Ontario Announces Plan to Enhance Border Security, Partner with Law Enforcement, as U.S. Tariff Threats Continue

In the face of continued tariff threats from president-elect Trump, Ontario announced "Operation Deterrence," a preparedness and planning framework to increase security at international border points.

The plan focuses on tackling suspicious and criminal activities, such as transportation of illegal guns and drugs - as well as human trafficking - by employing highly visible and coordinated enforcement activities. The official announcement from the province can be found here.

As part of the framework, Operation Deterrence will include the use of the Ontario Provincial Police's (OPP) emergency response team and frontline officers to increase border security and target illegal activities. The province will also partner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who will also lend officers, contribute additional specialty resources, canine units, and criminal investigators to these efforts.

Although no further details are currently available, the announcement also mentioned that commercial motor vehicle inspections will also be conducted, which was one of the recommendations highlighted by the OTA's plan to secure the trucking supply chain. Other recommendations in OTA's plan include opening truck inspection station locations on a 24/7 basis, increasing the presence of government agencies like the Ministry of Labour, joint blitzes by labour and police officials on immigration concerns and other abuses permeating cross-border trade.

OTA staff will continue to work with the province, OPP, and RCMP officials as more details of this plan become available.

"The Government of Ontario has taken strong leadership to help secure our border by taking a multi-pronged and coordinated approach. This commitment to working collaboratively with law enforcement officials at all levels will help to deter and intercept criminal and illegal activities from crossing our borders," says Geoff Wood, senior vice president, Policy, OTA.

Ontario-United States trade is valued at more than $450 billion annually, over 70 percent of which is transported by the trucking industry. If Ontario were a country, the province would be the United States' third-largest trading partner.

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