International borders can sometimes be difficult or even dangerous to cross; at a minimum, they tend to be inconvenient with long lines and wait times.
We are fortunate that the border we share with the United States is relatively secure and our official crossing points are safe and well-managed. The border is an important part of our lives, and we are about to learn just how important they are to our personal and professional lives as well as our safety.
The joint decision by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reduce the hours of operation at 35 land border crossings, including three of our local ports of entry, is hard to understand.
The permanent changes, which were announced without warning and apparently very little consultation, come into effect on January 6. The Herdman, Trout River and Lacolle Route 223 ports will all see their operating hours halved, as will the corresponding stations on the American side in Chateauguay, Constable, and Rouses Point. The decision has sparked outrage among politicians on both sides of the border as well as citizens, who are now left facing major disruptions to their everyday lives.
A statement issued by the CBSA suggests that the impacts on communities factored in their decision, which reflects a gross misunderstanding of life along the border. We may joke that border ports closing at 6 p.m. will mean no more late-night hot-dog runs, or that ski bums will have to forget about hitting powdery slopes at Titus Mountain after dark, but the consequences to the local economy and our border communities will be real and vast.
The impact on families with dual citizenship living on either side will be devastating, as new hours will serve as a curfew. Those who cross for work will have to contend with long detours if work schedules fall outside border operating hours. It remains to be seen, as well, whether first responders will be able to cross during off-hours in the event of an emergency. If not, this presents a safety risk to hundreds whose homes line the border.
The shared Canada-U.S. border is not a solid line, as anyone living in a border town will tell you. Small-town neighborliness extends across territorial divisions. Shared cultures exist, as do shared services that are essential in rural areas. We need to speak out loud and clear against this decision, to protect our borders which represent so much more than just a crossing point.
Sarah Rennie