'We're going to be very visible': Minister Champagne on border plan amid Trump's tariff threat
CTV
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the Canadian presence at the border it shares with the U.S. will be “very visible” in response to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s recent tariff threats.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the Canadian presence at the border it shares with the U.S. will be “very visible” in response to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s recent tariff threats.
“You can dispute some numbers, but the point is that we're going to show it. We're going to be very visible,” Champagne insisted to host Vassy Kapelos in an interview on CTV Question Period.
The comments come days after Trump threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports unless Canada addresses his border concerns. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, 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!"
The warning has since sparked major questions over the economic impact the tariffs would have on jobs, inflation and supply chains in both countries.
Following an urgent request from premiers, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau met with all 13 of them on Wednesday, just 48 hours after Trump's original post. They collectively urged the federal government to strengthen the border.
Following that meeting, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Wednesday that “additional investments” will be made at the border, but he was short on specifics.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland reiterated to reporters Friday that further investments will be made.
