McHugh pushing border initiative

WASHINGTON — Rep. John M. McHugh has urged the Obama administration to rekindle talks with Canada over shared border facilities, a move that might rescue a plan for joint operations on Wellesley Island.

Mr. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, and Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, wrote to President Obama, urging him to consider the issue as he prepares to travel to Canada on Feb. 19.

Talks between the United States and Canada broke down last year, reportedly because the Canadian government could not accept U.S. demands to take fingerprints from people who go through an initial screening at the border, then change their minds and decide to stay in Canada.

But the lawmakers have pressed for those talks to continue. They told Mr. Obama they believe the challenges of sharing border stations are surmountable.

"This issue is critical to protecting our shared national security interests, while facilitating trade and commerce across the border and limiting adverse effects on local communities," they wrote.

The lawmakers pointed out the economic cost of delays and congestion at the border, which officials believed could be reduced with larger, jointly run border stations. One would have been located in Canada, at the Peace Bridge across from Buffalo, with another one on U.S. soil at Wellesley Island.

The Canadian government has neither called for, nor dismissed the possibility of renewed talks.

"Canada is committed to working with the United States to ensure that we manage our shared border in a manner that meets our important security and economic objectives. We remain committed to exploring ways of meeting our mutual needs," said David Charbonneau, a spokesman for Public Safety Canada, in a statement Monday.