Speech from the Throne Echoes Prime Minister’s Mandate and Priorities

(TORONTO, June 4, 2025) — Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has introduced a bill named the Strong Borders Act, which looks to build upon the previous commitments of the federal government and act swiftly to strengthen laws, keep Canadians safe and continue to address concerns around border security, illicit drugs and criminal networks within our cross-border supply chains. 

The focus of the bill is to ensure that law enforcement has the tools to crack down on a multitude of issues, including organized crime activities, identifying fentanyl precursors and money laundering operations, while bringing more controls to our immigration system. More information on the bill can be found here.

On the topic of securing the border, there were some items with potential implications for transporters and members of the Canada-U.S. trade chain, including the ability of enforcement officials to potentially conduct export examinations and the addition of more oversite powers regarding the immigration system:

• Amend the Customs Act to secure our borders against illicit drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and auto theft:

• obligating owners and operators at certain ports of entry/exit to provide, equip, and maintain facilities for any purpose related to the administration and enforcement of CBSA’s mandate which includes the examination and detention of goods destined for export;

• allowing the CBSA access to premises under the control of transporters and warehouse operators to perform examinations in places where goods destined for export are reported, loaded, unloaded, or stored.

• Strengthen authorities to cancel, suspend or change immigration documents, and to cancel, suspend or stop accepting new applications;

CTA will be working with officials from Public Safety and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to communicate further details and provide more commentary on the bill during the Gazette I process.