U.S. Drops Border Fence Plan

Swift opposition in Canada shelves plans to tighten up border security.

American border officials have backed away from a proposal to erect a fence along the Canada-U.S. border after the plan drew heavy criticism from Canadians. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said late last night that the proposals to build fences and trenches along much of the undefended, 6,400-kilometre border had been sent back to the drawing board. Those two measures were to be discussed in public consultations in a slew of northern U.S. cities in the upcoming months as the border agency looks for ways to make the border more secure. Only about 50 kilometres of the border are defended right now, although aerial drones patrol much of the border in Ontario as well.