Joly praised U.S. for 'hard stand on drugs' in private remarks: Report

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Melanie Joly’s private remarks about hard drugs coming into Canada appear to be at odds with Ottawa’s public ones, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

Records show Joly, who served as Liberal foreign affairs minister before being re-elected last week in the federal election, privately praised the U.S. for taking “a hard stand on drugs” after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Canada with tariffs over border-security concerns related to the fentanyl trade. Those comments differed from the Liberal cabinet’s public statements.

“We share your concerns related to fentanyl,” said Joly’s notes for a Mar-a-Lago conference, which were released through an access-to-information request.

“Communities and families in Canada continue to be harmed by this crisis. We are pleased the incoming U.S. administration also takes a hard stand on drugs crossing our borders.”

Joly’s remarks were to be recited at a private meeting Dec. 27, 2024, at Trump’s Florida estate.

“The opioid crisis is causing catastrophic harm to Canada and the United States,” said the notes.

“Over 50,000 Canadians have died because of this since 2016. China has long been a major source of these drugs.”

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The federal cabinet publicly stated that illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling were not significant issues. However, a 2024 memorandum for the prime minister said hundreds of criminal gangs were shipping fentanyl to the U.S.

“The Canadian Security Intelligence Service identifies more than 350 organized crime groups actively involved in the domestic illegal fentanyl market,” said the memo.

“Synthetic drugs are increasingly being produced in Canada using precursor chemicals largely sourced from China.”

The Foreign Affairs Department identified Canada as a leading distributor of fentanyl in a separate memo on June 17, 2024.

“Seizures of clandestine laboratories in Canada indicate fentanyl is being produced in Canada,” it said. “Seizures of Canada-sourced fentanyl in places like the United States and Australia suggest domestic production is likely exceeding domestic demand and that Canada is now a source and transit country for fentanyl to some markets.”