SHAUNAVON — People crossing the Canada-U.S. border will see a major change in hours beginning in the new year at almost three dozen locations across the country, including the Port of Monchy south of Val Marie.
Starting Jan. 6, the Canada Border Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will align their hours to increase security at 35 land ports of entry across Canada, including Monchy.
Currently, the Port of Monchy has varying hours for travellers and commercial vehicles:
Travellers
• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., second Sunday in March to May 31
• 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 1 to Sept. 15
• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 16 to 1the first Saturday in November
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., first Sunday in November to second Saturday in March
• Open seven days a week
Commercial
• 09 a.m. to 5 p.m., second Sunday in March to May 31
• 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 1 to Sept. 15
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 16 to the first Saturday in November
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., first Sunday in November to the second Saturday in March
• Open Monday to Friday, except holidays
New hours starting Jan. 6
According to Karine Martel, media spokesperson for Canada Border Services, the new hours for the Port of Monchy will be:
Travellers
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., second Sunday of March to the first Saturday of November
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the remainder of the year
• Open Monday to Friday
Commercial
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., second Sunday of March to the first Saturday of November
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the remainder of the year
• Open Monday to Friday
Reasons for the Change
“The new hours will put more officers at busy ports of entry where there are higher volumes of travellers and potentially high-risk activities," stated Martel in an email.
According to Border Services, this change was made based on an analysis of operational pressures, peak periods and services required. Additionally, most ports of entry have an alternative crossing option within 50 kilometres or less, and others have an alternative within 100 kilometres at the most. Commercial impacts of these changes are further minimized through pre-arrival and electronic reporting of goods.
For those in the Shaunavon-Climax region, the Port of Climax hours will remain the same:
Travellers
• 09 a.m. to 6 p.m., second Sunday in March to May 31
• 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 1 to Sept. 15
• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 16 to the first Saturday in November
• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., First Sunday in November to the Second Saturday in March
• Open 7 days a week
Commercial
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., second Sunday in March to May 31
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 1 to Sept.15
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 16 to the first Saturday in November
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., first Sunday in November to the second Saturday in March
• Open Monday to Friday, except holidays
