Border Services offers traveller tips for long weekend crossings

By Lethbridge Herald on August 2, 2024.

Delon Shurtz
LETHBRIDGE HERALD

Getting ready for a trip over the border during the civic holiday long weekend? Make sure you know what you can and can’t take with you.

Perhaps at the top of the list of what not to take across the border are drugs and restricted and prohibited goods. But there are many other things to consider, as well, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

It’s best to just leave firearms and restricted and prohibited goods at home. Travellers are encouraged not to travel with firearms and weapons, but if you do, be sure to check the rules on importing them. Restricted and prohibited goods include pepper spray, switchblades, and butterfly knives.

Narcotics such as cocaine and heroin are a definite no-no, and are illegal in Canada. If you are found to be in possession of illegal drugs, whether on your person, in your vehicle, or in your luggage, you will be arrested and may be charged. The drugs will be seized.

And don’t attempt to take cannabis, even though it’s legal in Canada.

 Bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.

“Every day, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across our borders,” states a CBSA news release. “In 2023, we welcomed over 86 million travellers and intercepted more than 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals, representing an increase of close to 30 per cent from 2022.”

The CBSA plans and prepares for peak periods, including long weekends and summer months. It monitors traveller volumes to minimize border wait times at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security.

Here are some additional tips to help plan a trip across the border:

Check border wait times and expect delays. Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times, and Mondays after holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.

Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic, and check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.

If you are using a GPS application, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze, to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options, such as fastest and shortest routes, to determine the preferred route of travel.

Have your travel documents handy. This will speed up processing times at the border. And be prepared to declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle. If you are the operator of a boat entering Canadian waters with the intent to disembark, you are responsible for reporting your goods on board.

When travelling with a child who is not your own or for whom you don’t have full legal custody, you should have a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. The CBSA is always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.

Pets must meet specific requirements to enter Canada. Review importing and travelling with pets before leaving. As of August 1, 2024, there are updated documentation requirements for all dogs entering the U.S. from Canada. For more information, visit Dogs travelling to the United States.

If flying into Canada, use advance declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports. If entering Canada by boat, you must report to the CBSA without delay. Review reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans.

If towing or transporting a watercraft or any water-related equipment such as a canoe or paddleboard, they must be clean, dry, and free of any aquatic invasive plants or species.

Before bringing food, plant, or animal products into Canada, consult the Automated Import Reference System.

For poultry products, be sure to review current restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing them across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.

Fireworks: Consult Importing, exporting and transporting fireworks to ensure that the fireworks you are bringing in are authorized.

Medication: Make sure you understand your responsibilities when travelling with medication.

Firewood: Firewood from outside of Canada is not permitted as it may contain diseases or invasive insects. Buy local and burn local.   

Goods purchased abroad: If you are a Canadian resident, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods up to a certain value back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes, including alcohol and tobacco. 

Make sure to know how much you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts ready for the officer. Use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help estimate the amounts owed on goods purchased abroad.

The CBSA offers one more tip if you’re not sure what to bring or not to bring across the border; ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask.

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