Bloc Leader States Tone on Border has Shifted Following Trudeau Meeting.

December 4, 2024 TruthUSA

Ottawa has completely changed its approach to the border, according to Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet after meeting with the prime minister and other party leaders.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held discussions with various party leaders in Ottawa on Dec. 3, aiming to establish a “Team Canada” strategy to address the looming tariff threat from the incoming U.S. administration.

“The government is now emphasizing rigor in border management, a significant shift from the previous open-bar approach,” Blanchet stated in French post-meeting.

Blanchet has been critical of Ottawa’s handling of immigration and border issues in recent years, especially with Quebec becoming a central path for illegal crossings and asylum claims at the Montreal-Trudeau airport.

The Bloc leader noted that the federal government is now discussing the border in a more responsible manner and is developing a plan to align with this new approach. While the opposition leaders were not presented with the full plan, it is expected to address requests made by the Bloc, such as increased resources both at the border and in immigration offices for processing asylum claims.

Describing the discussions with Trudeau and other leaders as rational and productive, Blanchet stated his intention to withhold public criticism of the government regarding the border, considering the attention from Americans.

On Nov. 25, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico if they do not address issues of illegal migration and drug smuggling at their borders.

Cabinet ministers have urged provincial premiers and opposition leaders to present a united front in response to Trump’s tariff threat.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the importance of a Team Canada approach among all Canadian leaders and the avoidance of negotiating against themselves.

Following his meeting, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau, calling for solutions to border disorder, immigration problems, and tax increases.

Poilievre warned that the Trump tariffs could harm the Canadian economy, compounded by existing federal taxes, and mentioned that they could also negatively impact America by raising energy prices, given that a significant portion of U.S. oil imports come from Canada.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stressed the seriousness of Trump’s threat and advocated for a collaborative approach to address it, including the immediate recruitment of 1,100 new border services agents to prevent tariffs and curb the flow of weapons from the U.S.

Singh proposed expanding the Canada Border Services Agency’s mandate beyond ports of entry, in line with Poilievre’s suggestion, where the responsibility currently lies with the RCMP.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc mentioned on Dec. 3 that internal discussions had explored the idea of expanding the border services agency’s mandate, although no decisions had been made.

LeBlanc also highlighted Ottawa’s interest in taking immediate steps to assure Canadians and Americans of border security and integrity.

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