With nothing in the way of a public announcement, the Canadian government has “paused the processing of new and renewal applications” for a program that allows travelers to cross into certain remote parts of the Boundary Waters region. 

“The Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Program is not suspended and existing permit holders may continue to use their permits to cross the Canada-U.S. border,” said Karine Martel, who works as communications advisor for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Martel shared the information with Paddle and Portage Nov. 11.

This stands in contrast to information shared with Paddle and Portage earlier in the day, when officials at the Canada Border Services Agency in Thunder Bay said the program was, in fact, suspended. Martel said the pause in processing permits is so that the agency can “work on reviewing and updating our procedures.” When asked to clarify what that statement means, Martel did not respond as of the time this article was published. 

At this time, active RABC permits are valid until they expire, according to Canadian officials, though they won’t be renewed if the “pause” of the program continues. Permits are valid for one year from the time they were issued. All previously issued RABC permits that have expired will still be considered for renewal, and U.S. citizens can still apply for a new permit at this time, Martel said. That said, due to the pause, any renewal or new applications are likely, at best, to be sitting in a queue or holding phase until the “pause” of the program ends or some other factor intervenes. 

Nonetheless, the news, which has not been shared publicly by Canadian or U.S. officials, is not landing well with business owners, anglers, paddlers, and others who utilize the popular RABC program. 

“It’s a bummer,” said Donny Sorlie, the co-owner of Chippewa Inn on the Canadian side of Saganaga Lake near the end of the Gunflint Trail. “The worst part of this whole thing is that nobody said anything about it.”

Unless this policy is changed in the months ahead, snowmobilers, anglers, canoeists, and property owners on lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail won’t be able to access Canadian border waters if their permit expires or if CBSA does not end the pause on processing new permits without first entering Canada through the Pigeon River crossing, or another official port of entry. 

Sorlie and his wife, Lisa, bought Chippewa Inn in 2023 from the Powell family. Sorlie told Paddle and Portage Nov. 11 that guests have already reserved cabins for 2025, and he is very concerned about how they’ll be able to access the small resort if RABCs are not an option. 

“As new business owners, Lisa and I hope that the Canadian government will continue offering a remote access mechanism for our guests and the many cabin owners and recreationalists who have a deep love for, and a strong connection to Saganaga Lake,” Sorlie said. 

The RABC permits allow U.S. citizens to cross into Canada on some border lakes from Lake Superior over to Rainy Lake without stopping at a customs checkpoint, such as the Pigeon River entry point in Grand Portage. These permits cost about $30 to process and must be renewed annually. If RABC permits are not renewed or available, people hoping to access the Canadian side of Saganaga Lake will need to enter from Northern Light Lake or Trout Bay Road, Sorlie said. 

“Those are rough roads back in there,” he said. “That access is tough anytime of the year.”

This is the second time in recent years that RABC permits have been either suspended or paused. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all travel between the U.S. and Canada was suspended, with the RABC permits being suspended until 2022. Recently re-elected Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting that RABCs be available in 2022, telling this reporter that year that, “Minnesota and Canada both benefit from a healthy, reciprocal border crossing relationship,” Stauber said. “Especially during the summer months, our shared border area is a hub of economic vitality as tourists from around the world look forward to visiting our shared wilderness and lake areas.”

Paddle and Portage reached out to officials from Stauber’s office for comment on the current pause of RABC permits. Representatives have told several Cook County residents they are aware of the situation and will be contacting Canadian officials as soon as this week to learn more. 

The RABC system has been in place for decades and has been effective in facilitating border crossings for individuals who live in remote areas and are unable to check-in at an official point of entry, Stauber said previously. It is also utilized by paddlers who enter Quetico Provincial Park through Cache Bay from the end of the Gunflint Trail. Paddle and Portage contacted Quetico Superintendent Trevor Gibb if the Cache Bay Ranger Station would be open in 2025 if the RABC program remains paused or is officially suspended and did not hear back by the time this article was published. 

In addition to snowmobilers anxious to go ice fishing on the border lakes this winter, or paddlers hoping to enter Quetico through Cache Bay at the end of the Gunflint next summer, there’s confusion and tension as to why the RABC program is currently on pause.  

“We’re just trying to figure out why this is happening and where it’s going to end up,” Sorlie said. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.