Carney Liberals unveil new slate of measures to secure Canada's borders

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OTTAWA — New powers to Canada’s coast guard, immigration and postal officials are among a slate of new measures being introduced by the Mark Carney Liberals.

Bill C2 — the Strong Borders Act — involves continued steps by the Liberal government to shore up Canada’s borders, and directly respond to demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Tuesday.

“A strong border is essential to our national security,” Anandasangaree told a press conference on Parliament Hill. “The reality is that new risks will always emerge that threaten our national and economic security.”

New measures include Customs Act amendments targeting smuggling of guns, drugs and stolen autos, compelling greater access at ports to inspect goods destined for export, allowing the RCMP to share data on registered sex offenders with counterparts both domestic and abroad, and introducing new ineligibility rules for asylum seekers and improving how such claims are processed and adjudicated.

“With this new legislation, we’ll ensure Canada has the right tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime and fentanyl, and disrupt illicit financing,” Anandasangaree said.

“The bill updates existing laws to bolster our response to national and economic security threats, while enhancing the integrity and fairness of our immigration system.”

The legislation, which Anandasangaree said is vital to Canada’s border security, will involve implementing new policy across nine different government departments.

It also includes extending legislative authorities to cancel, suspend or change immigration documents, as well as the ability to cancel or suspend new applications en masse for “reasons determined to be in the public interest.”

The Canadian Coast Guard will also see new security duties, including security patrols and intelligence gathering.

Measures meant to combat organized crime and fentanyl smuggling include direct control of precursor chemicals by the health minister, legislation allowing easier access to electronic communications by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and allowing police and postal inspectors greater access to search the mail.

Illicit fentanyl coming south into the U.S. from Canada was among the grievances aired early in Trump’s administration, prompting Canadian officials to unleash a slew of measures meant to plug holes in the border.

“Canadians and Americans have a shared interest when it comes to our border, we want to keep threats out,” Anandasangaree said.

Tuesday’s announcement comes after $1.3 billion in measures announced early in 2025, including listing drug cartels as terrorist organizations, the appointment of “fentanyl czar” Kevin Brosseau, a cross-border Joint Strike Force targeting fentanyl trafficking, organized crime and financing, and new helicopter and drone patrols of the border.

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