Posted on 11/06/2007 3:27:56 PM PST by Decombobulator
A group of Canadians say they were chastised and forced to wait for hours in a bus at a border crossing between Buffalo, N.Y., and Fort Erie, Ont., because they had spent the weekend shopping in the U.S.
The trouble for the shoppers, part of a group of 20, started when the bus arrived at the Peace Bridge border crossing on Sunday afternoon, said Angela Deason, a teacher from Barrie, Ont., who was on the vehicle.
"We had an amazing time until we tried getting back into our country. We were stuck at the border in excess of five hours and treated very badly," said Deason.
The group, which had planned the trip months ago and included a pregnant woman, said they patiently waited in the bus as other vehicles passed by. Some of the shoppers snapped photos of empty lanes at the crossing.
After waiting five hours, Deason said she left the bus to ask a Canadian border guard about the delay. Deason said she was shocked by the response from the guard.
"He expressed very loudly, 'It'll take hours and hours and hours. Thank you for contributing to the U.S. economy, but I hope you got a good deal.'"
Some of the shoppers said they felt threatened.
"We weren't doing anything wrong. We have a fair trade agreement," said Deason.
"I felt targeted, in a way," said Canadian shopper Jessica Gorr.
Officials with the Canada Border Services Agency said the bus was held for hours because of heavy traffic, including 65 buses filled with roughly 3,000 Canadian shoppers.
As well, border officials allowed 75 buses carrying Canadian NFL football fans home from a Buffalo Bills game to cross the border first because they had no purchases to declare.
The agency told CBC News it is investigating the delay, which it admits was longer than usual, and the guard's comment, which it said was completely inappropriate.
Canadian shoppers have flocked across border crossings into the U.S. since late September, when the Canadian dollar reached parity with the U.S. greenback for the first time in almost 31 years. The dollar has continued to rise, closing at above $1.07 on Monday.
In a news segment recently aired on Buffalo's WGRZ-TV, the station said Canadian shoppers have raised the region's sales tax revenue by five per cent.
Maybe the Canadian guard thought they were shopping in the USA for some immediate medical care?
Sounds like a basic border guard hissy fit.
I used to go over to Fort Erie to get gas during the gas shortage in the early 80’s (I believe it was) They got their money then.
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He ought to be commenting to his own government for their taxes that cause people to go where it’s cheaper.
I find this puzzling, but maybe it’s just me. Why go shopping here rather than shop in Canada.
I’ve seriously considered shopping for some new, water-guzzling toilets in Canada, as I can’t get anything but dinky-flushers here.
Idiot border guard discovers what Canadians and Americans have been doing for decades, depending on the exchange rate.
The value of the Canadian dollar is up relative to the US dollar making cross boarder shopping attactive right now.
Because the Loonie (Canadian dollar) is at a record high, that’s why.
Fire the idiots and let the shopping continue.
I’m aware the Loonie is up comparable to ours. But that doesn’t tell me why our goods should be more attractive than theirs when the exchange rate is almost dead even. Or it was even the last time I looked a couple days ago. Has it skyrocketed upwards?
Value Added Tax. 15 % on everything just for fun.
With the exchange rate about even, it’s cheaper in NY (hard to believe, I know) because of the VAT.
“Delayed, rebuked for cross-border shopping trip, say Canadians”
Well, about 1976, my family got a nice half-hour stay when crossing
from Montana to Alberta.
I guess a pickup, with a camper and tags from Oklahoma, along with
a mom, dad and two boys says “hidden guns” to Canadian border guards!
The guards were polite, but certainly thorough in looking in every
nook-and-cranny of the truck and camper!
Thank you for the info.
I’ll wait for the Canucks I pinged to explain, as I don’t really know the details, either. But if one can save 10%-15% off the top, not pay GST, and sneak the goods back into Canada without paying the duty then it’s worth the bus fare.
Why should Canadians shop in America? Are you kidding?
The American dollar is at an all time low against the Canadian dollar. For the first time in 31 years, a Canadian dollar is worth more than an American dollar. It’s embarrassing and depressing.
Today, an American dollar is worth about 91 to 92 cents compared to a Canadian dollar, also called the Loon. Last time I was in Canada the loon was worth about 70 cents American.
Don’t get me started about the Euro and British pound.
The dollar is taking a pounding. I’m worried. I don’t like it.
You need to talk to a plumber...the dinky-flushers have been redone (and if not, a good plumber can retrofit) to where the sucking power equals the good old Big Boys.
My pal the plumber put in one we call "Big Gulp" down at my parents' place last year (since with dementia they were clogging with everything), and it has swallowed everything it's offered. He says they advertise that "It'll swallow a bucket of golf balls".
Road trip!
I'm in.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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