The border between British Columbia and Alaska will no longer be open 24 hours a day. In an e-mail conversation with the Canada Border Services Agency, they confirmed the amendment of operating hours at the Stewart Port of Entry.
The CBSA reviews port operations on a regular basis throughout the region to ensure they are effective and efficient and after careful consideration, said the CBSA, the port will now only be open from 8:00 a.m. through until 12:00 a.m., seven days a week.
Photo credit: TBWG website.
The port was assessed for traffic and business volumes, type of traffic, and closest alternative port of entry or service location. After reviewing port volumes and passage statistics, it was determined that services outside of the primary operating hours were under utilized and thus, should be reassessed.
“In making a decision to change services for travellers, the CBSA makes every effort to reach solutions that will benefit Canadians while ensuring security requirements are not compromised,” said the CBSA. “While the CBSA recognizes that the change in hours will affect some, the agency remains committed to the free flow of legitimate goods and people across the border, and will provide the flexibility necessary for the CBSA to process the ongoing demand for their services. The change in hours will not results in job losses for CBSA.”
In addition, the CBSA said that emergency services to surrounding communities will not be impacted by the border service revisions.
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons.
