Residents of the County of Warner in southern Alberta are facing a significant change in their daily lives. A remote road known as Border Road, which has been used freely by Canadians for decades, will soon be off-limits without an official border crossing. This road, located in Montana, has been vital for local residents as it connects with numerous Alberta roads.

For many years, the County of Warner had an agreement with Toole County, Montana, where the U.S. county provided gravel while Warner maintained the road. This partnership highlighted the close ties between the two counties. However, starting in July, Canadians will no longer be able to access Border Road without going through a border checkpoint.

Warner's Reeve, Randy Taylor, confirmed the timeline for this change after a meeting with U.S. Homeland Security. "Nobody likes change, but I think it has been coming for a long time," Taylor said. "It's unfortunate, but it's going to happen."

In response to the new restrictions, the County of Warner plans to construct a new gravel road on the Canadian side of the border. This decision comes amid heightened border security measures implemented by both the Canadian and U.S. federal governments. Alberta recently announced a $29 million border security initiative, which includes the formation of an Interdiction Patrol Team with the authority to make arrests in a designated area near the border.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have also increased their border security efforts, including more frequent helicopter patrols. These changes are partly in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's claims linking tariffs on Canada to concerns about fentanyl smuggling. However, data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates that seizures of fentanyl from Canada account for less than one percent of total U.S. seizures of the drug.

Local rancher Darcy Wills expressed concern about the impact of the new restrictions. "On the Canadian side, people access the road for their day-to-day activities. Whether it be farming activities or going to town, they use that road, and it's been a perfectly acceptable way of doing business," Wills said. He criticized the plan to force Canadians to build a new road, calling it an unnecessary duplication of services.

Warner's Reeve, Taylor, acknowledged that residents are generally unhappy with the change but expressed optimism about the new road. "I think once it's built and everybody gets used to it, it's going to be just fine. It'll be better for both law-enforcement agencies," he said.

The Alberta government has verbally agreed to fund the new road, and Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen stated that the county is already making progress on its design. Construction is expected to begin late this fall or early next year, pending funding approval. Dreeshen emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining safe and reliable connections for residents and local businesses despite the changes.