Owens: Shared Massena port-of-entry option moving forward

MASSENA — The Canadian government has informed the U.S. government it’s ready to discuss siting a shared port of entry in Massena, according to Rep. William L. Owens.

Until 2009, the Canadian customs booths at the Seaway International Bridge crossing were on Cornwall Island, which is part of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. When the Canadian government made a move to arm its customs officers, protests from the Mohawks closed the bridge for six weeks and prompted the checkpoint to be temporarily moved to Cornwall, Ontario.

Since then, the Canadian government has considered four options for the future of its customs booth: creating a shared port of entry in Massena, making the temporary station permanent, returning to the island or closing down the bridge. Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, said the shared port of entry option took a step forward this summer.

“A month to six weeks ago, we were notified that the Canadian government had put in a formal inquiry to the (U.S.) State Department,” he said. “That is the first step in this process. Because it’s going to be located on U.S. soil, the Canadian government made an inquiry, which then starts the process to do a co-location on U.S. soil,”

The inquiry to the State Department is indicative of the interest in a shared port of entry, Mr. Owens said.

“That’s the most significant thing that’s happened in this process because it means the governments are actually on it,” he said. “When you send a formal inquiry, you’re not doing that blind, you’ve already had some conversation.”

A shared port of entry would enhance border security and protect the region’s economy, Mr. Owens said.

“It eliminates the potential for us to have another shutdown at the border,” Mr. Owens said. “The Mohawk community likes this idea as well. We really have all three groups behind this idea. The biggest boon to us is it prevents a potential shut down in the future.”

But any customs relocation is still at least a year away, according to Natalie Glister, a Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson.

“In August 2011, the CBSA determined that we would remain at the current interim location for at least another year,” Ms. Glister noted in an email.

The CBSA is still mulling all four options, but is shifting away from the possibility of returning to Cornwall Island, Ms. Glister noted. She declined comment on any inquiry the CBSA had submitted to the U.S. State Department.

“It is not a practice of the CBSA to comment on statements/reports made by others,” she noted.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer is continuing to advocate the shared port-of-entry option.

“We must secure our borders and stamp out smuggling in a way that is smart, tough and effective, while not eliminating much needed cross-border commerce,” Mr. Schumer noted in a prepared statement. “Shutting down a vital border crossing like the Seaway International Bridge is a bad idea that should be jettisoned, but establishing a shared Canadian-American port of entry in Massena is a great idea that would improve our security while removing impediments to cross border travel that cost our businesses much-needed revenue.”