Council gave the green light to a new customs facility here but only after the corporation turned on the power.
For a while there, it looked like clear minds and logic would win the day but alas, the one-horse town mentality raised its ugly head again. The majority of the town council bowed to the wishes of the corporation.
The winner is the corporation, of course. They have their money-making industrial bridge and a new off-bridge customs facility, which will be paid for by the bridge users.
The loser is the travelling public. That public, after waiting in line and paying through the nose to cross an industrial bridge to enter Canada, will find themselves in a glob of traffic mayhem at Canada Customs that they never thought possible.
Welcome to Canada, have a nice day.
I am well aware the corporation is this area’s major employer. But I am also aware that over the last 35 years or so, roughly 550 jobs have been lost through automation by the corporation.
One of the automated operations of the corporation, which should be of great concern to the bridge users, is the use of remote-controlled locomotives on their train tracks.
If anyone is interested in having tourism as our primary industry, now is the time to speak up. As long as we have our nightmare bridge, forget it.
Mr. Gartshore mentioned future toll increases could be phased in over the next 40 years. Please, another 40 years of this bridge? Give me a break!
Thumbs up to the Fort Frances town council for passing a resolution to actively pursue the building of a new bridge. I just hope that they do not have to say “Captain may I.”
Respectfully,
but disappointed,
Ron MacGregor
Fort Frances, Ont.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
