Tester announces expanded hours at Port of Wild Horse

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today announced that starting this year the Port of Wild Horse will begin its expanded summer schedule nearly three months earlier than normal.

The Port of Wild Horse, on the Canadian border northwest of Havre, will open to traffic at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. beginning March 1.  The hours will remain in effect through October 31. 

Tester got U.S. Customs and Border Protection to keep the Port of Wild Horse open longer last year.  In the past, the Port of Wild Horse operated during its expanded summer hours only between May 15 and September 30.

“This is great news for Havre and northern Montana because it’s good for businesses and good for our economy,” said Paul Tuss, executive director of the Bear Paw Development Corporation.  “Senator Tester understands how important it is to expand opportunities along the Northern Border.  We appreciate his work in increasing hours at the Port of Wild Horse.”

The Canadian government has not yet agreed to expand hours at its Wild Horse port of entry.  As long as the Canadian port is closed, travelers will not be able to enter Alberta from Montana.  But travelers coming from Alberta will be able to enter Montana as long as the U.S. Port of Wild Horse is open.

“The bottom line is today’s announcement is good for Montana,” said Tester.  “In these tough economic times, encouraging trade with Canada to boost local economic activity just makes common sense.”

The Port of Wild Horse will resume winter hours (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.) November 1 through February 28.