Harvey Newman, his wife Brenda and their company, Island Trucking, are a lifeline for the residents of Campobello Island.
Newman, 73, has been transporting all manner of goods from the New Brunswick mainland via Maine since he was 17. Their bonded truck is essentially the only way to get goods from the rest of Canada to Campobello when the limited seasonal ferry from Deer Island isn’t running, and it runs only four or five months each summer. Additionally, their bond makes it possible for other companies to deliver building materials, groceries, dairy products, plumbing and electrician services and more to the island.
Normally, their operation works like a well‑oiled machine. The Newmans report having great relationships with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Calais and Lubec, and their cargoes routinely transit from Calais to Lubec and back into Canada at Campobello without incident.
That was not the case, though, on Tuesday, September 29, when Newman stopped at the U.S. border in Calais. Just as he does every day, he reported at the CBP office and presented his bill of lading to the officer, expecting his truck to be sealed for transit through Maine. But that Tuesday was different. At midnight, the Trump administration’s latest salvo in the trade war with Canada took effect, and Newman was caught in the crossfire. On board his truck he had four pallets of Canadian alcoholic beverages destined for the grocery store on the island. Imports of Canadian alcohol into the U.S. were blocked by the new regulations, and the CBP officers interpreted the law as saying that the alcohol could not go through, even though it wasn’t being imported.
After lengthy but cordial discussions and appeals to higher authorities and still no resolution, Newman made the decision to turn his truck around, reenter Canada and return via Deer Island. Brenda Newman completed various U.S. customs forms, and he set out, finally reaching Campobello at 3 p.m., much later than usual. The booze made it to Campobello, but that wasn’t Newman’s biggest concern that day.
He could have unloaded the alcohol in Canada and returned through Calais with the rest of the load. But that would have taken too long. Along with the alcohol, the truck was carrying Canada Post mail as well as a large delivery of prescription medicines and vaccines that had to get dispensed without delay at both the health center and Campobello Lodge, the local nursing home. So Newman went via Deer Island to ensure delivery that day.
As Brenda Newman worked through the documentation, she left a message for Harvey Matthews, mayor of Campobello, informing him of the incident and of their work around.
John Williamson, the member of Parliament for Charlotte Southwest, upon hearing from the mayor, reached out to Global Affairs Canada and to U.S. Ambassador Pete Houkstra. Susan Holt, premier of New Brunswick, and various other officials have also been involved in discussions, negotiations and press statements to address the issue.
By 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, the situation appeared to be resolved and Newman was told that alcohol can once more transit via Maine to Campobello on his truck. However, there has yet to be any formal announcement or press release.
Williamson, pointing out that he is the only MP in Canada who must travel through a foreign country to reach some of his constituents, comments that Campobello is “a piece of territory in this country that isn’t being provided services that are available everywhere else in Canada.” The incident renewed calls by politicians and the public for a year‑round ferry to Campobello from the New Brunswick mainland.
This isn’t the first time that CBP has interfered with Island Transport’s truck. In 2019 Canada Post packages, sent via the bonded truck, were being opened and searched by CBP officers.
At that time, a public affairs officer for CBP stated that CBP officers “possess broad search authority to ensure the safety and admissibility of all goods entering the United States. This includes the ability to inspect and search all persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in – or transiting through – the United States.”
The current situation drew international attention. Newspapers, TV channels and the internet spread the story far and wide. Rumors, false and inaccurate information abounded. Millions of viewers, readers and listeners heard the news, and commentary circulated widely. But Brenda Newman was surprised that “not one politician nor any press took the time to contact us to learn what really happened.”
Campobello Value Foods, reacting to the uncertainty generated by all the news coverage, elected to have another supplier make its delivery via ferry the next day, at additional expense to avoid any stock outages.
Canada’s Privy Council Office was asked for comment on the steps being taking by the Canadian government in response to this situation. As of this writing, there has been no response apart from “we received your request and are working on it.” However, in an earlier email to another news source they stated, “The Government of Canada is assessing the implications of the new U.S. import restrictions for this supply route and is working with partners, including relevant U.S. authorities and the Government of New Brunswick, to determine next steps to support reliable access to essential goods, services and mail for the residents of Campobello Island.”
Regardless, Island Trucking has been making its scheduled run each day since the incident without any issues.