Message From Tony
Trade War Pause
Much has been said regarding tariffs and the impending trade war started by Donald Trump. I do not profess to understand his logic but then I am not alone in that sentiment. This trade war cannot possibly be about fentanyl and border security. In 2024, United States border agents seized a total of 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl at the border. Any amount is too much but very little compared to what comes into America along the southern border. In fact, less than 1 per cent of fentanyl crosses our border. Likewise, the number of people trying to enter the United States illegally across the Canadian border is relatively small especially compared to the number along the American southern border. Again, less than 1 per cent of illegal crossings into the United States come from Canada. Our border is already safe and secure.
But we have agreed to do more, beyond the commitment of the $1.3 billion border plan already being implemented. Within this plan, Canada will reinforce the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, and 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 Prime Minister has also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.
Positive steps to address an explicitly stated concern but let us not lose sight that our relationship with The United States has politically changed – significantly. And that means we must continue to be prepared for the volatility that accompanies the current president and the uncertainty of our relationship going forward. We must act to better prepare Canada for an uncertain future.
We have already witnessed a renewed sense of pride in Canada and greater consideration of” buy Canadian”. I hope that lasts. But let us also remember to support Mexico when we can – they are also subject to the possibility of tariffs and are an important trade partner of Canada. We have opportunities to build on existing trade relationships and discover new relationships built along shared values.
We must also eliminate barriers to trade within our own country. Last week, at the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, and her provincial and territorial counterparts discussed bold, transformative actions to eliminate regulatory barriers to internal trade, encourage the free movement of labour and further standardize regulations across Canada.
This meeting was built on the momentum of the 2024 CIT meeting, which saw the launch of a pilot project to mutually recognize regulatory requirements in the trucking sector. Under the trucking pilot, all provinces and territories will recognize each other’s regulatory requirements, even where differences exist, to allow trucks and the goods they carry to move across Canada more efficiently, without compromising safety and security measures.
Discussions focused on further eliminating barriers in our internal market by working together in the following areas:
- Adoption of mutual recognition for goods and services across Canada so that a good or service sold in one jurisdiction can be sold in another, without the need to satisfy additional requirements.
- Improved labour mobility so a registered worker can work in any location across the country without delay.
- Improving the Canadian Free Trade Agreement by reducing exceptions and addressing other sectoral priorities.
These concrete, collaborative actions will reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, strengthening our domestic economy. They will create new market opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers, boost productivity, enhance competitiveness, and attract more foreign investment. This work will also encourage Canadians to buy Canadian products and services.
Kicking off Black History Month
I was honoured to join the Aurora Black Community Association last week for their Flag Raising Ceremony to celebrate the start of Black History Month. It was a pleasure to hear from leaders, like Phiona Durrant, as well as other community members about what this month symbolizes and the unity, resilience, and diversity of the Black community in Aurora.
Additionally, I was pleased to join the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) for their Black History Month reception and Gallery Exhibition at the Ujamaa Marketplace. This was a wonderful exhibition with live performances and a marketplace highlighting local Black-owned businesses.
Throughout the month, we celebrate and recognize the Black Canadians, past and present, who have made amazing contributions to our nation. We also take this opportunity to reflect on Canada’s painful history and the distinct challenges that Black people in Canada continue to face in their daily lives, such as systemic barriers, racism and discrimination.
I encourage everyone to learn more about the events being hosted by the Aurora Black Community Association and the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA)’s this month.
Investing in Canada's environment
In 1972, the Government of Canada acquired 18,600 acres of land, 56 kilometers northeast of downtown Toronto, known as the Pickering Lands, to develop a new airport. In 1975, this plan was put on hold in favour of expanding existing airports. Properties on the Pickering Lands have been leased by the government to residential, farm and commercial tenants since then.
Last week, we officially announced that the Pickering Lands will not be used for a future airport site. Our government intends to transfer the high conservation value lands to Parks Canada. In the coming weeks, a formal consultation process, including with existing tenants, Indigenous communities, and the public, will be launched to determine the path forward.
Additionally, we announced a $21 million investment to construct a brand-new Rouge National Urban Park visitor, learning, and community centre to strengthen visitor experiences. The building will feature engaging indoor and outdoor spaces and serve as an iconic gateway into the park, welcoming the diverse communities that live in Canada’s largest metropolitan area.
Our government is committed to working with Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, and all levels of government to protect Canada’s natural spaces and promote our nation’s natural, cultural, and agricultural heritage.
Ensuring long-term public transit funding
Last week, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, announced a federal investment of more than $222 million in annual transit funding for communities across Ontario, providing predictable and long-term funding, tied to greater density near transit in the larger cities.
Through this funding, 42 municipalities and transit authorities in Ontario will receive an annual funding allocation based on a combination of population and ridership. This includes the Regional Municipality of York, which is receiving more than $95 million over ten years to support a stable and predictable transit system in York Region. This funding will support communities as they upgrade, replace, and modernize their public transit infrastructure, and maintain it in a state of good repair.
These investments, beginning in 2026 until 2036, will help increase the housing supply and affordability as part of complete, transit-oriented communities, while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
