THUNDER BAY – Canada Day is a Wednesday, and July the 4th is on Saturday. For many people that means an extended long holiday weekend.
If you are headed south of the border for the Canada Day long weekend, keep in mind border crossing times when returning home. The traffic levels on the United States side at Pigeon River Border Port of Entry for Canadians headed south should be fairly stable.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are anticipating heavy traffic volumes at ports of entry in Northern Ontario this Canada Day holiday and would like to remind travellers to plan their border crossing to avoid delays.
The CBSA advises travellers to plan their border crossing outside of peak traffic periods if possible and to check border wait times on the CBSA’s Web site or on Twitter. Travellers can also consult our Forecasted Border Wait Times Tool that provides historical wait times for the 26 busiest ports of entry.
In anticipation of higher traffic volumes at some ports of entry this long weekend, travellers are advised to consider the potential for delays for the following dates and times when entering Canada:
Lansdowne port of entry (@CBSA_TIB): peak traffic volumes are anticipated between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, May 18, when border wait times may exceed 35 minutes.
Prescott port of entry (@CBSA_PCT): peak traffic volumes are anticipated on Friday, May 15, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Monday, May 18, between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., when border wait times may exceed 60 minutes.
Cornwall port of entry (@CBSA_CWL): peak traffic volumes are anticipated on Sunday, May 17, between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Monday, May 18, between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., when border wait times may exceed 35 minutes.
Sault Ste. Marie port of entry (@CBSA_SSM): peak traffic volumes are anticipated between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, May 18, when border wait times may exceed 25 minutes.
Fort Frances port of entry (@CBSA_FFB): peak traffic volumes are anticipated on Friday, May 15, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Monday, May 18, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., when border wait times may exceed 30 minutes.
Travellers can also help speed up processing by ensuring that they have proper identification for everyone in their vehicle readily available upon arrival at the primary inspection booth and have receipts for purchases in hand.
The CBSA reminds travellers to declare all purchases or acquisitions when returning to Canada and to be mindful of the following: after an absence of 24 hours, you may bring back $200 worth of goods duty- and tax-free; after 48 hours, your personal exemption is $800. There are no personal exemptions for same-day purchases.
