Uh oh...
CBC News
Freedom, as in 'feel free to wait'.
Canadian Dollar to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate over the last year
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Today's Canadian Dollar to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate
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Monday, November 5, 2007
"Thank you for contributing to the U.S. economy..."
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4 comments:
I don't feel sorry for anyone who is delayed at the border after traveling to the US to shop... what a bunch of whining traitors feeding the US economy!
As a Canadian, I am always frustrated by how rudely I (white, clean-cut, male) am usually treated by Canadian border guards. On the other hand, American guards are almost always polite. I don't understand why this needs to be the case.
I can only imagine how much worse others (women, minorities) are treated by these guys on a power trip. Oh good; they're allowed to carry guns now.
JM
"...what a bunch of whining traitors feeding the US economy..."
Dear Anonymous, perhaps your comment was written as a joke.
This is Canada not Eastern Europe. On the subject of Europe, incidentally, they have a proper customs union where the Average Joe benefits as much as the big businesses.
On the other hand, we have NAFTA. Created by government to serve big businesses (Where's THEIR patriotism when it comes to inventory!!) and at the same time, does sweet nothing for the average person (except hold them up for hours on end).
Besides, by shopping in the US, spending US dollars, we are actually HELPING to dampen the Canadian dollar.
To say that we are "feeding" the US economy with such activity is both naive and short-sighted. The day we have a proper customs union with the States where EVERYBODY benefits will be a very good one.
It's certainly understandable to be tired and irritable having to wait at the border after a long day shopping and getting some real good deals.
What I don't understand is the public's expectation that border officials can suddenly handle the phenomenal increase in cross border movement without delays being significant! Contrary to popular belief, most officers are called nearly every day they have off, asking if they'll report to work for overtime!
As a border officer, I know what it's like to start work at 8am with a line as far as I can see, and have it be the same length 12 hours later when I go home! I cannot imagine having 130+ busses show up in the middle of it all and expect to just zip through! Why to simply interview 6000+ angry people at 10 seconds per person would take 14+ man hours alone! It's also understandable that being overworked and understaffed can make us a little grumpy too. We're not robots.
People need to be patient, reasonable and use some common sense.
If you know you're crossing the border and it's busy be prepared to wait. NO ONE can enter Canada (disembark a vehicle or vessel) until they have reported.
Be ready when the time comes. Most people haven't a clue what they need to do to cross efficiently, and rarely check the CBSA website for tips or changes to the reporting regulations! Have your proof of citizenship ready (not just a driver's licence and your SIN card). Have documents unfolded and in your hands ready to hand over. Have your receipts out too. Making the officer wait for you to dig through your wallet or purse contributes to the time delays. When you are free to go, GO! Don't take 20 seconds to rearrange the contents of your car before you leave the line! This also causes delays!
If you can't do these simple things, then the line ups will just get bigger and the waits longer! Maybe it might be a good idea to cross another time.
We have a job to do. We have to be just as thorough with 100 people as we do with 1000.
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