Construction of a new Canada Customs and Immigration facility on Church Street here could begin in a matter of weeks after Fort Frances council gave the go-ahead at a special meeting yesterday afternoon.
“I’m not happy with the customs facility but it’s the best we can have with this location,” said Coun. Deane Cunningham. “We have to proceed with the best option Customs Canada has . . . for the good of the area.”
A number of councillors echoed Coun. Cunningham’s reluctant consent to the project but agreed the bridge tolls and the customs facility should be pursued as separate issues.
“As far as the facilities, I very reluctantly vote in favour of it but we’re going to get the tolls whether we have the facility or not,” said Coun. Bill Martin.
The decision rested in the hands of council after months of deliberations between the town, mill managers, and federal rep.
Council had wanted the companies involved, including Abitibi-Consolidated and the International Bridge and Terminal Co., to reveal beforehand any toll increase that might be implemented to cover the costs of the new Customs facility.
The companies had refused, and indicated they would pursue an on-bridge facility if the off-bridge one didn’t go ahead.
In approving the project, council dropped its previous demand.
“The only alternative for our customs and immigration is to have a new facility, I will vote yes for the new facility,” said Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
Only Coun. Struchan Gilson voted against the motion.
“The designs I’ve seen just don’t make sense to me. It just seems wrong to have trucks and things making u-turns,” he argued.
But after passing the resolution approving the proposal, all councillors agreed not to leave the issue of tolls dead in the water.
“We have to pursue a regulator,” said Coun. Cunningham, who pointed out that gas rates and phone rates are regulated by federal bodies and toll rates should fall under the same category.
“There has to be a regulatory body as far as toll rates and how they should be collected,” agreed Coun. Roy Avis.
Council passed a resolution that the matter of toll rates and the effect on the international bridge be presented to the federal government for clarification.
Council also passed a resolution to strike a committee which will pursue the construction of a new bridge here.
“There should be a resolution on the table, we should get a committee together to pursue a new bridge,” Coun. Cunningham said. “We’re talking many, many years down the road but if we don’t start now, it’s never going to happen.”
One by one, every councillor endorsed the idea of a new bridge.
“I think we have to push for a new bridge. People in Minnesota, Ontario, and both, federally, have to get moving,” said Coun. Martin.
“It definitely has outlived its usefulness and we have to get moving as quickly as possible to get a new bridge,” he added. “It’s something to leave our children and grandchildren.”
Town council found itself boxed in a corner over the new Canada Customs and Immigration facility on Church Street and had to wave the white flag yesterday afternoon.
Certainly, there will be those who will accuse council of caving in to the corporate interests of Abitibi-Consolidated and the International Bridge & Terminal Co. and the likes when push came to shove. And frankly, council has only itself to blame.
After all, it had demanded that the bridge owners reveal any potential toll increase needed to cover the cost of constructing the new customs facility before approving the project. And, in the end, it was the demand councillors had to eat.
So much for their line in the sand.
It’s also clear at least some on council approved the project reluctantly–holding their noses, so to speak. Not a great way to convince residents, particularly those pushing for a new bridge in the wake of the recent toll hike, that the right decision was made.
Oh, and that’s not to mention that legitimate questions over traffic flow were basically swept under the rug.
But, to be fair, council was in an untenable position. There’s no question a new Customs and Immigration facility is needed here–not only for the staff who work there but also to make Fort Frances a better gateway to Northwestern Ontario.
And, yes, the clock was ticking.
So council backed down (caved, would say cynics; compromised, would argue supporters) to allow the much-needed and long-awaited facility to proceed.
It was the right decision. Let’s just hope the companies will be equally magnanimous when it comes to any future toll hike.
