May 22, 2009
Business reacts negatively to border closing plans
Closing the Aldergrove/Lynden border to commercial trucking is bad news for the economy and truckers, say Fraser Valley chambers of commerce, and the B.C. Trucking Association.
Louise Yako, vice-president of the Trucking Association, said the Canadian Border Services Agency formally wrote the association April 30, asking for comment on the proposal.
And the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, along with other Lower Mainland chambers, has sent a letter of protest, signed by the presidents, and the mayors of four municipalities including Township Mayor Rick Green and City Mayor Peter Fassbender, to the federal minister responsible, Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety.
“We are the only organization CBSA formally consulted,” said Yako, who said her organization informed the chambers of commerce.
She was writing a report to CBSA and will send it directly to the federal minister responsible, Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety.
And on Wednesday, Langley MP Mark Warawa said he had hosted a meeting some time ago with Kim Scoville, CBSA director, Pacific Highway, Pacific Region, and the mayors of Langley, and the chamber.
The issue was touched upon “briefly, we knew it was being considered.
“I think the solution is not to stop commercial traffic, we need to provide the proper equipment, to scan (for security) commercial traffic,” Warawa said.
He said he wants to meet with the minister and Scoville to discuss the issue, and whether or not it is a temporary closure that is proposed, until new scanning equipment can be installed.
“Long-term, we want to have that border open (to commercial traffic),” he said.
Warawa said he has also discussed the border crossing with Congressman Rick Larsen, of Washington state. Larsen, a Democrat, represents the district that includes the border crossing.
“We are both on the record of wanting 24-hour openings (at Aldergrove),” Warawa said.
Currently, the border crossing is only open from 8 a.m. to midnight.
Yako told The Times the trucking association conducted a survey of members, with “a very good response.”
“Sixty-eight companies responded, about 14 per cent of the (commercial vehicle) traffic at the three border crossings, Huntingdon, Aldergrove and Pacific.
“They were overwhelmingly against the closure even though (some) of them don’t use Aldergrove,” said Yako.
Those companies that don’t use Aldergrove are concerned about congestion at the other crossings, if one of three ports of entry is closed to commercial traffic.
Yako said the BCTA notified the chambers to let them know the issue was under consideration.
“I’m just actually working on my draft now,” said Yako on Wednesday. The deadline to reply to CBSA was Friday.
Dave Gormley, development manager at the 700-acre Gloucester Industrial Estates, said that while some tenants use the Aldergrove crossing, it is already currently limited for shipping. Trucks crossing the border cannot carry shipments to more than four U.S. destinations.
“More than four destinations, (commercial trucks) must go to 176 (Pacific) or the Sumas (Huntingdon),” Gormley said.
“Most seem to hit 176 because I think they want to hit the interstate,” he said.
The letter to Van Loan from the chambers of commerce and the local mayors states that the four Southwest B.C. border crossings (including Peace Arch) are the routes for all U.S. traffic to and from Southwest B.C., and notes that Transport Canada currently ranks the Aldergrove crossing 12th for truck crossings in Canada.
When the Golden Ears Bridge opens this summer, “this crossing will provide a more direct north/south route for traffic between I-5 in the U.S. and the north side of the Fraser River. . .” the letter to Van Loan states.
The mayors’ and chambers’ letter states: “The undersigned wish to reiterate absolute opposition to any reduction in services, and our support for increase in the hours of operation, and continued commercial services at the Aldergrove/Lynden Port of Entry.”
The letter will also go to local MLAs and MPs, federal and provincial ministers of transport, the regional director general of CBSA, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon.
The Times was unable to reach Langley Chamber manager Lynn Whitehouse, who is out of town, and chamber president Kevin Staples for comment.
And CBSA’s public relations department requested that a list of questions be forwarded to them for consideration by Scoville.
