Ford pushes for 'more proactive' border action after Trudeau meets with premiers about Trump
CTV
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to 'take a more proactive approach at the border' following a call Wednesday night between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all 13 premiers to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to "take a more proactive approach at the border" following a call Wednesday night between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all 13 premiers to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat.
In a statement after the First Ministers' meeting, Ford said he "stressed that the federal government has been slow to react and is stuck on its backfoot."
Ford, who chairs Canada's Premiers, went on to say that he hopes the meeting is the "start of a more proactive approach from the federal government" to show that "it takes the security of our border seriously by cracking down on illegal border crossings and stopping the transport of guns and illegal and illicit drugs like fentanyl, or risk the economic chaos of Trump tariffs."
The meeting comes just two days after Trump threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports unless Canada addresses his border concerns. The warning has sparked major questions over the economic impact it could have on jobs, inflation and supply chains in both countries.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday night, Trump said the tariff "will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!"
Prior to the meeting, sources told CTV News there would be a push from premiers for Trudeau to change direction on his approach and address Trump's border concerns.
Speaking to reporters after Wednesday's call, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc reiterated "additional measures" will be made at the border but was short on specifics.
