The federal government has laid out a new border security plan as Canada faces tariff threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

In an announcement on Tuesday, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is also Canada's newly appointed finance minister after Chrystia Freeland's departure, said the new border plan is backed by an investment of $1.3 billion. That amount was announced in Monday's federal fall fiscal update.

"Our new border plan… will secure our border against the flow of illegal drugs and irregular migration while ensuring the free flow of people and goods that are at the core of North America's prosperity," said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc added that the new plan is composed of "five pillars' that will detect and address fentanyl, add significant new tools for law enforcement, improve operation coordination and information sharing, and minimize border volumes to the U.S.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also posted about the measures on social media.

We’re stepping up to keep our border strong and secure:

By deploying new helicopters, drones, and surveillance tools.

By adding new scanners and sniffer dog teams to stop and seize fentanyl.

By cracking down on the money laundering that’s funding cross-border crime.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 17, 2024

"We're stepping up to keep our border strong and secure: By deploying new helicopters, drones, and surveillance tools. By adding new scanners and sniffer dog teams to stop and seize fentanyl. By cracking down on the money laundering that's funding cross-border crime," he wrote on X.

The announcement comes after Trump said in November that his incoming administration would implement a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods coming into the U.S. if border security and drug issues were not addressed.

More details about five-pillar plan

To detect and address fentanyl, LeBlanc said there would be investments in new tools and technologies and human resources.

These investments will allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to deploy new chemical detection, imaging and AI-powered tools and new K-9 teams to better detect illegal drugs at ports of entry.

LeBlanc added that Health Canada will ramp up its investigative capacity to assist law enforcement in detecting new drug sources.

There will also be investments in the RCMP to allow the deployment of a new aerial intelligence task force comprised of helicopters, drones and mobile surveillance towers.

The new task force will provide 24/7 surveillance between ports of entry and complement existing foot and vehicle patrols, said LeBlanc. There are also plans to expand CBSA's mandate to permit officers to legislatively inspect exports the same way they do imports.

LeBlanc noted that the creation of a North American Joint Strike Force to target transnational organized crime will also be proposed to U.S. officials.

On the immigration side, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the new measures will target flagpoling — a practice where people try to leave Canada, are refused entry into the U.S., and then try to re-enter on a student or work visa with quicker processing.

As well, Miller said the feds are proposing to give Canada more control over its immigration documents and legislative amendments will be made to allow officials to change, suspend or cancel immigration documents as well visas when deemed to be in the public interest, for example in cases of mass fraud.

Additionally, new measures will be introduced to address program integrity and prevent potential LMIA fraud.

“I’m confident that as we continue to work with our American partners they’ll see that our resolve is absolute—that we share completely their concerns around the integrity of the border,” says Dominic LeBlanc, commenting on talks with Trump team re: new border measures.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/CvKW4HPE9j

— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) December 17, 2024

When asked if this plan has been communicated to Trump's team, LeBlanc said a preliminary conversation with incoming U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan was "encouraging."

"I'm confident that as we continue to work with our American partners they'll see that our resolve is absolute — that we share completely their concerns around the integrity of the border," he said.

"Deepening, strengthening, being more visible in the posture at the border is something that we're happy to do with our partners. It is very important for Canadians that we do this work and I'm confident that as we continue to work with our American partners, they'll see that our resolve is absolute, that we share completely that their concerns around the border…"

Trump's tariff threats contributed to Freeland’s departure

Trump's ongoing talk of implementing tariffs has resulted in an eventual few weeks in Canadian politics.

Following Trump's initial tariff proposal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

While the discussions were said to be productive, Trump reportedly "joked" that Canada could perhaps become a state or two with Trudeau as governor.

Since then, Trump has made several comments on social media referring to Trudeau as "governor" and Canada as a "state."

On Monday, former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland stunned the nation by announcing her resignation.

Freeland's resignation letter stressed that Canada faces a "grave challenge" with Trump's incoming administration "pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism."

"We need to take that threat extremely seriously," wrote Freeland. "That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment."

She added that the government needs to work with the provinces and territories to oppose "America First" economic nationalism.

"I know Canadians would recognize and respect such an approach. They know when we are working for them, and they equally know when we are focused on ourselves," reads the statement.

"It is this conviction which has driven my strenuous efforts this fall to manage our spending in ways that will give us the flexibility we will need to meet the serious challenges presented by the United States."

With files from Isabelle Docto.