Canada Border Services has announced it is adjusting the hours of 35 land ports of entry as of January 6th next year. The list includes 12 crossings in Manitoba, including changes in hours at Gretna, Winkler, Windygates and Snowflake.
Gretna will be moving to 8 am to 6 pm, 7 days a week; Winkler is changing to 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week; with Windygates and Snowflake moving to 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week.
The changes were made in collaboration with the United States, and according to a news release from the CBSA, it will allow the agency to use its resources more efficiently by deploying officers at busier ports of entry. The U.S. is also adjusting service hours at many of its ports of entry.
According to the statement, this alignment will also allow both countries to return inadmissible travellers and goods to the other country, which is more difficult when one side of the border is closed while the other remains open.
The adjustments are based on an analysis of operational pressures, peak periods, and services required at the ports of entry, to minimize the impacts on border communities. According to the CBSA, almost all of these ports of entry are processing an average of two or less cars or commercial trucks per hour during the hours that will no longer be in operation, and travellers have an alternative border crossing option within a 100 km radius.