[Apple2010]

Brenda Brenda:

Apple2010 Apple2010:

Brenda Brenda:

So you are saying no foreigner coming to this country should hand over THEIR info?

My only biggest issue is mostly when flying even if you do not touch US soil Homeland Security wants all the passengers info. So if you fly from Europe to Canada the airlines are required to file the passenger lists with the department.

You think that that is different anywhere else? There's a big chance you fly over the US. I doubt that is a post 9-11 rule anyway. For as far as I know, the airliner is supposed to file a passenger list to every country which airspace it uses, or even comes close to. There is a chance a plane is going to be redirected to US soil. I don't see the problem.

For the frequent fliers who fly to other places than North America, please school me if I'm wrong.

Yea that is a good point! What about under the new beyond the border agreement that will allow US cops to enter Canada and Canada to enter the USA? Does this constitute a loss of sovereignty for us in anyway?

[herbie]

THe problem is, Brenda... for over 200 years Canadians were not 'foreigners'. Then all of a sudden we're viewed as if we were.
That's why I don't go south anymore. The welcoming border guard now looks at our family like we've stashed our turbans in the trunk with the anthrax and all put on whiteface makeup.

[ShepherdsDog]

Most Americans viewed Canadians(Quebecers as sufferers of a more extreme manifestation of Cajun Syndrome) the same way they looked at other Americans from different regions of the States. We had our quirky little pronunciations(to their ears) and regional idiosyncracies. It was only some of the snottier nationalists(usually found in Southern Ontario - between Windsor and Cornwall) that really took exception to this view.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

herbie herbie:

THe problem is, Brenda... for over 200 years Canadians were not 'foreigners'. Then all of a sudden we're viewed as if we were.
That's why I don't go south anymore. The welcoming border guard now looks at our family like we've stashed our turbans in the trunk with the anthrax and all put on whiteface makeup.

Crossing at Windsor/Detroit has always been a pain in the arse. The Detroit border guards never were the friendliest, even before 9/11. But I used to have a gov't employee ID card and an I-94(at separate times) that sure helped to reduce the grill session when I crossed.

Now, on the rare occasion that I go to the US I just bullshit 'em at the border when they ask where I work. Telling them I'm retired at my age is just gonna bring more questions and potential hassle. I used to work for RevCan so I just tell 'em I work for the CRA. When they ask what it is, I tell 'em it's like their IRS. At that point they usually say, "Have a nice day and enjoy your trip".

[raydan]

Never had any problems crossing over from Québec, except when they seized my beef once during the mad cow scare. That wasn't so bad, my fault because I went and declared it. Also a bummer when you have to deal with the "I hate my job" type... but that can happen anywhere.

Once I get over the border, always have had good experiences with my southern neighbors.

[Brenda]

The Canadian border guards are WAY worse than the US ones here. I have to go through a lot of BS every 3 months (get a visa waiver, have my mug shot taken, finger prints taken and pay, takes about 25 minutes for one, let alone with kids) and they are ALWAYS friendly.
When I come back, it is either "I want to search your car" or "what don't you understand about "hurry the hell up""... I prefer the bullshit with a friendly smile.