CTV Ottawa has learned the federal government will consider moving an eastern Ontario border crossing near Cornwall if native protests over armed border guards continue.
Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger told CTV Ottawa if the government wants to move the border crossing to another location in the area, now is the perfect time.
Native leaders also said they would welcome a new border crossing into the United States, as long as it's not on their territory.
The border at Cornwall Island remains closed as Akwesasne Mohawks continue to protest the government's move to arm border guards with handguns.
The Canada Border Services Agency was supposed to start arming border guards on Monday, but closed the border just prior to midnight on Sunday in advance of the planned protests.
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said arming the guards was a promise made by the Conservative Party during the last election, and the government intends to uphold that commitment.
On Monday, he indicated the border won't reopen until the Mohawk community accepts the reality that border guards will be armed with handguns.
The issue has been an ongoing dispute between the federal government and the Mohawks, who have staged several protests over guns at the border, which is located on Akwesasne territory.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne says it was never consulted about arming the border guards, even though the border crossing is located near a residential area.
Although Mohawks have asked for a meeting with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl to discuss the issue, they say they were told the minister was unavailable to meet with them.
Meanwhile, Ontario's aboriginal affairs minister says although he plans to continue to urge the federal government to speak with Akwesasne Mohawks about their concerns, he doesn't plan to co-ordinate a meeting between the two sides.
Brad Duguid says it's important for Ottawa to enter into "meaningful dialogue" with the Akwesasne because the border dispute is keeping families apart.
But he denies talk that he has offered to help arrange a meeting between the protesters and the public safety minister.
RCMP officers are currently only allowing local traffic and emergency vehicles to cross the Cornwall Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall Island.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne held a meeting Tuesday night to discuss the need to open the bridge to all traffic. The Council says the bridge will not fully reopen until the council is able to gather the results of the community consultation.
Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine is putting his support behind the Mohawks in their negotiations.
Travellers who intended to use the Cornwall Island border crossing are being asked to use the crossing at Dundee, Que., located 45 minutes east of Cornwall; or the crossing at Prescott, Ont., about 45 minutes west of Cornwall.
As many as 4,000 vehicles pass through the border crossing at Cornwall Island every day.
With files from The Canadian Press
