Improvements to be made to ports of entry on Manitoba-U.S. border

BOISSEVAIN, Man. -- The federal government has announced it will spend $25 million to improve infrastructure at the Boissevain, Cartwright, Lena and Crystal City ports of entry in Manitoba.

The money is part of the $440 million in infrastructure funding announced last November to replace aging ports of entry across Canada.

Construction work is planned to begin as early as 2017.

The government says in a news release that the infrastructure improvements will help meet demands for more space and will ensure that smaller ports of entry deliver "service excellence" to those crossing the border.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney calls it a demonstration of the government's "ongoing commitment to the safety and prosperity of our country."

The money will be spent on improvements to structural, mechanical and electrical systems at the crossings.