O Canada, pay up

March 16, 2010 Cornwall Standard Freeholder

CORNWALL -Billing the feds a half million dollars to host Canada Day in Cornwall is the latest attempt to force action on the longstanding temporary customs facility off Brookdale Avenue.

City councillor Mark Mac-Donald says every day the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facility remains at the foot of the bridge, it's costing local residents and businesses time and money, plus stalling development of the new low-level bridge, a project MacDonald said is integral for Cornwall's growth.

"What happens is we put an idea on the table and it's ridiculed. They say we can't do that," MacDonald said. "Well, somebody else come up with an idea. What are we going to do, let this go on? It's an idea and it's out there."

MacDonald's motion, which goes before city council on Mar. 22, comes just days after Public Safety Minister Vic Toews rejected a meeting about the customs facility with City of Cornwall officials.

"(Toews) didn't even respond to our letter. He responded to our MP," MacDonald said.

"He's appointed after being elected by constituents, and he doesn't want to get involved? It just doesn't make sense," the councillor added. "He says he has the information, but he doesn't want to do his job. They seem to want to let it play out until it resolves itself."

Local MP Guy Lauzon is also the head of the Canada Day committee, which uses Lamoureux Park for the July 1 celebrations.

Lauzon acknowledged that while MacDonald may be attempting to make a point over the customs facility issue, he has never received direct correspondence from the city councillor on the issue.

"I don't think the two issues are related," Lauzon said of Mac-Donald's motion.

"This is a volunteer committee. I'm there as a volunteer, not an MP. I was chair of the committee before I was an MP."

Lauzon said the annual Canada Day celebrations receive a Heritage Canada grant. Last year, he said, the committee received $3,000.

MacDonald said he came to the $500,000 figure after multiplying $2,000 by the approximate number of days the temporary customs facility has been open. The facility was installed last July.

"It's not that I want to stop Canada Day," MacDonald said. "They can go ahead and have a celebration. What leverage do we have? Is it going to stop Canada Day celebrations? No, not if they pay the $500,000."

Mayor Bob Kilger wouldn't comment directly on the Canada Day motion until it comes before council, but he offered a thought on council being creative with trying to get the attention of the federal government.

"We're exhausting every idea possible," Kilger said. "And we'll explore ideas with council in the future."

MacDonald's motion, seconded by Coun. Mary Anne Hug, also states that the "development of our new low-level bridge is directly tied to this issue and its construction would be a huge benefit for both Akwesasne and Cornwall."

MacDonald and Hug were the two councillors in November of 2009 who introduced a motion to impose a deadline on Akwesasne and the CBSA to resolve the customs issue.

According to the city's chief administration officer, Cornwall has received $56,721 in compensation for the initial barricades and police work needed for the initial days of the makeshift customs facility.

The city is nearly ready to file a second invoice in excess of $85,000 for roadwork to widen Brookdale Avenue near the customs facility.