A top Akwesasne official says the Canada Border Services Agency could be moving its operations to the U. S.
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell has heard unofficial talk from his sources, whom he would not name, that serious consideration is being given to setting up a permanent Canadian port of entry near the U. S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Roosevelttown, New York.
Such a move would put an end to months of speculation as to where the port of entry would end up permanently since May 31, when the CBSA closed up the customs post on Cornwall Island.
It was that night when customs officers were ordered to leave the post during a heated Mohawk protest against a plan to arm the officers on June 1.
On July 13, the CBSA opened a temporary port of entry in Cornwall at the end of the international bridge to get traffic moving across the border again under pressure from area businesses and municipal governments.
In the meantime, Akwesasne leaders and CBSA officials have discussed ways of ending the dispute, but no permanent solution has been found.
Talks have been in neutral since September when the CBSA began seizing the vehicles of Akwesasne residents for failing to report to customs.
Mitchell said the idea of relocating Canada customs to the U. S. is "worthy of discussion."
"I think it would solve more problems than it would create," Mitchell said.
The CBSA would only say that it "continues to explore options for a viable long-term solution."
"We remain committed to ongoing discussions with all stakeholders to resolve current issues," wrote CBSA spokesperson Patrizia Giolti.
"Our main priority remains border security and to facilitate the free flow of legitimate travel and trade across the border," Giolti added.
Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon said using the old U. S. customs building -replaced recently by a much larger, $70-million facility -has always been a viable option on the table, among close to 20 others.
Lauzon maintains the dispute is an operational issue that must be resolved between Akwesasne and the CBSA, unless federal policy changes following an act of Parliament.
HELD HOSTAGE
Meanwhile, the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce claims "the area is being held hostage by the bridge impasse and it's time the community takes action."
"It's up to each of us to create a sense of urgency with both the federal government and leaders of the Akwesasne community," said president Scott Armstrong.
Armstrong was responding to the results of a plebiscite showing 75% of Akwesasne residents want the CBSA back on Cornwall Island.
The Chamber president also highlighted that more than 40% of those who said yes to the CBSA are comfortable with border services officers being armed while working on Mohawk territory.
Armstrong said the fact that no new talks are planned is "unacceptable."
Mitchell said recently that Akwesasne leaders and CBSA officials have been in contact and are attempting to set an agenda for future talks, but noted that the CBSA has been hesitant in light of pending legal action by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
Armstrong said the Chamber's efforts to get federal Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan, whose ministry is responsible for the CBSA, to visit the Cornwall and Akwesasne area have been unsuccessful.
"Our MP and Minister Van Loan appear completely disinterested and have clearly made a choice to take no action in helping to resolve an issue so important to our community," Armstrong said. "We are at a point where a long-term impact may be irreversible. The volatility of this port of entry is crippling our community. Tourists and shoppers are dismissing us, not knowing if the bridge is open or based on the incredible wait times. Businesses trying to transport goods in or out of the area are incurring increased costs that are threatening their future."
Lauzon told the Standard- Freeholder he could not comment on whether or not Van Loan's travel plans include Cornwall and Akwesasne.
A ministry spokesman said Van Loan is well-versed in the issues of the dispute, but made no mention of a trip to the area.
Lauzon said he is keeping Van Loan up-to-date on the border dispute on a daily basis.