KFBB: Canada to Mirror Hours at Port of Wild Horse During Pilot Program
Local, national and Canadian leaders met in Havre Tuesday to discuss the Port of Wild Horse. The roundtable discussion was sponsored by US Senator Jon Tester who has been pushing to make the port open around the clock.
Last summer, US Customs and Border Protection announced it was extending the Port of Wild Horse’s summer hours as part of a pilot program to see if it warrants being open 24-7. Tuesday, Canadian officials announced their side of the port will also have extended hours for private and commercial vehicles starting March 28th.
“The point here is to provide Montanans and the businesses of Alberta an opportunity to demonstrate that if we build it, they will come,” Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection Alan Bersin says.
Throughout the pilot program, USCBP will be evaluating traffic through the port. “[We’ll see] What is the increase in traffic? And then, as a government and as a community and across the border with our colleagues in Canada, evaluate whether or not the costs are compensated for by the benefits,” Bersin explains.
