Front Burner

Reality-checking the tariff fentanyl crackdown

Last week, Prime Minister Trudeau promised U.S. President Donald Trump a crackdown on fentanyl and tougher border measures in exchange for a pause on tariffs. Will it make things better, or worse?
A client draws up fentanyl as he visits the consumption room at Moss Park Consumption and Treatment Service, in Toronto on Dec. 3, 2024.
A client draws up fentanyl as he visits the consumption room at Moss Park Consumption and Treatment Service, in Toronto on Dec. 3, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Last week, Prime Minister Trudeau promised U.S. President Donald Trump a crackdown on fentanyl and tougher border measures in exchange for a pause on tariffs. 

But what could that fentanyl crackdown actually look like — and will it make things better, or worse? And as the cultural and political backlash against harm reduction increases in Canada, how could this factor into an upcoming election?

Today, we're joined by Manisha Krishnan, an Emmy award-winning journalist covering North American drug policy, for a look at what this crackdown could mean for Canada.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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