Why did it take so long?
Justin Trudeau got a last-minute reprieve from Donald Trump on the 25% tariffs that were set to take effect, but only after a lot of drama, a drop in the stock market and the Canadian dollar dropping briefly into 67-cent territory.
Yes, we should all be happy that Trudeau got this delay in tariffs for 30 days, but why did it take so long for Trudeau to agree to do things that not only make the American president happy but are also good for our country?
Shortly after Trudeau’s 3 p.m. phone call with Trump ended on Monday, the PM took to social media to reiterate the $1.3-billion border plan. He said we would have “new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners” and boasted about 10,000 new and existing personnel on the border.
“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,” Trudeau said.
“I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
Recommended video
On these issues surrounding fentanyl, why did it take the American president pushing Trudeau to act?
We have been going through our own fentanyl crisis which has been growing since about 2016. Trudeau’s entire term in office has coincided with the growth of fentanyl.
That’s not to say that he’s responsible for the drug showing up, but he is responsible for the response. That has mostly involved ignoring the issue or expanding what he calls “safe supply,” meaning giving addicts prescription opioids which they then sell for cash to buy more addictive fentanyl on the street.
For years, the Conservative Party has raised the issue of fentanyl coming into Canada unchecked, including through the mail system, because even small quantities are lucrative. The Liberals dismissed the issue of small shipments of fentanyl coming into Canada from China via the mail system and until Monday, they ignored American concerns that small shipments of fentanyl were being sent to the United States from Canada in the mail.
“There is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene (a strong synthetic opioid) synthesis labs in Canada. The flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl to the United States through both illicit distribution networks and international mail,” stated Trump’s executive order released Saturday.
Trudeau would have had access to the same intelligence reports as Trump on fentanyl crossing the border by mail but stuck to claims that there was no issue — just a few pounds, they said. He would have known about the massive money laundering operations being run in Canada to the benefit of Mexican cartels and Chinese triads that profit off the fentanyl trade.
This same trade is killing Canadians as well as Americans. This should have been a priority for Trudeau as well as Trump, but Trudeau has never been interested in the work of governing a country, which requires heavy lifting. He just likes the accolades and photo-ops.
He’s been forced into action by a president who knows he can’t face re-election, who doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him and who wants to get things done.
We aren’t out of the tariff woods yet; this is round one.
If the border measures are seen as sufficient, then Canada won’t face 25% tariffs across the board, but we will face tariffs sector by sector. At that point, Canadians will face tough choices on accepting new tariffs so that we can protect certain industries or allow the same kind of access and competition that the Americans allow for our companies operating in their country.
That will be round two.