Akwesasne – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has learned that the new low-level bridge connecting Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) to the city of Cornwall will open to traffic this Friday, January 24, 2014 at 7 a.m.
MCA does not support the bridge opening at this time, as we have numerous concerns and issues that have yet to be addressed by the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL), the Seaway International Bridge Corporation (SIBC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
These issues include, but are not limited to:
-Failure by CBSA to accommodate MCA’s need for an alternative reporting mechanism on Kawehno:ke. Talks have resumed with federal officials but no agreement has been reached.
-Failure by all three parties to address the back-up of traffic that will continue to occur due to there being just two lanes at the new toll booth plaza
-Failure by all three parties to address emergency-related concerns on the bridge, such as ambulance accommodation and the need to develop a joint emergency response plan with our Emergency Measures Office.
We’ve expressed our community’s concerns in writing and in meetings with FBCL/SIBC and CBSA. Additional meetings are planned in the coming weeks to discuss these matters further. At this time, the issues are unresolved.
For these reasons, MCA will not be participating in any formal ceremonies to open the new low-level bridge.
I wouldn’t even risk walking on that bridge let alone driving on it. With the kind of very poor engineering done I would never take that risk.
What many don’t understand(me included) that the CBSA policy forcing people to report back to them the minute they leave the United States affects every resident of Canada.
We can go on forever what brought about this huge CBSA facility going up of prime park land but the fact remains for the next 10-20 yrs this setup, which the government spokesman is trying to sell as a temp setup, is just not believable.
My buddy made this mistake and it wasn’t pleasant
They start off with “We can confiscated your vehicle”
you might face a $1,000 fine. CBSA agents stopped the car for over 40 minutes
Rejean pointed out that the vast majority of agents he had met over his career were kind, decent and respectful but you don’t always run into this kind of agent
Hopefully as they go thru their career at CBSA they will learn that giving respect earns you respect
Holy Jumpin’, Jules! You must stay pretty close to home. It’s hard to go anywhere without going over a bridge.
THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE
half page front page story at Standard Freeholder
CKON reports NEW bridge is like driving on THE RIVER
“be careful on the south side of the new bridge….it’s like riding on the river ice bridge and very rough….old bridge is blocked off with cement barriers….pay attention to the new traffic patterns and drive safely!!”
These reports dedicated to CBSA agent who treated my old sick uncle like a criminal
So then if it is like riding on the river then you might as well put skis on your vehicles and go water skiing. LOL LOL. I knew it, I knew it – some idiot sure screwed up badly. Then if I walk across the bridge you can say that I am walking on water. LOL LOL.
Furtz I have only gone over the bridge maybe ten times in my lifetime since I never wanted to go to the US and never needed to. We have everything here at home and I prefer to keep the jobs here in Canada. This morning we went over to St. Laurent Shopping Centre and my husband was looking for some slippers (yes bedroom slippers) and as soon as he looked at a price (hold on to your chair Furtz I don’t want you to pass out in shock or heart attack) but the price was $79.00 yes I am not kidding you at all. That was at The Bay Store. My husband said right away “Wally World here I come”. LOL LOL. Paying so much money for junk made overseas makes absolutely no sense at all.
Claudette MacIntosh you said it best. We haven’t been over to Massena since 1991 at the latest and never wanted to go since we were treated very badly by the CBSA coming back. While going over back in 91 the American agents were really nice but coming back was hell. Never again is what I said and we never went back. After reading and hearing what is going on now I would never ever set foot in the US ever again. The days that were good are gone forever.
We’ve never had any problems with CBSA agents coming back from the U.S. and we’ve been going over for over three years. As for keeping money / jobs in Canada when the federal gov’t cuts out the tariffs, taxes and marketing boards we will do all our shopping in Canada. Until then we will continue to do some of our shopping in the U.S. Even taking into account the bridge toll both ways we are still saving money. Meat, dairy and groceries in general are usually about 1/3 to 1/2 chepear in the U.S. In regard to having to report immediately to CBSA once leaving the U.S. if you want to stop on the island to pick something up do it on the way to the U.S., not on the way back. We figured that one out the first week going over after talking to some Cornwall residents.
Everything is much cheaper in the US and that I sure do agree with you. Our taxes are way too expensive here in Canada and we buy only what we need and nothing more. Travelling to the US from Ottawa to shop would not benefit us at all. We will never forget the treatment of the CBSC coming back at all and it is was very insulting. I have read so many people on the net saying the same things about them and I felt that I wasn’t alone. You would think that it would have been the other way around but it wasn’t. I have read where Americans said the same thing about our border agents and had lots to say in a very negative way about them. We would never ever step foot over the border and come back and be treated like that ever again.
Forty years ago a CBSA agent went out of his way to make my uncle’s life miserable one night.
My Uncle did the same to him..I won’t publicly shame(the retired agent) but he is around here often
Fast forward to a snarly female agent who seemed intent on “putting a scare” into us or something
not quite sure..in the end we laughed inside at her..went on our way.
Now this is the same CBSA accused by high American Officials in a Canadian Press story of calling in bomb threats after the Canadian Gov announced job cuts in their ranks.
So glad Hugger has sailed thru the border..but..his luck will run out sometime, then he too will be shocked, how they treat innocent Canadian citizens.