The former Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, criticized the remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he claimed that the Canadian border has become a major conduit for smuggling drugs and weapons into the United States. Trump's comments came during his recent speech that focused on combating drug and gun-related crimes.

Trump describes the Canadian border as “dangerous”

In his speech, Trump indicated that the Canadian border is being used to smuggle large quantities of drugs and weapons into the United States, which exacerbates high crime rates within America. He called for strict measures to enhance border security with Canada.

Harper’s response to the accusations

In an interview with Canadian media, Stephen Harper described Trump's statements as “inaccurate” and exaggerated. He emphasized that Canada is making significant efforts to ensure the security of its borders and to prevent any illegal activities, whether related to drugs or weapons. Harper added, “The relationship between Canada and the United States is based on trust and cooperation, and it is unacceptable to make such accusations without clear evidence.”

The current position of the Canadian government

For its part, the Canadian government defended its border policies, stating that it adheres to strict standards to ensure border security. The government announced a new plan to enhance security measures at the border, which includes:

• Allocating over a billion dollars to upgrade border surveillance technologies.

• Hiring hundreds of border security personnel to strengthen control at border crossings.

• Expanding collaboration with the United States to share intelligence on smuggling.

Reactions from local leaders

Trump's statements received strong reactions from local leaders in Canada.

• Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario: Described the accusations as “ridiculous” and “unfounded,” stressing the importance of focusing on economic cooperation between the two countries rather than verbal escalation.