The mayor of Cornwall, Ont. is demanding Canada's public safety minister take steps to reopen an eastern Ontario border-crossing that's been closed since the beginning of June.
"The honourable Peter Van Loan must come to the table to assist us in resolving this matter, which on a daily basis is becoming more and more serious," Mayor Bob Kilger said at a meeting held by the local Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
Van Loan did not attend the meeting, which brought together most of the players involved in the border dispute.
The federal government closed the border on Cornwall Island in advance of planned protests by the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation over the arming of border guards on June 1.
The issue has been an ongoing dispute between the federal government and Mohawks, who have staged several protests over guns at the Cornwall Island border-crossing, which is located on Akwesasne territory.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne says guns at the border aren't necessary and maintains the community was never consulted on the issue.
Meanwhile, Van Loan has made it clear he won't back down on arming border guards. The issue was a promise made by the Conservatives during the last federal election and he said the government intends to keep that promise.
As the protest drags on, Van Loan has also said the government is examining the long-term viability of the border-crossing and is considering moving the border off aboriginal territory.
The border closure is already having a devastating affect on the Cornwall community, where some businesses have seen a 20 per cent drop in traffic. Some business leaders are also considering relocating their operations as a result.
In the meantime, travellers who intended to use the Cornwall Island border-crossing are asked to use the crossing at Dundee, Que., located 45 minutes east of Cornwall; or the crossing at Prescott, Ont., about 45 minutes west of Cornwall.
