Protect Rural Routes
On November 18, 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency and US Customs and Border Protection announced they were aligning hours of operation at 35 land ports of entry across the country effectively reducing hours of service at more than a quarter of all land border ports in Canada. This decision will have devastating effects on border communities.
It is clear that the Agency never had any intention of engaging in meaningful consultations with border communities and local stakeholders, despite the significant impact of this reduction in hours of service on families and businesses.
CBSA claims that this reduction in service will “enhance overall security for both countries,” but closing ports more often does not make the border more secure anymore than it improves access for local communities. By restricting personal and commercial cross-border traffic, the Agency risks impacting families, local businesses, industries and community organizations, forcing them to travel further — early in the morning or late in the evening — to access goods and services.
Canadian communities cannot afford a reduction in service at the border.
We are calling on anyone who is impacted by a reduction of hours of service at ports of entry to join us in the fight to #ProtectRuralRoutes.
Hours of service will not change until January 6, 2025.
It’s not too late to act!
Tell your MP and Minister of Public Safety Dominic Leblanc that CBSA and the federal government need to reconsider their decision and maintain existing hours of service at affected ports. If aligning American and Canadian ports is a priority, then any change should maximize hours of service, not reduce them.
Submit a service complaint directly with CBSA through their online form.
CAMPAIGN UPDATES
As the situation around the potential shortsighted and ill-advised decision to reduce port of entry hours of service – or to outright close ports – further develops, we will do our best to provide timely updates and communications here. We also encourage you to sign up for our newsletter below to be added to our mailing list.
LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY SHARED BY AFFECTED WORKERS’ UNIONS
SECOND LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY
THE ONLY TIME TO ACT IS NOW
Share your Story !
The reduction in hours of service at rural ports of entry across the country will have detrimental impacts to our communities and local economies. We want CBSA to know about these impacts, and we need to hear from you! Tell us how the reduction in hours of service at your port would impact you, your family, your business and your community.
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