MCA WITHHOLDS SUPPORT OF NEW BRIDGE OPENING

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has learned that the new low-level bridge connecting Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) to the city of Cornwall will open to traffic this Friday, January 24, 2014 at 7 a.m.

MCA does not support the bridge opening at this time, as we have numerous concerns and issues that have yet to be addressed by the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL), the Seaway International Bridge Corporation (SIBC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

These issues include, but are not limited to:

-Failure by CBSA to accommodate MCA’s need for an alternative reporting mechanism on Kawehno:ke. Talks have resumed with federal officials but no agreement has been reached.

-Failure by all three parties to address the back-up of traffic that will continue to occur due to there being just two lanes at the new toll booth plaza

-Failure by all three parties to address emergency-related concerns on the bridge, such as ambulance accommodation and the need to develop a joint emergency response plan with our Emergency Measures Office.

We’ve expressed our community’s concerns in writing and in meetings with FBCL/SIBC and CBSA. Additional meetings are planned in the coming weeks to discuss these matters further. At this time, the issues are unresolved.

For these reasons, MCA will not be participating in any formal ceremonies to open the new low-level bridge.