Federal government to reduce hours at 12 Manitoba border ports of entry

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This article was published 18/11/2024 (343 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Municipal leaders in Winkler, Morden and the RM of Stanley are upset after the federal government announced a reduction in hours at the Winkler-Walhalla border crossing, one of a dozen Manitoba ports of entry to have hours of operation shrink.

The crossing, which currently sees traffic cross the border from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, will close at 8 p.m. starting Jan. 6 at 12:01 a.m.

“We are certainly disappointed,” said Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens on Monday shortly after the border crossings were announced by the Canada Border Services Agency. “There’s an awful lot of traffic which goes back and forth across the border there.

“We are in an era where it is hard to do business. To have to reroute to Emerson, because the border is closed, is a significant detour. It is one more challenge to a business.”

But Siemens said it could have been even worse for his area and for Manitoba itself.

“We’re very happy at least they left Emerson at 24 hours,” he said. “There had been rumours even that could be affected.”

Public Service Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu said the government is “disappointed and concerned to learn about these unilateral proposed changes to the Tolstoi border port of entry’s operational hours.

“We urge the federal government to listen to Manitobans who use this crossing to access essential services, businesses that sell their goods to those down south, or families who will be separated from one another,” said Sandhu in a statement.

“Our government will continue emphasizing these concerns and working with the federal government to ensure these harmful changes don’t move forward.”

CBSA spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said the changes to crossing times at 35 land ports across the country help align the hours with the adjacent American sites.

“Better alignment of service hours between Canadian and US ports of entry enhances the overall security of the border and allows both countries to return inadmissible travellers and goods to the other country, which is more difficult when one side of the border is closed while the other remains open,” said Purdy.

“It also allows the agency to place our officers where higher volumes and risk activities have the potential to occur.”

As well, Purdy said CBSA research found that during the hours being cut “almost all of these ports of entry process an average of two or less cars or commercial trucks per hour.”

In a letter, to CBSA on Aug. 30, Siemens, RM of Stanley Reeve Ike Friesen and Morden Mayor Nancy Penner said they wanted “to express their deep concern regarding any potential reduction in the hours of operation.

“As the political leaders in our community, we have witnessed firsthand the vital role this border crossing plays in our communities’ daily lives and economic well-being.”

They said the border crossing was more than a point of entry into Canada.

“It is a lifeline that supports various facets of our region’s functioning,” said the letter. “Many people rely on this crossing for visits with family and access to services and amenities located on both sides of the border. Additionally, businesses in the region depend heavily on the consistent and reliable operation of this crossing for the seamless flow of goods and services.

“It is imperative that we continue to support the connectivity and economic health of our region through the uninterrupted operation of this essential border crossing.”

Friesen said the cut hours “will definitely affect border towns.

“People won’t be going for dinner and coming back earlier. They likely will go somewhere else.”

And Friesen worries that if traffic goes elsewhere, and the number of crossing goes down, more hours could be cut in future.

“Who knows what will happen next?” he said.

The new hours for the Cartwright, Coulter and Lena locations will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., down from 9 p.m. The Coulter and Lena locations are open to commercial traffic for the same time on weekdays only, except holidays.

The Gretna and Tolstoi locations will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of 10 p.m., while South Junction and Winkler will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., when they had been open from midnight and 10 p.m. respectively.

The new hours for the Crystal City, Goodlands, Piney, Snowflake and Windygates locations will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, when all had been open to 10 p.m.

On the U.S. side, the Neche (Gretna) and Walhalla (Winkler) ports will expand their operating hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., respectively.

Several ports will permanently maintain their current hours — St. John (Lena) and Westhope (Coulter) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Lancaster (Tolstoi) from 8 a.m to 6 p.m.; and Carbury (Goodlands) and Maida (Windygates) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Antler (Lyleton) port will temporarily expand its hours for 120 days, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said its hours at the Hannah (Snowflake), Hansboro (Cartwright), Pinecreek (Piney), Roseau (South Junction) and Sarles (Crystal City) ports will align with those of their respective Canadian ports.

Beyond the 12 Manitoba locations, hours are being adjusted at 10 border entry locations in Quebec, six in Saskatchewan, four in New Brunswick, two in British Columbia and one in Alberta.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca