I recently saw an episode of a TV series that chronicles the work of Canada's Border Security Service.They showed one incident where a Texan,ex military,was going from Washington into British Columbia...he forgot to mention a pistol he had in the car (perfectly legal here) and,long story short,they took him away in handcuffs.
A few years back I entered Canada by car and they detained me for 90 minutes (no handcuffs or bars...but I wasn't free to leave) while they took apart the trunk of my car.They kept asking me about firearms.They weren't nasty of anything but they *did* look disappointed when they didn't find anything.I've entered Canada many times since with no problems at all.I guess I just look shifty! ;-)
Know how you felt.
Back when the FLQ were bonbing mailboxes I was returning some paintings from a gallery exhibition to a friend in Toronto. Weather was great and my buddy wanted to drive his Austin Healy up.
First problem, the wrapped paintings in the jump seat, no official documenation of their first crossing. Luckily I had the artists letter postmarked Toronto.
Then the Canadians peeked into the trunk, oops, please follow the officer to the office. We were locked in. Looking out the window we saw them emptying the trunk. My buddy was an arch student and had his project model in the car. After the dogs were brought in one of the officers brought in some bricks of generic modeling clay with plain waxed wrappers. Questioned for another hour until he was satisfied we held no animosity towards the Canadian Mail System, were indifferent to Free Quebec issues, spoke no French, and that modeling clay was just that and not some previously unknown type of explosive.
Almost four hours at the border.
I lied about not speaking any French, hope the statute of limitations worked in my behalf.