When US President Donald J. Trump first threatened tariffs against Canada, the stated reason was to poke this country into doing something about its border security. Figures from the US Customs and Border Patrol showed a disturbing and growing number of people entering the US from Canada, among them, hundreds on the terror watchlist. Indeed, CBS reports that during 2003, nearly 500 were apprehended on the US northern border. Another 103 were found crossing through the north in fiscal year 2024.
Illegal drugs — mainly fentanyl — were also cited as a problem. While the volume of drugs entering the US from Canada is not to be compared with drugs entering the US in other ways, the amount was not negligible.
So Canadians took action. Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta immediately ordered Alberta sheriffs to start patrolling the border. The federal government initiated similar action and 'Everybody Agreed Something Had To Be Done.'
And suddenly, the welcome news that a decision on tariffs would be held off for 30 days. And then that some would begin immediately....
With some justification, Canadians asked what was going on? They were doing what the were being asked to do... they were getting some tariffs anyway, with the threat of more to come.
Simon Hankinson is Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center at Washington's Heritage Foundation. Tonight he offers some explanations with Nigel Hannaford on the Hannaford show.
The program airs at seven o'clock.