The Canada Border Services Agency is not sticking to its claim the third lane of the temporary customs plaza is available for letting emergency vehicles into Cornwall.
Despite a new lane being built on Brookdale Avenue beside the international port of entry to allow the CBSA to use an existing lane, the third lane has rarely been seen open since it was said to be available as of Dec. 14.
The CBSA issued a statement a few days later saying the third lane "will be used as needed to reduce border wait times," although the Standard-Freeholder and Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, who goes through the port several times a day, has never seen the lane in use, even when there are long lines on the Seaway International Bridge.
On Saturday at around 1:30 p. m., an ambulance coming from Cornwall Island could be seen driving north on the bridge, on its way to clear the port, while an official stopped traffic waiting to clear the southbound toll booth at the Cornwall end of the bridge.
There were several vehicles waiting with little waiting room available, a line that could have gotten in the way of traffic flow on Brookdale had it been a bit longer.
The northbound ambulance was allowed to use the southbound lane to clear the port, bypassing a customs inspection, and make a U-turn onto Brookdale to head south into Cornwall.
The CBSA did not open the third lane to facilitate the movement of any emergency vehicles when needed, as had been said would happen.
The lane was closed, with construction pylons and two CBSA vehicles blocking it.
"The CBSA will do its best to minimize delays without compromising the safety and security of the travelling public, our staff and the communities we serve," said the CBSA in a recent statemen.
Talks to discuss the dispute that closed the permanent Cornwall Island port of entry on May 31 could resume in the near future, according to Mitchell.