Editor:
Re: No border closures (Dec. 21 issue of the Grand Forks Gazette)
I would like to thank Stephen Hill for pointing out the positive impact that the re-opening of the Midway Mill has meant for Midway and surrounding area. His efforts certainly helped make this happen.
In regard to the potential closure of the Midway border, I wrote the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Vic Toews on Dec. 16.
The following day, I received a call from one of his assistants informing me that there are no plans to close any of the border crossings mentioned in the leaked report and any final decision to be made would rest with the minister.
I asked for a written confirmation of this, but have not yet received a reply.
The mayor of Midway and others have also contacted the minister. It is important for other concerned citizens and organizations to remind the federal government that the closure of the Midway and Chopaka crossings, and reduced services at Nelway and Cascade, are simply not acceptable.
The minister can be contacted as follows:
By post: The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
By email: publicsafety.gc.ca/abt/min-eng.aspx or vic.toews@parl.gc.ca
By phone: 613-992-3128
By fax: 613-995-1049
Alex Atamanenko,
MP BC Southern Interior