NDP’s Singh pledges Windsor border patrol centre, new Tesla tariffs

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Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced Monday that a government led by his party would help staunch the flow of illegal guns into Canada by building a new border patrol training facility in Windsor.

Singh, visiting Windsor on Monday, said the centre would create more jobs in the city in addition to better preparing the Canada Border Services Agency to stop gun smuggling by bolstering its officer ranks.

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“The Canada I believe in is a safe place where people don’t have to worry that anyone near them has an illegal handgun in their pocket or glove compartment,” said Singh. “Gun violence leaves people traumatized, tears apart communities, and costs lives.

Singh toured Windsor, where he grew up, with a federal election expected in the near future. The Conservatives and NDP have promised to topple the Liberal government with a non-confidence vote as soon as the Liberals choose a new leader in March and Parliament returns.

The Liberals launched a leadership race last month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was stepping down in the face of a growing revolt among his ranks and plunging numbers in the polls.

Singh was scheduled to make the border commitment Monday afternoon following a meeting at the Ambassador Bridge, but the Windsor Star obtained an early copy of the announcement.

Singh also stopped by the Unifor union hall on Turner Road, where he announced a plan to create and protect auto jobs with large rebates for Canadian-made electric vehicles, as well as a pledge to slap 100-per-cent tariffs on all Tesla products, targeting the U.S. company owned by Elon Musk.

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“Trump’s trade war is a nightmare for Canadian auto workers — they’re going to work every day not knowing if shutdowns and layoffs are coming, not knowing if they’ll be able to keep putting food on the table.”

Singh pledged to revive a $5,000 rebate for buying an electric vehicle that was scrapped by the Liberals in January. The NDP plan would include a $10,000 rebate cheque for buying a Canadian-made electric vehicle

Singh, joined by MP Brian Masse (NDP — Windsor West), was the latest of a number of high-profile politicians to visit Unifor in Windsor in recent weeks and woo union members.

Provincial Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford visited the union hall on the first day of the Ontario election campaign. Provincial NDP Leader Marit Stiles was there a few days later.

Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Unifor on Jan. 16.

Following his union meeting, Singh was scheduled to visit the Ambassador Bridge later in the day to announce his plan for a CBSA training facility in Windsor.

The new facility would boost Canada’s ability to train hundreds more officers per year to meet existing and emerging border challenges, he said.

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The NDP has also committed to hiring thousands of new CBSA officers and expanding the agency’s mandate so its members can patrol the border between official border crossings.

“Border officers — not machines — stop illegal guns from entering this country, and we need to ensure Canada’s ports of entry have the personnel to do so,’ said Singh. “That’s why the NDP would hire thousands more border officers.

“A new Canada Border Services College training facility right here in Windsor is necessary to staff up our borders and catch more guns coming in by land, water or rail before they’re used to commit crimes and devastate lives.”

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