Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not rule out using regulations to block LNG tankers from Head Harbour Passage. (CBC)Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in St. Stephen, N.B., Friday afternoon to mark the official opening of a new border crossing between the town and Calais, Maine.

He celebrated the ties between Canada and the United States during a light-hearted news conference, which included Charlotte Campobello MLA Tony Huntjens singing the U.S. national anthem and the American ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, praising St. Stephen's Ganong chocolates.

But the prime minister stood firm when asked about Canada's objection to an American plan to sail tankers carrying liquefied natural gas through Head Harbour Passage, the narrow body of water between Deer Island and Passamaquoddy Bay.

He said he prefers to negotiate with the U.S. to find a resolution, but wouldn't rule out using regulations to block the ships.

"The government will examine all of its options," he said.

Harper also hosted a private meeting with about a dozen business leaders in Saint John Friday night, which was characterized by his office as a pre-budgetary business roundtable.

The group, which included J.D. Irving Ltd. president Jim Irving, Ganong Bros. president David Ganong and Greg Thompson, minister of veterans affairs and MP for New Brunswick Southwest, discussed a range of issues, including the deficit, as well as economic stimulus and infrastructure spending.

Improved traffic flow

The new bridge crossing the border at Calais, Maine, which has lanes designated for transport trucks, has already improved traffic flow. (CBC)Harper said the new international bridge, which has been in use since Nov. 16, has already benefited both residents and businesses.

"Local traffic flow has greatly improved, while at the same time, commercial traffic has increased by 20 per cent."

The impact is expected to be greatest during the summer months, when Water Street has historically turned into a parking lot as tractor-trailers and tourists' vehicles line up to cross into Maine.

But residents Leona McGlinchey and Don Moore have already noticed a difference. They said the old bridge on Water Street is now much easier to access because heavy traffic has been diverted from the town's centre.

"If we have people in Calais, we can go visit them and not have to pick our time early in the morning or late at night," McGlinchey said.

"If you want to go over the U.S. to get gas, you can go over in five minutes and back. Great," said Moore.

St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell hopes the new bridge will give the town an economic boost. (CBC)St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell is hoping the end of long lineups this summer will also bring an economic boost to the downtown.

"It will help the businesses and help attract business, because nobody's going to open a store in this town with the backup of that traffic," he said. "The traffic's unbelievable."

Downtown businesses will have to work hard to educate tourists, however, so they don't use the new crossing and bypass the town centre, added Purcell.

The bridge, which crosses the St. Croix River, is the third international crossing between St. Stephen and Calais.

The $93-million project began 10 years ago.