By Ruby Pratka

Local Journalism Initiative

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is adjusting the hours of 35 land border crossing points across the country, including 10 in Quebec, as of Jan. 6. The agency made the announcement on Nov. 18.

“Today’s announcement, determined in collaboration with the United States, will enhance overall security for both countries. It will allow the CBSA to use its resources more efficiently by deploying officers at busier ports of entry. This will support the CBSA’s ability to process travellers and goods as well as to manage enforcement activities,” the agency said in a statement. “The U.S. is also adjusting service hours at many of its ports of entry. This alignment will also allow both countries to return inadmissible travellers and goods to the other country, which is more difficult when one side of the border is closed while the other remains open.”

For the ten Quebec border crossings affected – Chartierville, Clarenceville, Frelighsburg, Herdman, Hereford Road, Highwater, Lacolle Route 221, Lacolle Route 223, Noyan and Trout River – this will mean reducing opening hours. The Chartierville crossing, previously open from 8 a.m. to midnight, will close at 8 p.m. after the changes take effect. The Clarenceville crossing, currently open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., will close at 4 p.m. The Herdman and Trout River crossings, now open 24-7, will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Frelighsburg, Hereford Road, Highwater, Noyan and Lacolle Route 223 crossings currently open 24-7, will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Lacolle Route 221 crossing, also currently open 24-7, will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“Better alignment of service hours between Canadian and U.S. ports of entry increases the overall security of the border. Both Canada and the U.S. are making changes to hours of services to better align with each other,” CBSA spokesperson Karine Martel said in an email exchange with the BCN. “The new hours will put more officers at busy ports of entry where there are higher volumes of travellers and potentially high-risk activities.”

She added that the changes were made based on analysis of travel data. “Data indicated that most of these ports of entry process an average of two or less cars or commercial trucks per hour during the hours that will no longer be in operation,” said Martel. “For the majority of these ports of entry, there is an alternative crossing option within 50 kilometres or less, and others have an alternative within 100 km at the most. Commercial impacts of these changes are further minimized through pre-arrival and electronic reporting of goods.”

The CBSA declined an interview request.