No More Rubber-Stamping At U.S. Border

Of course, the border-crossing routine changed radically after the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001. But more recently, U.S.-Canada relations have soured over trade disputes, well-publicized insults, policy criticism and veiled threats that would have been unheard of only a few years ago. There has even been talk in the United States lately of building a wall along the Canada-U.S. border. And at the same time, anecdotes are surfacing about Canadians being turned back at the border for what seem like frivolous reasons. In some cases, decades-old indiscretions or slightly questionable cargo have served as sufficient reason to turn Canadian travellers back. Last month, Bob and Diana Hawley of Kenora, Ont., were refused entry at a border crossing at International Falls in Minnesota because they had a tool box in their car. The Hawleys, snowbirds in their early 70s, were heading to join a group of friends at their Florida condo, as they do every winter. The tool box they had, a small yellow item with normal household tools inside, is the same one they have always brought along in case of car trouble and to do any repairs necessary at their winter home. Border officials decided the tool box was evidence that Bob Hawley, who wears a knee brace and has trouble walking, was intending to do construction work in the United States. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=e3275a01-9f1e-4cb4-8e2b-8aa9d275eab6&k=54557

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