Canadians like new 24-hour border plan, Havre leaders say

HAVRE, Mont. – Plans for another 24-hour border crossing have gotten an enthusiastic reception north of the border, said officials and civic leaders from Havre after a meeting with counterparts from southeastern Alberta communities.

“The Medicine Hat officials have already begun talking to their government about the border proposal,” Havre Area Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Wimmer said Tuesday.

“They’re all for it.”

The plan calls for round-the-clock hours at the Wild Horse crossing, about 40 miles north of Havre.

The crossing is now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. The nearest 24-hour crossing is Sweet Grass, about 125 miles west.

“We’re trying to generate public support,” Wimmer said. “We need letters of support from the public, city officials and our legislative leaders. If we don’t have local support, we’re not going to get anywhere with this initiative.”

He said the change’s primary benefits for Havre would be growth and economic development.

Approval would be needed from both U.S. and Canadian federal officials and Wimmer said it could take years to achieve the schedule change. City officials from both sides of the border plan to meet again next month on the issue.

“It is another indicator of the good relations between northern Montana and southern Alberta,” said Medicine Hat Mayor Garth Vallely after Friday’s meeting.

Bow Island Mayor Alan Hyland also said he liked the Havre leaders’ idea.

“This was tried 17 or 18 years ago and we had people on both sides of the table today who remember that,” he said.

“Now it’s time to do this and go forward.”