Bob Mackin
Five hours after Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed to send 10,000 national guard members to its border with the U.S., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed similar on X (formerly Twitter).
“Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” Trudeau said. “In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.”
The Florida Panthers, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the Stanley Cup visited President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 3. (Margo Martin/X)
“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”
Trudeau also said he earmarked $200 billion under a new intelligence directive to battle organized crime and fentanyl. Trudeau had previously promised to spend $1.3 billion on more officers and equipment on the border.
The announcement came at 4:36 p.m. Ottawa time, less than five hours before the scheduled 25% U.S. tariffs (10% on energy) and Canadian counter-tariffs were to come into effect. Earlier, when a reporter asked Trump what Canada could do to avoid the tariffs, Trump reiterated that Canada should “become our 51st state.”
It also came the same day that Trump hosted a quintessential symbol of Canada — the Stanley Cup — along with the reigning champion Florida Panthers and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman at the White House.
Trump posed with a custom gift Panthers’ jersey and the Cup on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.
Between Sheinbaum and Trudeau’s announcements, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre laid out a six-point plan at a hastily called news conference in Vancouver. Poilievre proposed immediately stationing Canadian Forces troops at the border and adding 2,000 Canada Border Services agents.
NEW: Subscribe to theBreaker.news on Substack. Find out how: Click here.
