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(UPDATE: Feb. 3 @ 1:55 pm) - US President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend his plan to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.
Instead of going into effect on Tuesday, it will now be paused "for at least 30 days," according to Justin Trudeau.
The prime minister said the two countries will "work together" during the reprieve.
But Trump, who said he's "very pleased with this initial outcome," added that the 30 days will allow the two countries to consider what he called a "final Economic deal."
Canada will be implementing its $1.3-billion border plan, the prime minister said on X, which includes reinforcing the border with new helicopters, technology and personnel.
"Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border," he explained.
Trudeau added that enhanced coordination with the US and increased resources will be aimed at stopping the flow of fentanyl over the border.
According to Trudeau, Canada will also be making new commitments to:
Finally, Trudeau revealed he has signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, which will be backed with $200-million in federal funds. Some of these pledges, including the joint force and 24/7 surveillance of the border, were first made in December.
Trump granted a similar 30-day pause on a tariff against Mexican goods earlier today.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said Trudeau "has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border" and "finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl."
He added: "As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!"
Thumbnail photo credits: X/Getty Images
(Original story: Feb. 3 @ 10:55 am) - Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the federal government to put soldiers on the Canada-US border.
Speaking in Vancouver today, the leader of the opposition unveiled his six-point plan to shore up the nation’s boundary with the United States.
It comes as US President Donald Trump has launched a trade war against Canada, with a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods going into effect on Tuesday.
Mexico, however, announced this morning that the country had achieved a one-month tariff reprieve from the US in part because it is sending 10,000 troops to its border with the US.
Poilievre's six points are:
Immediately deploy “military troops” and helicopters to the US border
Grant the CBSA the power to patrol everywhere along the border rather than just crossings
Hire “at least” 2,000 new CBSA agents
Install scanners at “major” land crossing and ports
Build “surveillance towers” along the border to be used in conjunction with truck-mounted drone systems
Track all departures out of Canada
He said Canada must "take back control" of its border in its own interests, not just to appease President Trump. He specifically mentioned the more than 49,000 people who've died in Canada from opioid overdoses since 2016.
“The United States needs to do more on its border, and so do we," he said.
The Liberal government has already announced a five-point plan to shore up the border, backed up by $1.3 billion in promised new spending.
That plan includes:
Poilievre, meanwhile, said he'd pay for his border plan by scrapping the Liberals' gun buy-back program and cutting "bureaucracy."
“The NDP-Liberals lost control of the border,” he said.
“It should not have taken warnings from another country for Liberals to scramble to fix their disastrous broken border policy. I will take back control of our borders, stop fentanyl from killing our people, and put Canada first.”
He added: “There is no justification for President Trump’s unjust and unjustified tariffs. But the border must be fixed for the good of Canadians. The result of the Liberals’ border chaos and soft-on-crime policies has been gun smuggling driving violent crime, an immigration system that is completely out of control, and fentanyl and human trafficking destroying lives."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with President Trump earlier today and is set to speak with him again at noon PST, according to Trump.
Trump has fulminated against Canada for failing, as he sees it, to stop fentanyl and illegal immigrants from coming into the US.
But he has also repeatedly introduced new complaints about the US's northern neighbour, including regarding the US-Canada trade deficit and Canada's failure to meet the two per cent NATO defence spending target.
The president has also said he wants to annex Canada by using "economic force."