| March Break is a great time for Canadian families to get away. But airports, especially busy ones such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, can be a huge hassle.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is reminding travellers of what to expect when crossing the border during the coming spring travel season and offering some March Break tips. I’ve got a few of my own suggestions on how to avoid hassles at the airport, listed in bold face.
Plan ahead and check border wait times and alternate ports of entry. Travellers crossing the border by land are encouraged to cross during non-peak hours such as early morning. The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest, with longer border wait times.
(I flew to the U.S. out of Toronto Pearson on Dec. 27 and it was a ZOO. Even the priority line for check-in at Terminal One had a two-hour wait, and we had to run to catch our plane. I used to tell people to get to a busy airport two hours ahead of their flight; now I would say three. If you’re leaving Toronto Pearson on Friday, March 10 I would say maybe even three and-a-half hours. Keep in mind that security at Pearson isn’t usually open at 4 a.m., so you’ll have to wait a bit if you arrive that early. But at least you’ll be at the front of the line.)
Have your travel documents handy. Whether travelling by land, air or water, you can help speed up processing times by coming prepared with your travel documents.
Save time with Advance CBSA Declaration. Travellers arriving at the Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Billy Bishop and Calgary international airports can make their customs and immigration declaration to the CBSA prior to their arrival using the Advance CBSA Declaration feature in ArriveCAN. Travellers who use this option have access to express lanes to get to an airport kiosk or eGate faster. (Excellent idea. I don’t use it as I have Nexus, but people who have used this service tell me it’s amazing.)
When travelling with children, it is recommended that the accompanying adult have a consent letter authorizing them to travel with the child if they share custody or are not the parent or legal guardian. Border services officers are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. Bringing cannabis 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, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
 Terminal One baggage claim, Toronto Pearson Airport. JIM BYERS PHOTO CARRY-ON BAGS RULE THE DAY
(Me again: Try sticking to carry-on bags only. Christmas was crazy and there were tons of stories about lost bags. I suspect March Break could be a similar situation, so try to keep to carry-on only. If it’s cold when you leave and have a big jacket, roll it up on the plane and use it as a pillow. Also, bring a small bottle of laundry soap or shampoo to wash out any socks or underwear you need washed. I like lots of clothes to choose from, but I find if you wear simple, dark pants and shirts that don’t show stains you’re less likely to need to extra clothing. Shoes take up a lot of space, so keep those to a minimum. Don’t forget that you still can’t take bottles of liquids on a plane, so keep to the small ones. It’s not always a rule, but some airport workers still insist you put all your small liquids in a ziploc bag.)
Know your exemption limits. Residents returning to Canada who make purchases or pick up online purchases outside of Canada should be aware of their personal exemption limits. Use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help calculate your monies owed.
Be prepared to declare. All travellers must declare their goods upon entry into Canada. Have your receipts readily available for goods purchased or received while outside of Canada. If travelling with firearms, consult the CBSA’s website for the rules on firearms and other restricted and prohibited goods.
Avoid importing raw poultry products or by-products. There are currently restrictions on imports of live birds, bird products and by-products from U.S. states affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. It is not recommended to bring poultry products into Canada. Otherwise, be prepared to prove the origin of your poultry product at the border.
If you are travelling with a pet or want to import an animal into Canada, you will need the right paperwork at the border to meet Canada’s import requirements.
Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best thing you can do to save time is to be open and honest with the CBSA officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask. Our officers are here to help!
For more information, visit the CBSA Web site or call them at 1-800-461-9999.
 Seniors on vacation at the beach. Esther Ann/Unsplash Photo CREDIT CARDS TIPS FOR SENIORS
HSBC’s recently made changes to their HSBC World Elite Mastercard. Rewards Canada states they made things better for seniors by adding accelerated earn rates for gas, groceries and namely drug stores – all categories that would appeal to those 65 and older.
Most importantly, perhaps, they added 21 day out of province emergency medical coverage for anyone 65 and over. This is the longest coverage duration out of any cards in Canada for this age group and unlike some of the other cards, it doesn’t cut off at 74 years of age.
Click here for more information from Rewards Canada. |
