The federal government has provided some detail on a plan to beef up border safety and security, one of Donald Trump’s key demands of Canadian officials.

The federal minister of public safety, David McGuinty, called our border with the U-S the most secure and well-managed in the world.

The border has 1200 points of entry, but McGuinty says only one per cent of the drugs and crossings to the United States comes from Canada. The minister says they are adding personnel and equipment, including helicopters, 60 new drones and more surveillance towers.

He says they are acquiring new technology such as X-Rays, mobile X-Rays and hand-held chemical analyzers.

LeBlanc and Ford pleased with plan

Federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc is praising the leadership role taken by Council of the Federation Chair and Ontario Premier Doug Ford in addressing tariff threats made by incoming US President Donald Trump.

Ford and LeBlanc met yesterday, ahead of a planned trip by Canada’s premiers to Washington next month.

The two politicians discussed a partnership approach between the provinces and Ottawa and a commitment to work together to respond to Trump’s latest pronouncements.

“I think the country is very lucky,” LeBlanc told reporters yesterday, “that Premier Ford is chairing the Council of the Federation…Premier Ford has stood up for the Canadian economy, for workers across the country, in a way, frankly, that makes him a very valuable partner for the government of Canada.”

Ford, meanwhile, is praising the federal government’s plan to address border security concerns outlined by Trump.

“It’s a fabulous plan,” says Ford.