Government to detail $1.3B border security plan today: LeBlanc
CBC
The federal government says it will unveil details later today about how it intends to spend $1.3 billion to secure the Canada-U.S. border as it tries to allay president-elect Donald Trump's concerns.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who says he'll continue to hold the portfolio for a few more days after being sworn in as finance minister Monday, told CBC New Brunswick he'll have more to say Tuesday on "enhancing the border security posture."
Monday's fall economic statement, which was largely overshadowed by Chrystia Freeland's shock resignation from cabinet, included more than a billion dollars for a border security package over six years, but was light on specific details.
The urgency to beef up the border follows Trump's threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports citing concerns about border security, migrants and illegal drugs, especially fentanyl. Tariffs at that level could devastate Canada's economy.
The fall economic statement signals that the government is willing to spend more on the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP, Public Safety Canada and the Communications Security Establishment.
The government has suggested it will be buying helicopters and drones and dedicating more resources to strengthen monitoring of the shared border.
Last week, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said he's hoping to see technology that Mounties can start using immediately.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and posted to social media, Freeland, who has been finance minister since 2020, said the only "honest and viable path" for her was to leave cabinet after the prime minister approached her Friday about moving her to another cabinet role.
Freeland, who led Canada's trade team during Trump's first administration, wrote that she had been at odds with the prime minister about the best path forward for Canada in the face of Trump's tariff threat.
"We need to take that threat extremely seriously.That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war," Freeland wrote,
"That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment."
Trump entered the conversation late Monday, taking a jab at Freeland on his site Truth Social.
"Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!"
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
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If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.