Immigration matters: Along with the regular border check services, officers at the North Portal point of entry are kept extra busy with immigration items in any given month. For instance in February of this year, they issued 43 work permits, 31 permanent resident permits and three student permits. They also refused entry to 56 people.
Some of the immigration highlights from February included two United States residents who were coming into Canada to visit a friend in Alberta on Feb. 5. Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers conducted background checks and discovered that one subject had been convicted for inducing and/or promoting prostitution and theft so they were refused entry.
On Feb. 7, a woman was seeking entry into Canada to live with her Canadian fiancé. She had only US$11 in her possession and no access to additional funds and was travelling with most of her possessions. She admitted she had no intention of returning to the United States. She was refused entry as a non-genuine visitor to Canada.
On Feb. 8, a commercial driver from Oklahoma was seeking entry to deliver a load of goods to Alberta. He was found to have been convicted of sexual assault and was refused entry.
On Feb. 10, another commercial driver, this one from Michigan, was delivering a load into Saskatchewan but officers discovered he had two previous domestic assault convictions as well as charges laid against him for burglary, auto burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, battery and possession of stolen property. He too, was refused entry.
Another commercial driver from Michigan was seeking entry on Feb. 12 to deliver a shipment to British Columbia. CBSA officers found the subject had previously been refused entry to Canada due to criminal activity that included an attempted burglary of a home, embezzlement and providing false identification to a peace officer. He was refused entry.
In other customs news, it was noted that on Feb. 6, a Saskatchewan couple declared seven dogs with a combined valued of US$1,100 but during a secondary examination CBSA officers discovered the total value was actually $2,501. The dogs were seized and a penalty of $735.15 was assessed to the importer for their return. The penalty was paid and it was noted that if they had made a proper declaration, the total taxation would have amounted to just $66.83.
On Feb. 7, a commercial driver from North Dakota was referred for a secondary examination and when officers did so they found what they felt was child pornography on a laptop computer. CBSA officers arrested the man and turned him over to the RCMP's integrated child exploitation unit for further examination.
On Feb. 19, a Calgary resident was returning to Canada after purchasing a vehicle in Delaware. The car was declared at a value of US$8,500 but further investigation revealed he had actually paid $10,900 for the vehicle so it was seized and a $1,297 penalty applied for its return. The importer then admitted to making up a false receipt in an attempt to save about $100 in taxes.
On Feb. 23, a commercial carrier arrived at the North Portal point of entry carrying a private vehicle that was valued at US$3,000. Officers determined the car had actually been purchased for $6,000 so it was seized and a $1,774.63 penalty was applied for its return.
On Feb. 24, in Regina provincial court Bryan Anslow was convicted of two Customs Act offences following an incident at the North Portal POE. The case dated back to Sept. 10, 2009 when Anslow was returning to Canada through North Portal and he was referred for examination. During the search of his vehicle, CBSA officers discovered three switchblades, one butterfly knife, three throwing stars and two pepper spray canisters. All the items are prohibited in Canada.
The court imposed a $1,300 fine and the items were seized.
CBSA officers issued the following tip to travellers with regards to potential qualifications for NEXUS membership:Ttime may be saved at air, marine and land ports of entry in Canada and the United States if one carries a NEXUS membership. Further information regarding applications for membership and qualifications may be obtained by visiting www.nexus.gc.ca
