Doug Ford plans increased border measures, aligning with US concerns on security and trade priorities
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to strengthen the province’s border with the US, emphasizing a commitment to addressing security concerns raised by US President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking to BNN Bloomberg, Ford explained that the move aims to stem the flow of drugs, illegal immigrants, and guns between the two countries, aligning with issues Trump highlighted during his campaign.
“Even well before Trump was elected, all the premiers, myself included, for years have been saying we have to tighten up the border, so that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Ford stated.
The province plans to deploy 200 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers to work collaboratively with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the US Border Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Ford said this enhanced presence underscores Ontario’s proactive role in securing the Canada-US border.
While Ontario is acting at the provincial level, Ford urged the federal government to take broader action.
He noted the federal Liberals’ recent $1.3bn pledge to improve border security but criticized the lack of a detailed implementation plan.
Ford also called for Canada to meet its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defence spending commitment of 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), a target Canada has yet to achieve since pledging it in 2014.
He stressed the importance of Canada fulfilling its international obligations, stating, “We can’t continuously just rely on the US to protect our country. We’re part of NATO, we have to fulfil the commitment of two per cent – minimum.”
Ford expressed optimism that Trump would support provincial efforts to enhance security, adding, “Trump should be happy that Canada’s provincial leaders are committed to improving safety and security on both sides of the Canada-US border.”
The premier also commented on the critical economic ties between Canada and the US.
He urged the federal government to align with potential US tariffs on China, highlighting the interconnected nature of the two countries’ supply chains.
Ford pointed to key Canadian exports, such as potash from Saskatchewan for US agriculture, uranium from Saskatchewan processed in Ontario for US military needs, and aluminum from Quebec for American manufacturing.
He noted, “We have the finest nickel in the entire world…47 percent goes down to the US.”
As Trump’s tariff threats loom, Ford stated that while he hopes to avoid retaliatory tariffs on US goods, his government is prepared to consider them if necessary.
“I want to ship them more critical minerals, more energy, more of everything, but that’s a tool in our toolbox, and we’ll see what the US does,” he said.
Ford remarked that while Trump has maintained a firm stance on tariffs, many US business leaders and officials appear less enthusiastic.
“I just haven’t heard it from CEOs,” he explained. “Some of the largest companies in the world that are based in the US are sending letters to president-elect Trump saying this is not good for either economy.”
