FREDERICTON, N.B. — The dream of a more open border between Maine and New Brunswick seems far off in the distance, but Premier Bernard Lord believes it is still a possibility.

Two weeks ago, the premier spoke with the U.S. ambassador to Canada about the hope for a freer flow for the trade of goods across the border between New Brunswick and Maine.

But on Thursday, when Lord crossed the border from Maine into Canada, the experience was one he had never been through in his entire life. Before even reaching Canada Customs in their vans, Lord and his delegation were stopped by Maine State troopers searching for anyone with a possible link to Tuesday’s terrorist attack in New York and Washington.

“Obviously, the border has tightened up. It has an impact on us,” says Lord. “We have people in New Brunswick who live in Campobello Island who have to go through the U.S. to get to Canada when the ferries are closed. I think the Americans clearly know that we are their friends and they are our friends,” he says.

“We have strong economic, cultural, friendly and historical ties with the U.S. and we need to maintain that. We as Canadians have to work and demonstrate co-operation to work at these issues.”

Lord says there is a need to strengthen the entry ports to the continent, rather than making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens and businesses to do business from Canada to the U.S. “Those are issues that will be worked out over time. Obviously, the immediate concern is one of safety. ”