Border MLAs Unite to Fight Border Crossing Cuts
BOISSEVAIN — PC MLAs representing ridings along the Manitoba–U.S. border have sent a letter urging Premier Wab Kinew and his NDP government to take immediate action against federal cuts that will reduce operating hours at a dozen ports of entry in southern Manitoba in the new year.
“We all know criminals don’t just operate from 9 to 5,” said Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk. “So why isn’t the premier fighting to keep these border crossings open in the evening to deter illegal activity and ensure vital cross-border access and services are maintained for communities near the border?”
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced in November that operating hours at 12 crossings, from Lena to South Junction, will be reduced starting Jan. 6. These cuts coincide with alarming increases in illegal border activity. In the first ten months of 2024, illegal crossings soared by 14%, according to the CBSA. Additionally, the agency reported seizing 19 illegal weapons from travellers this year, a 73% increase from 2023.
“Border security is already an issue in southern Manitoba, and these cuts will make it worse,” said Borderland MLA Josh Guenter. “We need stronger security measures at the border to stop human traffickers, illegal migrants, and drug smugglers. Our communities deserve to be safe.”
The proposed cuts also threaten the economic and social fabric of Manitoba border communities. Thousands of Manitobans rely on evening access to border crossings for business, essential services, and community events. The free flow of goods and services is critical to southern Manitoba’s economy.
“We’re calling on Wab Kinew to stand up to Ottawa,” said La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth. “The Kinew government must push to restore the hours of operation at these ports of entry and put more boots on the ground to increase border security—not less.”
Manitoba faces a disproportionate share of the CBSA cuts, with one-third of all affected crossings in Canada located in the province. The cuts come amid heightened tensions between Canada and the US, including Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. The NDP government has so far refused calls to strike an all-party committee to address U.S. trade and border security concerns, and the impacts on Manitoba.
“The border is a lifeline for southern Manitoba communities, and it’s the government’s duty to protect it,” said Piwniuk. “If Wab Kinew and the NDP won’t fight for our safety and our economy, we will.”
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Letter
