OTTAWA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's decision to limit Canadians' access to the main entrance of an iconic library straddling the two countries' border has sparked strong public reactions in the Canadian border town, CBC News reported on Friday.

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, located on the borderline of Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line in the U.S. State of Vermont, has been declared a heritage site in both countries and is considered a symbol of harmony between them.

For over a century, Canadian visitors have been able to access the main entrance on the U.S. side via a sidewalk without needing a passport. However, this practice will soon come to an end, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced plans to implement a phased approach at the library to align with its mission of achieving "100 percent border security."

Beginning in the coming days, only individuals with library cards and staff members will be permitted to enter the building from Canada through the main entrance. Also, starting Oct. 1, Canadians will no longer be allowed to access the library from the United States without passing through the border checkpoint, said the CBP.

The new restrictions emerged amid heightened tensions between the United States and Canada, historically close allies.

According to the CBC report, Jody Stone, Stanstead's mayor who grew up in the area, said the restrictions undermine the spirit of cross-border collaboration in the area.

Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library's board of trustees, said she was told by a U.S. border patrol officer earlier this week about the coming restrictions, and she was "sad, disappointed, even angry."

"They're finding a high-profile location on the border that represents community, harmony, goodwill and cooperation between our two countries and they're trying to shut that down," Canadian resident Sarah MacNeil was quoted as saying in the CBC report. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)