After years of negotiating, and months of controversy, town council brought debate over the new Canada Customs and Immigration facility here to a close with its approval of the project Monday night.
By approving two changes to zoning bylaws and the closure of streets for the project, the town removed the final hurdles preventing construction of the off-bridge facility from getting underway.
The approval came despite the opposition of a number of local residents who attended three public sessions on the proposal held throughout the day Monday at the Civic Centre.
“The residents of Fort Frances and others are paying for this facility and that’s why we have an interest and that’s why we’re here tonight,” Cathy Richards, a member of the “Citizens for a New Bridge Committee,” told council Monday night.
“This is the first time we have been allowed to speak but I’ve heard it’s a done deal,” she charged. “The bottom line is we are compromising, everyone knows that, everyone has said that.
“We ask as a committee that you hold off on the zoning changes.”
Some of the roughly 50 people on hand Monday night carried signs and buttons opposing the project for several reasons, including potential safety hazards related to traffic exiting the facility, the effect on the Tourism Information Centre here, and concern a new Customs facility would be a deterrent for plans to build a new, publicly-owned bridge linking Fort Frances and International Falls.
The new facility also has been blamed for the toll increase on the international bridge, which the companies have hiked to recoup the cost of building the facility. And another jump is likely once the final price tag is known.
“So far, this will be the third Customs facility in my lifetime, same bridge, though,” noted resident Ron MacGregor. “Please let’s not keep making the same mistake and I ask that the re-zoning not be passed.”
But in the end, council approved the new facility by a vote of 6-1. Coun. Struchan Gilson was the lone dissenter.
Actually, the push for a new facility came from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, which claims the current facility is inadequate and unsafe.
“On Jan. 1, 2001, Customs will be required to regulate all firearms coming into Canada. That will be a nightmare at the current facility,” Gary Gustafson, the CCRA’s regional director, told council Monday night.
Abitibi-Consolidated and Boise Cascade, which own the bridge through wholly-owned subsidiaries, are required to pay for the facility under federal law. They have been negotiating with the town and working on an acceptable plan since 1996.
Local lawyer Larry Eustace, representing Abitibi-Consolidated at all three public meetings Monday, offered information and presentations in support of the new facility, including KGS consulting engineer Roy Houston.
“The option we’ve ended up with here is not perfect but it’s the best we can do with what exists in a reasonable manner,” Houston noted.
Although council finally approved the project with members stating it was necessary in order to accommodate Customs operations, there appeared to be reluctance on the part of several councillors.
“This is not an ideal situation,” admitted Coun. Dave Bourgeault. “It’s been difficult for me to sit down and wrestle with it.
“There have been some concessions from Revenue Canada and the owners of the bridge, and there is probably going to have to be concessions from the public,” he reasoned.
“I also don’t think this facility is in the right place,” agreed Coun. Deane Cunningham. “We’ve had long and arduous discussions on this and this is probably the best we can do with what’s available.”
Coun. Cunningham also noted letters had been sent to both provincial and federal government reps about the lack of a regulatory body for tolls on the bridge but no reply was received.
“The company was allowed to raise their tolls without having any regulatory [body] review them,” he said.
But only Coun. Gilson voted against the bylaw.
“I do support a new Customs facility but I honestly believe it’s in the wrong place and I’m going to vote against the bylaw for that reason,” he said.
Throughout Monday’s discussions, Mayor Glenn Witherspoon pledged to continue pursuing the possibility of building a new bridge here–a project everyone agrees will take plenty of time and work.
“We are forming a committee with International Falls and other levels of government,” the mayor said. “This is not going to happen tomorrow but in my personal opinion, this [Customs] project will not affect that.
“The big thing is just to get it started and see how big the snowball gets.”
And, as requested by the town, letters have been received from both mills assuring council they will not oppose any plans to build a new bridge.
“I believe there is a viable plan on the table in front of you, it beats the majority of the problems. I support it and the company is behind it,” said Jim Gartshore, local general manager for the Abitibi-Consolidated mill here.
“We do not object to a new bridge. We don’t want to participate in it, we don’t want to pay for it, but Abitibi-Consolidated and Boise Cascade do not object to the construction of a new bridge,” he stressed.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
