Manitoba will increase border security measures, including paying RCMP overtime and deploying conservation officers, as the province prepares for potential economic tensions with the United States, Premier Wab Kinew announced on Thursday.The Manitoba government will expand its border monitoring in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian products entering the United States. Kinew outlined the plan at a press conference, which includes enhanced law enforcement presence and technological surveillance..Winnipeg Hospital chops off man’s wrong leg."We're going to crack down on drug trafficking. We are going to ensure that we have resources to help secure the border here in Manitoba," Kinew said during a news conference.The plan involves multiple layers of increased border protection. RCMP officers will receive overtime pay for additional border patrols, with Manitoba covering 70% of the additional spending..Unemployment soars 23% under Manitoba NDP government.Conservation officers will be strategically deployed along the international border and Manitoba's Motor Carrier Enforcement agency will increase roadside inspections on highways leading to the U.S. border.Kinew said that drones will be used for border surveillance. The premier emphasized the province's readiness to defend critical economic sectors, including agriculture, energy, and manufacturing..Premier popularity shifts, Moe gains ground, Smith and Eby hold steady.The announcement follows a virtual meeting between Kinew, other provincial premiers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss potential responses to the incoming U.S. administration's demands. While some provincial leaders, like Ontario's Doug Ford, have suggested more aggressive counter-measures such as potentially cutting energy supplies, Kinew does not want to take that aggressive of an approach to the tariff threats yet.Kinew did not disclose specific details of potential retaliatory actions but confirmed the province is developing a comprehensive response list to be finalized by January 20, when Trump takes office..‘UNACCEPTABLE SAFTEY RISK’ UK stops puberty blockers for minors.The Manitoba Progressive Conservatives (PC) response was critical of Kinew plan. Interim PC leader Wayne Ewasko challenged the government's strategy, arguing that the NDP government has not demonstrated a meaningful approach to addressing the tariff threat.Kinew stressed the importance of taking Trump's statements seriously, positioning Manitoba's response as a proactive measure to protect provincial economic interests in an uncertain international trade environment.The border security initiative represents a significant cost in managing potential economic tensions between Canada and the United States.
