Ontario’s Premier is calling for investments that strengthen the protection of the border with the U.S.
It’s Doug Ford’s latest response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs.
Several proposals are also included in Ford’s Fortress Am-Can proposal.
They include;
- Present a credible and accelerated plan to meet and exceed Canada’s 2% NATO target for defence spending, including investing in the future success of NORAD operations and NORAD base restoration.
- Invest in Canada’s unique strategic capabilities and competencies, including Ontario’s critical mass of innovation in artificial intelligence to support the future of autonomous combat aerial and underwater vehicles for both military and border security and detection purposes.
- Expanding Canada’s shipbuilding capacity to build new ice breakers and other equipment and assets, including increasing capacity at Ontario-based shipbuilding facilities, to protect Canada’s Arctic and meet other security objectives.
- Work with the U.S. to capture new and catalyzing investments that support accelerated access to urgently needed strategic and critical minerals to qualify as part of Canada’s NATO contributions.
- Secure Am-Can borders and key economic and trade corridors, including the St. Lawrence Seaway, Windsor-Detroit Gateway and the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2025.
- Stem the cross-border flow of illegal guns, contraband tobacco and illegal drugs like fentanyl. This should include increased permanent funding for increased oversight and support at the border and enhanced tools for law enforcement, as well as investments to expand cross-border coordination and operations between American and Canadian security and policing agencies.
- Enhance tracking and tracing of illicit drugs by investing in new laboratory technology that will allow Canada to identify where fentanyl and other drugs seized by police services are manufactured for enhanced tracking and tracing.
- Allow for enhanced data and intelligence sharing between federal, provincial, territorial and local police forces to promote better coordination.
- Lower thresholds for Am-Can intelligence sharing on the cross-border movements of convicted sex offenders.
- Crackdown on illegal immigration, which threatens shared Am-Can national security, and invest in enhanced biometrics capabilities at Canada’s points of entry, including better tracking of entries and exits across Canada’s borders.
- Further promote joint training, operations and scenario-planning between American and Canadian armed forces, particularly in the Arctic, including by expanding Canada’s advanced fighter pilot training resources.
“For Fortress Am-Can to succeed, Canada needs to demonstrate that we take our shared national security seriously by protecting Am-Can air, land, Arctic water and communities,” says Ford.
“It’s why I continue to urge the federal government to present a more credible plan that invests more in Canada’s military to meet and exceed our 2% NATO commitment, including by investing in the future of NORAD and NORAD base restorations.”
Earlier this year, Ontario announced a border protection strategy of its own, assigning 200 Ontario Provincial Police officers to work with RCMP and Canada Border Custom Agency officers in preventing illegal border activity.
The initiative is the latest in measures the Premier has touted in recent weeks.
He says 500,000 jobs could be lost if Trump’s administration follows through with 25% tariffs on all goods imported to the U.S.
“This is serious, it’s unprecedented, and let’s hope it doesn’t cost 500,000 jobs. But we need the ability to go in there and support the sectors and the people to make sure we protect Ontario and return Canadian jobs as well, right across our country.”
Ford says Ontario will be impacted more than other provinces because of its manufacturing sector that has grown in the past several years.
He says he is ready to work with anyone on both sides of the border to help both countries be more prosperous and safe.
