Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Leadership

Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Leadership By Sami Parvez Canada’s Border Crisis: China, Fentanyl, and the Failure of Canada's border policies have been criticized for being too lax, particularly under the Liberal government. In recent years, under the Liberal government, policies have become more relaxed. In July, after Canada accepted over 5,000 refugees from Gaza, U.S. Senators expressed concerns, warning that the policy could provide individuals with potential ties to terror groups easier access to the United States. Immigration Minister Marc Miller dismissed these concerns as “categorically false,” adding that “Canada only issues refugee travel documents to individuals deemed legitimate refugees after a separate assessment process." Canada wouldn’t have taken any action if there were no concerns about tariffs. Canadians owe gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for threatening tariffs on Canadian products, which prompted Ottawa to get serious about the illegal flow of drugs into the country, illegal border crossings, and the misuse of Canada's relaxed visa system for temporary residents. In fact, Canada has a long history of fentanyl arriving in Vancouver from China, but authorities have taken no concrete action to address the issue in the past. After a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 3, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to pause proposed tariffs on Canada for 30 days—on the condition that Canada strengthens border security to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In response, Trudeau committed to deploying 10,000 front-line personnel, appointing a "Fentanyl Czar," designating Mexican cartels as terrorists, and signing a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when he was Liberal leader in 2013, famously said he “admires China because of its dictatorship,” sparking significant discussion in Canada, particularly among Chinese-Canadians who fled China for their safety from the Chinese Communist regime. In 2019, two Chinese scientists working at Canada's top infectious disease lab in Winnipeg, Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, were dismissed due to concerns about their connections to Chinese military researchers and sharing of sensitive information. While they were red-flagged, fired, and sent back to China, the Liberal government did not take significant public action or raise the issue directly with China at the time. When the opposition brought up the matter in the House of Commons, Trudeau accused them of being racist and spreading anti-Asian sentiment. “The rise in anti-Asian racism we have been seeing over the past number of months should be of concern to everyone,” Trudeau told the House on May 26, 2021, in response to then-Tory MP Candice Bergen's questions regarding reports that two Chinese scientists at Canada's top infectious-disease laboratory in Winnipeg had been collaborating with Chinese military researchers. In October 2024, the RCMP dismantled what authorities described at the time as “the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl and methamphetamine drug superlab” in Canadian history, located in Falkland, B.C. According to the police, “the combined fentanyl and precursor chemicals seized could have amounted to over 95.5 million doses, with an estimated $485 million in potential profit.” The recent drug bust underscores the need for stronger border security and law enforcement. It also highlights the role of foreign actors in Canada’s crime problem. Award winning investigative journalist Sam Cooper has raised concerns about China’s involvement, claiming that Chinese military links to criminal networks are fueling money laundering and drug trafficking. “There are very deep concerns that Canada is being used by China in a very sophisticated economic and truly criminal way,” Cooper told The Daniela Cambone Show. “Chinese military was directly involved with these underground Chinese criminal networks that were facilitating this massive money laundering which tied into fentanyl, cocaine, (and) money moving around the world. So, drugs are coming in through Vancouver right then spreading across Canada and getting down into the United States.” Yet, despite mounting evidence, neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor his main rival, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, has directly named China as a key player in Canada’s fentanyl crisis. Trudeau’s government has also failed to strengthen oversight of Canada’s ports, particularly the Port of Vancouver—a well-documented entry point for Chinese fentanyl shipments. Instead of prioritizing the safety of Canadians, Trudeau continues to shield Beijing from accountability, placing diplomatic ties above national security. Poilievre has vowed to crack down on fentanyl traffickers if elected, saying, "I will lock up fentanyl kingpins and throw away the key. It’s like spraying bullets into a crowd—even if you don’t aim, you will kill people. The penalty should be the same as murder. I will pass mandatory life sentences, so fentanyl kingpins never get out of jail and stop killing our kids." While his tough-on-crime approach resonates with many, he has yet to address who is ultimately responsible for flooding Canada with this deadly drug. Without tackling the source of the crisis, enforcement alone may not be enough. It’s time for strong leadership that puts Canada first. Ottawa must invest more in law enforcement and defence to ensure better protection with more boots on the ground. There must be zero tolerance for foreign interference, and our borders must be fully secured. No one should enter Canada illegally, nor should money laundering or the drug trade thrive. Canada needs patriotic leadership that prioritizes national sovereignty and puts Canadians above all else. Criminals must face stricter punishments, and foreign citizens who break the law should be deported immediately. Their assets should be seized, and those born outside Canada must be returned to their country of birth without exception. Canada must uphold the rule of law, and rule breakers should not be tolerated. It’s time to reinstate tougher penalties to ensure justice and security.