Welcome to Canada…Now Stand in Line
Was in Ottawa last week. After arriving in the airport I had to stand in line at customs. I was near the end of a one-hundred person long line and there were only two customs officers checking us. After 45 minutes, they added a third officer. Eventually I got through.
Apparently I barely squeaked by another customs barrier. The Ottawa airport customs officials are pulling aside people coming from the US and trying to get $150 out of them for a “work permit.” In order to avoid this, you need to be able to argue that you are not going to work for a Canadian company during your stay.
A couple of my fellow travelers were taken into “the room” for an hour while the custom’s people trying to get the $150 from them. Eventually my friends were released. They spoke of their experience as resembling a shake-down.
I sincerely hope that the Ottawa customs people are not working on commission.