Danielle Smith proposes joint Canada-U.S. military base for Arctic security

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is proposing Canada deepen collaboration with the United States on Arctic security by establishing a joint military base in the far north.

In a statement Thursday, Ms. Smith said she raised this idea with fellow premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at their meeting earlier this week.

“To further bolster Canada–U.S. arctic security, I asked my provincial and federal counterparts in the First Ministers’ Meeting to consider establishing a joint Canada-U.S. NORAD region base in Northern Canada, similar to the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” the Premier said in a statement.

She also reiterated her idea, which she made public earlier this week, that Canada should create a “border czar” to deal with border security issues.

“The U.S. has emphasized the need for immediate measures on border security, and l stressed the importance of Canada taking that demand seriously – beginning with the immediate appointment of a Canadian border czar to work with the U.S. on securing our shared border from Fentanyl dealers and illegal migrants.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 25-per-cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico as early as Feb. 1 unless they do more to secure their borders against illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling into the United States.