CORNWALL — Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has turned down Mayor Bob Kilger's request to meet to discuss the temporary customs port in Cornwall.
Kilger sent a letter to the new minister at the end of January requesting a meeting, and the mayor was recently advised by local MP Guy Lauzon that the minister has declined the request.
The decision isn't sitting well with Kilger, who described it as "extremely unfortunate and disappointing."
"I think it's a sad day when an elected mayor, through his elected official, cannot have a meeting with a minister on an issue of such importance to his community," Kilger said. "It's insulting to me, to the community."
The mayor said he wasn't asking to negotiate with Toews, but rather he was simply hoping to discuss the impact the situation is having on the local business community and the need to find a permanent solution.
"I don't see that urgency reflecting itself," Kilger added.
Lauzon said he wasn't aware of the reasons why Toews declined to meet with Kilger. The local MP appeared to be okay with the minister's decision, saying the minister has some "confidential" information at his disposal.
"In my heart of hearts, I know the file is being handled well and properly and with utmost attention," Lauzon said. "I know from my briefings that there's some good work being done at the highest level. I accept that (decision not to meet) as being the appropriate action."
Kilger said he's made a request to senior officials of the Canada Border Services Agency to meet as soon as possible to discuss the situation at the makeshift customs post. The mayor also wants to consult with council on the "next steps."
Kilger noted that the city and the local community has been extremely cooperative and patient since the dispute over the arming of border guards on Cornwall Island first arose last summer. The current situation is much better than having the bridge closed entirely, but it's still not ideal, he added.
Despite the apparent setback, Kilger remains optimistic that a permanent solution will eventually be found.
Toews' decision not to meet over the issue is in line with the position of his predecessor, Peter Van Loan. From the outset, Van Loan maintained the border guard arming initiative was an operational issue, and as such, he refused to get personally involved despite repeated calls from local civic and business leaders to do just that.
The turn of events could serve as further ammunition for some councillors who believe the city needs to turn up the heat on the issue. Earlier this week, Coun. Mark MacDonald suggested the city may have to apply some "political pressure" to get some action out of the government.
"We can't just keep letting it go," said MacDonald, who plans to raise the issue at council's next meeting on March 22.
During his own parliamentary career, Kilger served stints as the chief government whip and the liaison for then-Prime Minister Paul Martin, and he said he can't recall a time when a meeting request from a mayor was turned down. Had it happened, "there'd be hell to pay," Kilger added.
Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.
The CBSA set up the temporary port on Brookdale Avenue last July following a dispute with the community of Akwesasne over the arming of border guards at its Cornwall Island facility.