HELENA – Sen. Jon Tester says he doesn’t see any choice but to close a Montana-Saskatchewan border crossing now in the middle of an $8.5 million upgrade if Canada makes good on its promise to shutter its side in April.
The Montana Democrat says that no decision has been made, but the suspension of the stimulus-funded renovation to the Whitetail port will continue while options are discussed.
In August, Canada announced its decision to close the Port of Big Beaver after a review found just five travelers per day used the crossing.
Tester spoke Wednesday, a day after a public meeting in Scobey yielded no consensus. Some advocated closing the crossing, saying the upgrades are too expensive. Others said their farms depend on the cross-border trade.