Free Trade Now!
A surge in Internet cross-border shopping by Canadians trying to cash in on the soaring loonie is creating headaches for consumers, border agents and Canada Post. globe and mail
There is an amazing racket at the Canadian border with the United States. The Canadian Border Service and the weasels at CCRA long ago decided that every package inbound to Canada needed to be opened, inspected and assessed for taxable or dutiable goods. For which, if you are unlucky, they add a $5.00 “service” fee regardless of whether or not the item in question is taxable or dutiable.
And what’s with the duty/tax thing anyway? What happened to “free trade”? With a $1.05 Canadian dollar the Amazon possibilities are endless. Especially as the dumb ass publishers keep printing US 29.95, Canada 36.99 on the dustjacket.
No doubt our Canadian Border Service folks think they are standing on guard for thee; but as the Finance Minister demostrated today, it is not as if the feds need the money.
Written by jay on October 31st, 2007 with
1 comment.
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#1. October 31st, 2007, at 8:36 AM.
What would a trip to the border be without a frisking and a cash grab? I think free trade applies in the same sense free banking does. It’s free… if you have a lot of money behind you.