MASSENA — A U.S. congressman is pursuing the idea of relocating Canada customs near the Massena port of entry as a way of resolving the local border dispute.
Democratic Congressman Bill Owens plans to ask Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to move ahead with the co-location of customs facilities in Massena as soon as possible. The representative for the Massena area said he could have something on her desk as soon as next week.
"We think it makes sense," said Owens of the idea, noting that many existing border crossings have co-located customs facilities.
Owens weighed in on the border situation Friday following a closed-door meeting with MP Guy Lauzon, Mayor Bob Kilger and Massena town supervisor Joseph Gray at Massena's town hall.
Asked if someone dropped the ball by not considering the idea before the new Massena port was built, Owens said he didn't have all of the facts, but he acknowledged it would have made sense to review it at that time.
Lauzon said the meeting was very productive, and they all felt that the priority should be to try and have the Canadian port of entry located as close to the U.S. port of entry as possible. The local MP said both he and Owens will be urging their respective governments to move ahead with the proposal.
Although he didn't have the exact specifics, Lauzon said there's a formal process that would have to be followed to acquire land for a federal agency in another country.
"It certainly is doable, but there is a process to it," he said.
Meanwhile, Gray suggested there is land near the Massena port of entry — such as the now closed General Motors plant site — which could potentially be used as a location for a new Canadian customs station.
The Canadian customs facility on Cornwall Island closed and eventually relocated to the foot of the Seaway bridge in Cornwall last summer following a dispute with the community of Akwesasne over the arming of border guards. Government officials have indicated that all options are on the table when it comes to settling the dispute, and those options would presumably include returning the facility to Cornwall Island or building a new facility in Cornwall or on the U.S. side of the river.
Local politicians now appear to be leaning towards the third option, however both Lauzon and Kilger cautioned that it's far from a sure thing.
"It's very preliminary," Lauzon said.
Kilger said it's a viable solution to the issue, but he warned there are a number of legal and political issues that would have to be sorted out before it comes to fruition. He also noted that building a new facility wouldn't happen overnight. "You're talking new buildings. That's going to take time," he added.
As for what Akwesasne leaders think of the development, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne spokesperson Brendan White stated there a number of options on the table, and they're hoping to arrive at a long-term solution that will address their community's concerns with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
"We haven't received any indication from federal officials or the CBSA that one option is being pursued more than any other," White said.
At this time, all options remain on the table, White added, and Akwesasne is asking to be involved in the decision-making process.
Last month, a CBSA spokesperson indicated that they're continuing to explore a number of options, including the possibility of building a new customs facility in Cornwall or on the U.S. side.
Meanwhile, the interim Canada customs port on Brookdale Avenue will likely remain in place for some time yet, and Kilger said they'll be meeting with CBSA officials later this month to discuss ways of making the port more functional and safe while at the same time improving its overall appearance.