Making It To The Border

The Canadian and United States joint border played big in the news this week. First Langley Township found that the Aldergrove Border Crossing which has been open to truck and vehicle traffic seven days a week from 8:00am to Midnight, may be closed to truck traffic. This was discovered when officials were having discussions about a 24 hour Aldergrove crossing. You can read more about this here.

Actually, a neighbour of mine and his wife are Canadian border officers and  he told me all about the truck challenges some 5 months ago. He said that with a lack of truck inspection facilities, this requires border officers to direct trucks for secondary inspection to the Pacific crossing where they have the screening equipment. He suggested that if the truck traffic is sent to Pacific or Peace Arch that might make a 24 hour standard vehicle crossing at Aldergrove a reality. Should we keep both types of vehicles and remain open only until midnight, or should we move truck traffic to other borders and expand Aldergrove to 24 hours service?

Mayor Rick Green spoke of this border issue at the last council meeting, and indicated that he agrees with the Chamber of Commerce and other groups that are fighting for a continuation of truck and vehicle traffic at the Aldergrove crossing. I guess it could all be resolved if the Canadian federal government expanding the size of this border station, and provided them with the costly scanning. But, it appears having trucks and passenger cars at Aldergrove will preclude a 24 hour service here according to my neighbour. There are only so many people resources to go around.

Next, the US Customs border guards seized 134,838 ecstasy pills from a Vancouver women at the Peace Arch border crossing. This mother load is valued at approximately $2M. I guess that amount of money causes some people to become fools, if she is in fact guilty. I guess we should say it is alleged, wink, wink.

I can recall a time prior 9-11 when the US and Canada talked about the possibility of an unmanned border between the two countries and more of a North American defense zone. That would have been great for both countries and a boom to both economies. But at what cost? It's tragic that drug traffic must spoil our nations and cause walls to go up. I'm hopeful that through technology, vetting and clearances of low-risk travelers and  related solutions,  we can turn the border into an asset for Canada and the USA. Looks like this lady will get a great taste of the US prison system if convicted. Not too smart madam!