Unauthorized fence constructed at Monument Park

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The sudden appearance of a chain link fence at the end of English Bluff Road in Tsawwassen blocking access to the border had local residents and Canadian media buzzing this week. Who put it there? Was this a reaction to Trump’s close the border proclamations? Who knew?

An email sent by the All Point Bulletin to the Canadian office of the International Border Commission (IBC) produced no explanation. 

“On the Canadian side, IBC’s mandate is supported by the International Boundary Act (see attached). Article 5 stipulates that permission from the Commission must be obtained before constructing any works within 10 feet of the boundary. The IBC did not authorize the work. The Commission was made aware of the situation by your first email on January 17, 2025. The matter is under investigation,” wrote IBC operations manager Simon Bérubé in an email to the newspaper on January 23.

According to the International Boundary Act, “Any work or any addition to a work that is, after July 6, 1960, constructed or placed within ten feet of the boundary without the permission of the Commission may be removed and destroyed by the Commission or its members, officers, employees or agents, and the materials contained in the work or addition may be sold, given away or otherwise disposed of.” 

Calls to the Municipality of Delta by the All Point Bulletin newspaper were not returned. However, an article in the Delta Optimist solved the mystery. Apparently, Delta public works put up the fence following a review of the death of an elderly Tsawwassen man who wandered into Point Roberts from English Bluff Road and subsequently died of exposure in November 2023. Delta Police Inspector James Sandberg was quoted as saying the fence was installed “to reduce the likelihood of individuals inadvertently crossing into Point Roberts.”

Delta city councilmember Daniel Boisvert told CTV News that he was opposed to the fence and would introduce a motion in early February to have it removed.

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