Anger is 'rising' in Akwesasne: Mitchell

November 9, 2009 Cornwall Standard Freeholder

The Canada Border Services Agency is using a controversial vehicle reporting requirement at its temporary port of entry in Cornwall to punish and attack the morale of Akwesasne residents, Grand Chief Mike Mitchell believes.

According to Mitchell, roughly 50 Akwesasne residents have had their vehicles seized and been subjected to a $1,000 fine since the CBSA began enforcing reporting requirements for travellers entering Canada from the U. S. That requirement creates a unique challenge for Akwesasne residents as the Canada-U. S. border bisects the First Nations community.

Mitchell said he's been coming to Cornwall on a daily basis to help residents recover their vehicles, and in many cases, the seizures are affecting low-income residents who need their vehicles for work.

According to Mitchell, the guards at the scene appear to be sympathetic to their concerns, but they end up enforcing the rules to the book after they "call Ottawa."

"That's where they're trying to break down morale," he suggested on Saturday evening.

The situation, Mitchell added, is leading to a lot of suffering, pain, fear and anger on the part of Akwesasne residents.

"It's rising because of this unfair treatment," he added.

That tension may have reached the boiling point on Saturday night as an Akwesasne resident was charged by Cornwall police following an incident at the port of entry. City police responded to a request for assistance around 9 p. m. where Akwesasne resident Stephen Barnes was already being held in custody.

According to Sgt. Pierre Lalonde, an investigation revealed the man allegedly "hindered" customs officers by failing to provide identification, and he subsequently assaulted customs officers. No injuries were reported, Lalonde added, and the man was turned over to Cornwall police. He was charged with one count of assaulting a peace officer, three counts of assaulting a peace officer with intent to resist and one count of obstructing a peace officer.

He was released to appear in court on Dec. 24. Lalonde said the investigation is continuing, and no other details were immediately available.

According to Mitchell, the vehicle reporting measures are flawed and unfair because residents don't have any opportunity to appeal.

What's more, Mitchell said the CBSA is relying on cameras at the U. S. port of entry to record the vehicle licence plates, and due to the high volume of vehicles, they're always working in the past.

This past week, they were making seizures for situations dating back to Oct. 9, he said.

"They're literally forcing people to do business on the American side and dissuading them from going to Cornwall," he added.

In a recent email to the Standard-Freeholder, a CBSA spokesperson said it has always been made clear that compliance with the various immigration and customs laws are nonnegotiable.

Mitchell said he intends to continue pushing for mediation -- something that has the support of city council, the Cornwall chamber of commerce, and the Liberal party -- by trying to get the other federal opposition parties on board with the idea. He also plans on addressing city council and the Cornwall business community in the coming weeks.