Canadians allocate $2M for Wild Horse

Canadian officials announced Tuesday that $2 million will be allocated to make upgrades at facilities on the Canadian side of the Port of Wild Horse, the result of years of lobbying by Canadian and American business and civic leaders.

Among those present during the announcement at the port were Havre Mayor Tim Solomon and Paul Tuss, executive director of the Havre-based Bear Paw Development Corp.

The money is being designated as part of a $440 million effort by the Canadian government to modernize 77 ports of entry along the U.S-Canadian border. Some $113.65 million will be set aside for border crossings in the prairie region.

LeVar Payne of Medicine Hat, who represents the Wild Horse area in the Canadian Parliament, made the announcement inside the aged port of entry's garage.

"Once it was announced that the $440 million was available for the 77 ports, that was my first inquiry, where does the Port of Wild Horse stand?" Payne said.

Payne could not specify details, saying the project's designs have not been completed, but he said construction is slated to begin sometime in 2017.

Payne and 14 business and civic leaders from the Wild Horse Border Committee, a group from Montana and Alberta, have been urging lawmakers on both sides of the border to modernize their facilities and expand hours in order to increase the flow of commerce and travel between southern Alberta and the Hi-Line.

Tuss, a longtime advocate of the upgrade and of expanding hours at the port of entry, said the Tuesday announcement is encouraging.

"What this is telling me, this particular investment is telling me, is that those federal entities are listening to what we have to say about the importance of international trade for economic development purposes and, in this case, for Montana."

But there is perhaps nobody who is looking more forward to the upcoming renovations then those who work in the current facilities. Outside the window of the Canadian office is a large U.S port of entry constructed in 2010 with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Now, the Canadians at the Wild Horse port can look forward to new more modern quarters to work from.

"It's really exciting for us," said Daryl Anderson, superintendent of the Canadian Wild Horse port. "It's going to allow us to be more efficient, clear traffic quicker, and it's going to provide a better environment for officers to work in. It's just going to be nice to have something brand new and be proud of to work out of."

Still, there is much work to be done. Board members say they will continue to push for expanding hours that the port is open. Currently the port is only open between 8 a.m.-9 p.m. between May and October and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the winter.