QUEBEC — The best way to take away U.S. president-elect Donald’s Trump’s complaints about the Canadian border is to beef up controls, Premier François Legault said Wednesday.
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Arriving for question period at the legislature a few hours before a meeting of Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Legault said he expects a concrete plan from Ottawa.
“The first thing I will be asking (Trudeau) is when he plans to table his plan,” Legault said. “We have to reassure Mr. Trump. We have to do more on the borders.
“Mr. Trudeau must not try to deny the problem (exists).”
Legault’s comments follow Trump’s threat Monday to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian and Quebec goods because he is not happy with the border situation in Canada and Mexico.
On Tuesday, Legault said Trump’s beefs are “legitimate” and reflect what he has been saying for years about the lack of border controls, a federal responsibility.
“It’s important to secure the borders in both directions,” Legault said. “We don’t want a new wave of immigrants (entering Quebec). It’s important that Mr. Trudeau table a plan to reassure Mr. Trump.
“Mr. Trump says he’s going to impose 25-per-cent tariffs because he is not satisfied with what Canada is doing with the border. We need to rapidly remove this argument.”
Such tariffs would have a devastating impact on the Quebec and Canadian economies, Legault said Wednesday. At risk are thousands of jobs connected to exports, including those in the aluminum, forestry, agricultural and aerospace industries.
On his way into question period, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said he, too, finds the border situation very worrisome and Trump’s threat to deport immigrants could affect Quebec.
“These threats of expulsion create insecurity, it motivates people who want to flee and come here,” Roberge said.
He said the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States will protect Quebec somewhat from a massive influx, but Ottawa has to assume its responsibility and secure the border anyway.
“It’s their responsibility, the border is vast but they must act,” Roberge said. “They must add all the necessary personnel. There is an obligation of results.
“Quebec has done more than its share (in welcoming and caring for asylum seekers),” he said. “The federal government itself says it, the PM Trudeau has said it, (Immigration Minister) Marc Miller has said it.
“Quebec has done more than its share. We can’t do more than more than our part. As we say in bon Québécois, there’s a limit. Ottawa must have effective means to ensure people don’t cross.”