Jan. 20 until Canada tightens border safety, with an emphasis on fentanyl trafficking and unlawful crossings.
The province stated its operation, which it describes as a “preparedness and planning framework,” will goal actions outdoors of the 14 official border crossings staffed by federal border brokers.
“In partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Operation Deterrence exercise might be enhanced via the usage of the emergency response crew, front-line officers and extra specialty sources, together with canine items, industrial motorcar inspections and legal investigators,” it stated.
Ontario officers took half in a joint planning and readiness train with federal authorities on Friday to advertise co-ordination on the border, the province stated.
The federal authorities introduced a sequence of measures following Trump’s election victory within the fall to higher safe the border with a $1.3-billion package deal, in response to the menace. Trump has not stated if he’ll pause the tariffs.
Ontario has not obtained any new cash from the federal authorities on the brand new border measures.
Alberta introduced final month it might create a brand new sheriff unit to patrol the Canada-U.S. border. The unit might be supported by about 50 armed sheriffs, 10 chilly climate surveillance drones and 4 drug detection canine. It’s anticipated to be operational shortly, Premier Danielle Smith stated.
Manitoba has additionally introduced plans to beef up its border, with conservation officers serving to out with surveillance, Premier Wab Kinew stated final month.
The nation’s premiers plan to carry a name Wednesday to debate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and Parliament’s prorogation, the tariff menace and a premiers’ journey to Washington, D.C., in February, Ford’s workplace stated.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 7, 2025.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
