CROSSING THE LINE

Who controls the U.S.-Canada border?

It doesn't seem to be the federal government - at least, not the
elected government.

A proposal to close the Aldergrove border crossing to commercial
traffic seems to be totally driven by Canada Border Services Agency
staff, and quite possibly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Langley MP Mark Warawa, who is a government MP, does not want the
border closed to commercial traffic and plans to make representations
to Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan on the subject.

Warawa would actually like to see the border become a 24-hour
crossing, a position that many Langley residents and businesses would
back.

As Warawa points out, there may be some legitimate security concerns
that need to be worked out. Increasingly. commercial shipments are
being used for smuggling. Recently, a Langley trucker who was crossing
into the United States at Sumas was found to have almost 1,750 pounds
of marijuana concealed inside a cattle trailer - one that was being
used to ship cattle to the U.S.

This level of sophistication isn't surprising, given the amount of
money to be made in the drug trade. It's a key reason why border
security must be as up-to-date as possible.

As Warawa states, there needs to be proper equipment at Aldergrove and
other border crossings to properly scan commercial vehicles.

The elected U.S. Representative for the district that includes the
border, Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen, also wants to see the
crossing open 24 hours a day. However, it is unclear what position the
Department of Homeland Security is taking on commercial shipments
through the crossing.

From a business point of view, it is essential that the Aldergrove
crossing stay open for commercial shipments - even if there are some
restrictions on those shipments. Highway 13 is a direct route from
Highway 1 to Bellingham. Gloucester Industrial Park is close to the
border, and it is a significant economic advantage to have a border
crossing nearby.

Rather than Canada Border Services Agency and the Department of
Homeland Security arbitrarily deciding to close the local border
crossing to commercial shipments, there needs to be significantly more
dialogue with the business community on both sides of the border.

Elected officials also must be listened to - after all, they are
elected by local residents so that they have a voice in the affairs of
the national government.

This issue needs far more discussion before any decisions are
made.