Hours of service are being reduced at Canadian border crossings at Tolstoi, South Junction and Piney. The Canada Border Services Agency says starting November 26th, the hours at Tolstoi will be reduced to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the summer and to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between Labour Day and Victoria Day. At South Junction, the hours will be reduced to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the fall and winter. And in Piney, the hours will be reduced to 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the fall and winter.

Provencher MP Ted Falk says the move is not sitting well with residents.

"My office has already been inundated with emails and concerns over the reduced hours. I had a phone discussions Monday with the director for the Southern Manitoba district of the CBSA, Yvonne Bremault, and we discussed it and I expressed my concern with the reduction in hours of service as this, I believe, will very negatively affect our Canadian residents."

Falk notes a number of people in the RMs of Piney, Stuartburn and Emerson-Franklin work in the U.S. and rely on the border to be open when their shift ends. He adds some people in municipalities along the border also attend medical appointments in the U.S. and they will have a tougher time making it back before the ports close. Falk notes if people don't make it back before the ports close, they will be forced to take a big detour via either the Sprague or Emerson crossings.

Falk says he will meet this week with Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to express his concern. He adds the Canada Border Services Agency will also hold public meetings next week to get feedback. He adds this is chance for concerned citizens to try and have the decision overturned. The meetings are scheduled for Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Piney Community Centre and Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Tolstoi Ukrainian National Hall.

"I would encourage people to attend these community meetings. Ms. Bremault will be there presenting her proposal and she is looking for community feedback. I would encourage people even from outside of those municipalities we've talked about previously, to make sure they come down to Tolstoi or come down to Piney, attend these meetings, voice your concerns and I think there is an opportunity for the department, if they actually hear the concerns, that they may reverse that decision."