NEED HELP WITH CANADIAN CUSTOMS. PLEASE LOOK

[Fitch]

Sorry to post this off the Canada page but we are having trouble with customs. Please take a moment and fill in this survey for the Resorts. Here is the link. http://www.nwota.com/forms/borderform.htm

http://www.nwota.com/dwi-letter.htm

[Walizz 1]

I cross into Canada frequently on business, not tourism. I work for an express delivery co. At Port Huron I've had no problems. At S.S. Marie the immigration guy made me feel like a criminal. I've never had a DUI or been convicted of a felony. From what I've heard from business and tourism travelers alike is the fact that the rules are different at each border crossing. At S.S. Marie there were 2 guys going deer hunting,had the necessary paperwork for their rifles,and were still having problems. They were on the verge of scrapping the whole trip but had already paid their outfitter,etc. While I realize that since 9/11/01 we must be watchful, I think some folks are using it as an excuse to make life miserable for others. Mind you I said some. Unfortunately the ones giving the people a hard time are the ones remembered and talked about. Canada and the U.S. need to get on the same page. Once I get into Canada and talk to ordinary people I get the impression that they aren't real impressed with these border people either. Let's hope it gets better.

[Backwater Eddy]

There was some talk on a new form of ID that was to be issued to people who cross the border often on business or pleasure. Do you know if this has materialized, and if so where and how do you apply for them?

On a separate but somewhat related note, on the recommendation of my insurance agent this season I asked for and received a separate Canadian provincial proof of insurance card. In the past I had not bothered to get one but he recommended it as a precaution and a additional form of identification that may speed up your border crossing time.

The card is available from your local insurance provider for the asking here in the USA and is at no additional cost. Do any of you also presently carry the provincial ID for proof of insurance?

Thanks

[ski]

I do not have any trouble with being checked for weapons , etc. especially after sept 11. What bothers me is some of the petty hassling that happens with bait (leeches and crawlers). I was told at the Northwest Sports Show in Mpls. that the reason for the law restricting leeches being brought across the border is the canadian government did not want any foreign organisms introduced into their water supply through contamination by water leeches are transported in. Give me a break!!!! the amount of water amounts to a bout a thimblefull in the ocean. We were hassled at pigeon river crossing about our crawlers even though they were commercially packed with buss bedding in a styrofoam container (packed by vados bait). They claimed the bedding was too dark and it was dirt. What do they think happens to buss bedding after it is processed through 500 worms in a 12"x12" container? The majority of crawlers sold in the U.S. comes from Ontario (Toronto) and is shipped over our border. Do we hassle the companies who sell worms in the U.S.??

[John]

No but you do hassle us on our lumber , placing huge duties over past months. I guess Free trade is only free trade when USA has advantage.
But you want our oil our gas our electricity our water and then we have to pay more to get it ourselves from our own country because market drives price up.

[Enough Whining Canada]

Wow John! We raise wheat here in Dakota and we get your Gov. subsidized product here all the time driving down the U.S. market. As for water, We don't want your water in Dakota either as a matter afact we are trying to give you some but your scared some baitfish might inhabit it. As for your elec. ya it's cheap only because you don't have to follow the EPA restrictions we have down here so we get your elec. and breath your dirty air. Wow did you open a can of worms!!!!!!

[Canadian Guy]

I'm really glad to see the whining and bickering kids..........it means that things are getting back to normal.....all the bad guys are gone, pulling together does not have to be done any more............
We can whine about the guy who made me open my trunk, the CO who made me count the fish and then gave me a lecture, how come they make me but Canadian leeches when they are really american ones and on and on.
Its great to be back to normal.:)

[The Rules]

Entering Canada


On of THE single best pieces of new information came to me from a reader who
sent me this URL to a great article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [will open in
new window]:

http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20011014canadabordernat5p5.asp


Identification

Though passports are not specifically required, you do need to bring proof of
citizenship. Traveller Ida Dayton sent in this new information on 5 October
2001:
We have been going to Canada for the past 3 weekends. We cross at the
Sumas, Washington border [an alternate to crossing at Blaine, Wash.].
There are at least 3 custom officials at each station. Every car is searched
as you pull up to the booth. They have stated that if you do not have your
original birth certificate they may detain you for up to 4 hours while they
confirm your birth place.

US aliens are required to bring an Alien Registration Receipt Card as proof of
residence. As things stand right now, you'll want to be prepared [the boy
scout motto] with as much identification as you can get. The last thing you
want is to get stuck at a border crossing because you didn't bring enough
ID. Have car registration papers ready for inspection, also.

You may be asked if you've been before a judge. What they're looking for
here is felony convictions, DUI charges, and other major crimes, which will
probably keep you from crossing the border. Traffic violations [speeding,
parking, driving over your own trash can, etc] won't. If you have been
convicted of a serious crime, regardless of how long ago it was, you'll need
to fill out an application from Canadian Customs detailing such things as the
crime, itself, your employment history, and proof that you attended rehab or
soemthing equivalent. Your mileage may vary; they may ask for more
information. The processing fee for this form is $150.

A new question that a reader has brought to my attention that you may be
asked at some border crossings is if someone has given you a package to
bring into Canada for them. This is the same question airlines have been
asking at the check-in counter for a few years now.


Car Search

New information supplied above indicates that EVERY car is being searched.
Several people have also reported that mirrors are being used to look
underneath cars. While someone searches your car, you will be asked to
stand nearby, but far enough away from the car itself. The officer who
searches your car will likely be a shadetree auto mechanic; they know more
crevasses in your car than you do. Cleaning the inside of your car
beforehand is definitely recommended.

The same thing applies to Canadian residents visiting the United States.
Canadian Traveler Geoff Lowry reports that, in preparation for crossing the
border and being searched, he cleaned out his vehicle of everything but the
bare necessities. The guards looked over the car and nodded him through in
alot less time than if he hadn't cleaned out his car.


Contraband and Whatnot

Here's what you are allowed to bring in with you duty-free [no extra charge]:
200 cigarettes
50 cigars
7 ounces of tobacco
1.1 liters of wine or liquor [21 or over]
24 12-ounce bottle of beer [21 or over]
Gifts valued at no more than $60 CDN

Plants, bulbs, and seeds must be declared at the border. With some
restrictions, fruits and vegetables are allowed in for personal consumption,
provided you are not bringing in a crate of oranges for a 24 hour stay.

Dogs and cats may be brought in provided that you have documentation
from your veterinarian accurately describing your animal and that it has had
rabies vaccination in the past 36 months. Collar tags alone don't count. This
same documentation must also be provided when returning through US
Customs. Seeing Eye dogs are allowed in without problems.


Weapons

Handguns, semi-automatic and automatic weapons are prohibited in
Canada. Silencers are also banned as well as any knife that opens by spring
action. Hunting and sporting guns are allowed in provided they are going to
be used for sport, or for competition. You may need to provide proof of this,
such as a permit from a Canadian firearms registrar. Hunters are permitted
200 rounds of ammunition before fees are imposed, and competitors are
allowed 1500 rounds. All weapons MUST be declared at the border. Failure to
do so will result in confiscation of the weapon and criminal charges being
brought up. Starting in 2001, a Firearms Declaration can be bought for $50
and will be good for one year.

Other banned weapons include: mace, Nunchaku sticks, brass knuckles,
belt-buckle knives, blowguns, stun guns, trigger enhancing devices, finger
rings with blades, and spiked wristbands and collars.

If you feel that you were treated unfairly, note the officer's badge number
and name, and ask to see the supervisor. If this doesn't get you anywhere,
write a letter of complaint to the port director at that particular point of
entry. This also applies to US Customs when re-entering the States.


Road Rules

Passenger cars entering Canada for touring purposes have few restrictions.
Storage of cars or trailers requires permits, obtainable at border crossings.
Otherwise, there are import duties to pay.

As with driving in the US, vehicle registration is required at all times. If you
are not driving a car registered in your own name, written permission from
the rightful owner is required. And if a car is rented, a copy of the agreement
is required.

Insurance is mandatory. Minimum liability is $200,000 [!!!], except in Quebec,
where it is $50,000. You can obtain a Canadian Non-Resident Inter-Provincial
Motor Vehicle Insurance Liability Card free from your insurance company.

Speed limits are enforced variably throughout Canada. Remember that
speed limits are posted in Metric. Generally, the limits are the same as they
are in the US; divided limited access highways are 90-100 kph [56-62 mph],
city streets are around 31 mph. Radar detectors are highly illegal in all but
Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, even if you're not using them.

Several provinces require that you use your headlights 90 minutes before
sunset and 90 minutes after sunrise. Alberta, New Brunswick, Prince Edward
Island, and British Columbia require headlights when visibility is down to 500
feet. In Manitoba, its 200 feet. It is advised, but not required, to turn on your
headlights anytime in other places.

Right turn on red is legal everywhere except Quebec. Seat belts are required
everywhere.

As an interesting sidenote; drivers from New York, Maine, Ontario should be
especially careful in Quebec. Traffic violations go on record back home!

[I am Canadian]

Be carefull John.....Do not provoke them. They already have almost all of our hockey teams and they already catch most of our Walleye. I think in our life time we will be invaded by them. They are already moving troops to the borders.

[Mckoz]

This does'nt have much to do with the subject but I am honestly rethinking a vacation to Canada this summer.

I fully understand the new security measures although I don't want to give up those vacation hours at the border.

Have not been there for 10 years or more - and am getting the feeling me and my $$'s are unwelcome in Canada.

Just my opinion - nothing more intended or implied!

Mike

[cmb]

well..... If you would stop selling us better quality lumber at better prices the US gov. woulden't raise the tarrifs ;)!!

one side calls it free trade and fair competition while the US lumber lobby calls it dumping and pushes it's weight around D.C. to protect jobs. which side is right? my guess~~a little bit of both!

[bphunger]

I am not going to repeat here what I wrote in Canada, eh on the message board but check it out there. Plan your trip. Have fun doing that and then enjoy your stay. You may not even see a difference. We have crossed a number of time since 9/11 and it took us no longer than before. Only difference we really saw was ability to show citizenship. Photo ID with copy of birth certificate works great. Have a passport? Works even better but I would not go out to get one.

[Marble Eyes]

I just returned from a hunting trip to Saskatchewan via the Highway from Grand Forks,ND to Winnapeg highway.

We were treated fine when we crossed, we (3) had to register our fireams, paid the fee, took a total of maybe 10 minutes.

When we returned we were asked to come in and fill out the declaration for bringing back our Deer.

Sometimes a smile, Direct answers and ending with Sir or Maam goes a long way...

Beats the alternative of a Full body cavity search! :)

[River_eye]

Don't let this discussion change your mind about coming to canada. If you make it easy for the border people, they will make it easy for you. Right now, if there's any grey area, they are going to hassle you because of recent events. The trick is, to make sure there's no grey area. For instance, bringing crawlers across the border nowadays is just asking for trouble.

It's simple, if you accomodate them, they will accomodate you. That means being able to produce ID and any necessary papers on demand, and not bringing stuff across the border that you don't really need.