The Canada Day and Independence Day holidays kick-off the summer season at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This summer we also welcome the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games to Toronto and surrounding areas.
The Southern Ontario Region is anticipating a busy summer and that means increased traffic volumes at our ports of entry. Increased volumes may affect border wait times at some border crossings throughout the summer months.
The CBSA will be monitoring traffic volumes throughout the summer and will use all available resources to maintain service levels and minimize processing times, while ensuring the safety and security of Canadians.
We encourage travellers to plan ahead and help facilitate their border crossing by following some of these tips:
- Check border wait times or follow us on Twitter for hourly border wait time updates and cross at the least busy port of entry in the area.
- Ensure that you have proper identification for yourself and everyone in the vehicle readily available. Some acceptable forms of identification for entry into Canada include a passport, a NEXUS card and an enhanced driver's license.
- Know your personal exemptions, including those for alcohol and tobacco. Remember there are no personal exemptions for same-day cross-border shopping trips so be prepared to pay the harmonized sales tax (HST) on your purchases and possibly duty.
- Declare all of your goods and have the value of your purchases readily available. Failure to report all goods may lead to penalty action up to and including seizure of the goods. Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act contraventions may also lead to prosecution in a court of law.
- Know before you go. Certain goods are prohibited or restricted from entering Canada including some food, plant and animal products. You can find out more, by consulting the I Declare guide.
- Firearms or weapons must be declared at the CBSA port of entry to Canada. Failure to declare any firearms or weapons may lead to penalties, including seizure action and prosecution.
- If travelling with pets, know that dogs and cats that are three months of age or older need valid signed and dated certificates from a veterinarian verifying vaccinations against rabies. These are usually valid for 1-3 years. Service dogs are exempt when accompanied by their owners.
- The CBSA reminds all travellers that an import permit issued by Natural Resources Canada is required to import fireworks into Canada. Fireworks that do not have the necessary permit will be refused entry into Canada.
- Whether camping in Canada or returning from a camping trip, all camping gear, recreational equipment and supplies must be clean and free of pests and soil. Furthermore, firewood cannot be brought into the country because it can introduce invasive species and spread disease to Canada's trees. Campers should buy firewood on site, burn firewood on site, and leave all unused firewood on site.
Quotes
“The CBSA is making every effort to ensure that your experience at the border is as smooth and efficient as possible this summer. Traffic volume is expected to increase during the Pan Am and Parapan Games and we will use all available resources to maintain service levels, to process travellers and increased volumes as quickly as possible while keeping traffic delays to a minimum and ensuring the safety and security of Canadians. I encourage everyone to visit the CBSA website for the most up-to-date travel tips, border wait times, and to plan accordingly.”
Rick Comerford, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region, CBSA
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Contact
Canada Border Services Agency
Southern Ontario Region
844-580-3636
CBSA-ASFC_SouthernOntarioRegionNews@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
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