Border checkpoints back up in Labrador West
LABRADOR CITY — There have been checkpoints on both sides of the Labrador-quebec border for weeks to try to limit travel between the provinces to essential services only. The Quebec government removed the checkpoints on its side on June 1, and the next day the checkpoint on the Labrador side was taken down, much to the surprise of local politicians.
Labrador City Mayor Fabian
Benoit said he was on a call with the Labrador MP, MHAS and mayors when he got a message to contact the RNC. He did and was told the checkpoints would be going down that day.
“So we spent most of the day trying to figure out what was happening and this morning we got the news that the RNC would be back manning the checkpoint,” he said. “We’re still trying to figure out where the decision came from and how it happened, to get an understanding of where we are.”
Benoit said they expected something to change because Quebec had taken down its checkpoint and had been in talks with the local government in Fermont on a plan to make sure residents could safely cross the border. Benoit said from what he understands there are still about 100 people crossing for work or medical services each day.
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary media relations officer Const. James Cadigan told Saltwire Network that RNC officers have been helping staff various checkpoints in the province, and are doing so in support of health officials. He said they adjusted the schedule in Labrador West at their request, but have now committed to continued coverage.
“Monday there was a period where no one was at that border,” Cadigan said. “Tuesday morning, we had redefined our commitment to 24/7 coverage regardless of health officials and other commitments in that area.”
Cadigan said RNC officers would remain at the border until advice from the chief medical officer tells them otherwise.
Labrador West officials have expressed concern about the border, and travel to and from the area, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The towns of Labrador City and Wabush had set up checkpoints on their own initially to try to restrict travel to and from the region, and Benoit said they’ve faced a lot of kickback from the provincial government.
“We got to the point where we decided to do it and hope for the best and deal with the consequences afterwards. We made a lot of decisions that aren’t easy, and I don’t feel like we’ve had much support from the provincial government along the way,” he said.