Letter to President Lizotte-MacPherson, Canada Border Services Agency - Address Long Wait Times at the Peace Bridge

Letter

I write today to address long wait times at the international border crossings from the United States into Canada in New York State, which have persisted over a number of years, but have become increasingly worse over the course of this summer. As you know, smooth, safe, speedy crossings between our two nations is critical to the economic vitality of both the U.S. and Canada. Businesses on both sides of the border depend on international traffic, and these delays have a serious impact on retail stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and other tourist destinations.

Over the last two weeks, I have heard reports of travelers coming from the U.S. into Canada waiting up to two hours, due to understaffing on the Canadian sides of the Rainbow, Lewiston-Queenston, and Peace Bridges. Delays are expected on the weekends and other peak times, but travelers are now experiencing these delays in the middle of the day on weekdays. I understand that staffing can pose a significant challenge, particularly in the summer months. However, delays at these bridges are not a new problem. The lack of predictability of bridge wait times disincentivizes travelers on both sides of the border, which means our shared economies are missing out on valuable tourism dollars, particularly in the summer months.

I urge you to look into and address this matter immediately. Appropriate staffing levels at international border crossings are paramount to the prosperity of our regional economy. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

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