🧭 Beyond Queen’s Park: Fortress AMCAN and the Border Debate Begins

Trade is only the first domino.

With Mark Carney’s minority government now formally opening negotiations with the United States on a new “economic and security partnership,” the second — and far more controversial — phase of Fortress AMCAN is also being negotiated: the movement of people.

If trade defines our markets, people define our nations. And as Canada and the U.S. explore what a “economic and security partnership” could look like, it’s clear that the next few months of talks won’t just be about tariffs and infrastructure. They’ll be about who gets to cross the border, work, live, and build lives — and under what rules.

🌐 Labour Mobility: A Coming Conversation

While the early AMCAN talks have focused on trade and security, there are strong signals that labour mobility could be the next item on the table.

Mark Carney has spoken broadly about a “new economic and security partnership,” which — if modeled on EU-style integration — may include discussions around credential harmonization or streamlined visa categories for skilled workers.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has long championed interprovincial credential recognition and has pushed for stronger economic ties with the U.S., particularly in energy and workforce sectors. While no formal plan exists, Ford has publicly framed Canada–U.S. integration as part of Ontario’s long-term growth strategy.

Cross-border labour movement already exists in specific sectors — trucking, tech, entertainment — but a more structured “mobility agreement” would represent a major policy shift. As negotiations evolve, Canadians may soon face real questions about what a continental workforce could mean for sovereignty and economic opportunity.

🛂 What Does “Borderless” Really Mean?

Let’s be clear: this wouldn’t be EU-style open borders — at least not yet. But if a joint trade and security partnership is being negotiated, the border itself is now a policy target — whether leaders admit it or not.

Donald Trump has called the Canada–U.S. border an “artificial line” on multiple occasions — a deliberate signal. For a man obsessed with control, he’s unusually eager to dissolve this particular boundary. Why? Because Fortress AMCAN isn’t just about what moves. It’s about who moves.

And that means free movement of people is very much in play — from snowbirds to skilled labourers.

What would that look like?

• Will Canadians soon be able to live and work in the U.S. without a visa — and vice versa?

• Will there be fast-track residency programs for cross-border commuters and retirees?

• Will the U.S. and Canada begin harmonizing refugee or asylum rulings as part of shared security enforcement?

None of this has been finalized — but it will be negotiated. In fact, those talks may already be underway.

And make no mistake: the “security” part of this deal is as much about border management as it is about global threats. With the Arctic rising in strategic value and snowbird movement down sharply, the Carney–Trump negotiations may aim to redefine how we treat the border — not just regulate it.

🧱 The Real Border Fight: Physical vs. Psychological

Here’s the truth: the Canada-U.S. border has never been the problem. It’s peaceful, efficient, and — compared to nearly every international border — practically invisible.

But borders are more than fences. They’re mental lines we draw to define who we are, how we live, and who belongs.

If the AMCAN era introduces seamless worker movement, cross-border careers, and harmonized policies, the physical border might still exist — but its meaning will erode. That may be economically efficient. But is it what Canadians want?

We haven’t been asked.

📌 Final Word

The border might stay where it is. But its function is changing. And that change is being negotiated without public debate.

It’s time for Canadians to get loud. Because Fortress AMCAN isn’t just about goods alone. It’s about people. It’s about you.

📍 Beyond Queen’s Park is GTA Weekly’s ongoing look at the rise of Fortress AMCAN — the proposed North American economic and security union that could reshape Canada