Canadian border officers may never return to their vacated office on Cornwall Island, predicts the president of their union.
Ron Moran, president of the Customs and Immigration Union was quoted by the
Montreal Gazette.He told the paper that even after a stalemate between Akwesasne Mohawks and the Canadian government is resolved, border officers may refuse to return to work at the Cornwall Island facility.
The reason, Moran said, is that most of the 37 officers have been told by their physicians that the location, on Akwesasne territory, is too stressful, potentially harming their health.
Moran also predicted that the government will abandon the post, setting up a new customs area at the south end of the Massena-Cornwall bridge next to the U.S. border post.
Canadian officers left the Cornwall Island office on May 31st after Akwesasne leadership said it would not allow the arming of Canadian officers as planned by the government for the following day.
The Mohawks are demanding talks with government officials over the issue of side arms for officers and instances of alleged abuse of Akwesasne Mohawks by Canadian officers.
