Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Calls for Canadian Troops at U.S. Border Amid Tariff Tensions
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for the deployment of Canadian troops to the U.S. border, alongside a significant expansion of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), as tensions over cross-border security and trade escalate. His remarks come just hours before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a temporary reprieve from U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canadian goods.
In a social media post on Monday, Poilievre urged the federal government to “send Canadian Forces troops, helicopters, and surveillance to the border now.” He also outlined a Conservative plan to hire 2,000 additional CBSA agents and extend the agency’s jurisdiction to cover the entire Canada-U.S. border. Currently, the CBSA manages official ports of entry, while the RCMP patrols the areas in between.
Poilievre’s proposal follows Mexico’s announcement earlier in the day to deploy 10,000 national guard troops to its northern border, a move that temporarily delayed U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods. The Conservative leader’s call for heightened border security reflects growing concerns over cross-border crime, including the trafficking of fentanyl, which has been a key issue for President Trump.
Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Monday afternoon that President Trump has agreed to pause the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods for at least 30 days. In a post on X, Trudeau highlighted Canada’s commitment to border security, stating that nearly 10,000 front-line personnel are already working to protect the border. He also announced the appointment of a new fentanyl “czar” to lead Canada’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis and pledged to list Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations under Canadian law.
The Canadian government has already allocated $1.3 billion to enhance border security, including the installation of surveillance towers, the deployment of drones, and the leasing of two Black Hawk helicopters for the RCMP.
- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre calls for Canadian troops and expanded CBSA powers at the U.S. border.
- Mexico’s deployment of 10,000 national guard troops delays U.S. tariffs, influencing Canada’s response.
- Prime Minister Trudeau secures a 30-day pause on U.S. tariffs, announces new measures to address fentanyl trafficking and border security.
- Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Leader: “Send Canadian Forces troops, helicopters, and surveillance to the border now. A Conservative government will hire 2,000 more CBSA agents and ensure they have jurisdiction over the entire border.”
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: “Nearly 10,000 front-line personnel are and will be working to protect our border. We are committed to tackling the fentanyl crisis and listing Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.”
The call for increased border security comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and the U.S. over trade and cross-border crime. President Trump had threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing concerns over border security and the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl.