I've been suggesting a tax on all vehicles entering BC for years. Just to help cover the costs of highways maintenance and a share of our taxpayer subsidized ferries. most states have a fee for out of state trucks so there is a precedent for it.
Canadians to be charged a fee for entering the USA
- Thread starter VanIsle
- Start date
I'm not sure. We've seen so many big airlines go under over the years. Eastern, TWA, Pan-Am. I think pilots are so under paid. With the responsibility they have each time they take to the skies.
Folks; we all need to get a grip here. When has it become the norm to start a bashing U.S. / Canada for things such as this and then throw in the gun stuff along with it?
Here's my objection:
1/ Thread was titled in such a way to make us Canadians believe the U.S. was commencing a fee of $5.50 upon entry when in fact they are merely starting to impose this fee more than ten years after the fact. We were all aware (or should have been) of this fee in 1997! We've been exempt for years.
2/ Canada charges fees for entry in any number of guises; do they equate to less than $5.50 or more?
3/ All of this griping is based on what? If you don't travel to the U.S. you don't pay so.....?
4/ Realisticly speaking; what impact do you think Canadian "outrage" with a population of 30 mil is going to have on a country of over 350 mil.? Our outrage will not even be a blip on their radar and nor should it be.
5/ More Canadians are purchasing business's and properties in the U.S. than EVER BEFORE! A significant number of us have chosen to travel there as well as overseas for our retirement pleasure.
6/ Saving your ire and displaying it against the political people in charge and responsible rather than spewing it here on a public forum populated by citizens, would be of better use of your frustration. Ergo; you can admit to Harper being a less than stellar human being without you as a citizen carrying the stigma of his decisions can't you? Why then are people on here prepared to castigate Americans as a group for policies enacted by Washington?
7/ Guns and violence? Where the h*** are you living that violence and guns are not part of your daily news? Ottawa shopping mall TODAY'S news two men shot/killed execution style in the head. Whaah, I know our murder statistics are lowest in over 40 years but this stuff still happens.
8/ I'm frankly tired of us claiming some kind of moral high ground on everything from laws to fiscal policy as though we as individuals are responsible for that in some way. You will find Canadians who use one credit card to pay the fees on another in the same density as anywhere on the planet. You will find hunters with long guns in a greater density than many other countries AND you will find just as many red-neck rough-talking "kill 'em all and sort 'em out later" types as anywhere else in the world also.
Enough already with the $5.50. It's been explained. We charge fees also. Don't want to pay, don't go, simple!
Here's my objection:
1/ Thread was titled in such a way to make us Canadians believe the U.S. was commencing a fee of $5.50 upon entry when in fact they are merely starting to impose this fee more than ten years after the fact. We were all aware (or should have been) of this fee in 1997! We've been exempt for years.
2/ Canada charges fees for entry in any number of guises; do they equate to less than $5.50 or more?
3/ All of this griping is based on what? If you don't travel to the U.S. you don't pay so.....?
4/ Realisticly speaking; what impact do you think Canadian "outrage" with a population of 30 mil is going to have on a country of over 350 mil.? Our outrage will not even be a blip on their radar and nor should it be.
5/ More Canadians are purchasing business's and properties in the U.S. than EVER BEFORE! A significant number of us have chosen to travel there as well as overseas for our retirement pleasure.
6/ Saving your ire and displaying it against the political people in charge and responsible rather than spewing it here on a public forum populated by citizens, would be of better use of your frustration. Ergo; you can admit to Harper being a less than stellar human being without you as a citizen carrying the stigma of his decisions can't you? Why then are people on here prepared to castigate Americans as a group for policies enacted by Washington?
7/ Guns and violence? Where the h*** are you living that violence and guns are not part of your daily news? Ottawa shopping mall TODAY'S news two men shot/killed execution style in the head. Whaah, I know our murder statistics are lowest in over 40 years but this stuff still happens.
8/ I'm frankly tired of us claiming some kind of moral high ground on everything from laws to fiscal policy as though we as individuals are responsible for that in some way. You will find Canadians who use one credit card to pay the fees on another in the same density as anywhere on the planet. You will find hunters with long guns in a greater density than many other countries AND you will find just as many red-neck rough-talking "kill 'em all and sort 'em out later" types as anywhere else in the world also.
Enough already with the $5.50. It's been explained. We charge fees also. Don't want to pay, don't go, simple!
As one of the token Yanks and long time member I want to come to the defense of the majority of Canadians who see this thread as it is. Misplaced anger in my opinion.
I've been trying to point that out. In my research only Canada and Mexico were exempt. The rest of the world including US Citizens had to pay the surcharge from its inception.
A heck of a lot more. I wanted to go to Newfoundland and was stunned by the cost of a plane ticket. Close to $1,000. I am sure I could keep searching and find a better deal but they were all coming up around that price. In my recent research I found that tickets on AirCan are loaded with fees and surcharges. LOADED.
It's a Can/AM thing. It gets the blood going. I am guilty of it too at times.
IMO none. Because it is only $5.50.
And we welcome them. Come one and all (unless you're a jerk
) Whenever I travel to a vacation spot there are always Canadians. And guess what... they're having fun... in America... imagine that!Well as some articles have said... this plays well for Canadian pols. It is easier to rally the troops about a $5.50 air/sea entry fee charged by the US than to face up to the high Canadian airport fees.
Well that's just Breezy. She simply loathes Americans for some reason. I think it is a jealousy thing... kind of like me hating the NY Yankees. Couple that with her insecurity issues.
For the most part I find it enjoyable. It is fun facing down these folks and watching them flip out.
$5.50 isn't going to stop any clear thinking Canadian that wants to come here on vacation.
It's really quite funny when I look at the number of responses this thread has generated over a mere $5.50 charge for entering the USA . Anywhere from things like an "I don't care" to outrage stating that we need to write letters or go elsewhere. It's not a bad idea and maybe Canada should look at it. Might cut down on some of our local costs on such things as travel on BC Ferries.
Of course a thread like this is going to get a lot of responses. Don't pretend you didn't think it would.
You don't think they charge enough? You think Canada should charge even more fees? No wonder why 2 Million+ Canadians fly out of US Airports each year.
ES - I posted two articles at the same time. I thought this one would get very little attention and the other one would get a lot more. This one has blown me away with the responses so there is no pretense about it and the other one - I don't think it got more than one if it even got that. I think Canada should charge Americans the same $5.50 fee to enter Canada via land, sea or air. Why not? What's good for the goose -----
Well you've been around here for longer than I have and I've been around here a long time. You know what this attracts.
I think you're avoiding a lot here. Canada charges exuberant fees already. Now you want to charge even more fees? Are you purposely ignoring the fact that 1 in 5 Canadians cross into the U.S each year to fly out of U.S airports because your fees are already much higher?
What's good for the goose is good for the gander eh? Only Canada and Mexico were exempt from these fees since 1997. Anyone coming into the US (Including US Citizens) paid this fee. Is it still good for the gander or do you still feel entitled to special treatment?
Also... did you know that Mexico charges Canadians a $15.50 entry fee? That is by air/ship AND automobile. Think you should hike up the prices for Mexicans entering Canada even higher?
Canada and Mexico were likely exempted in a manner that was NAFTA related
Those fees are not specific to any identifiable group.. Everyone pays, including Canadians
As many have mentioned, it isn't a big deal in terms of dollars and cents. If I were to wager a guess: assuming that enough people are pissed about this (nominal) charge, the US Treasury will stand to lose more money in opportunity costs than they will collect in the $5.50 fee.
There are a lot fewer Canadians going to Mexico these days, in large part due to the violence and media attention in the last couple of years.... My question (to Mexico) is this: If a big chunk of your economy is based on tourist dollars entering the country, then why invoke a fee in light of the violence issues and make the decision even easier for tourists to go elsewhere.
What's in your craw today? When you say "you've been around here longer than me" - are you just saying I'm older than you or are you saying I've been on CC longer? If you are talking about CC you have been here much longer than me. I came on here well after you did and I was off of here for at least a year - never even took a peek at things.
I'm not avoiding anything. I'm not a traveler and I don't know about those costs. We drove to the US this year and it's the one and only time I have been there in at least 20 years. I've been to Mexico once in about 1995. So - I'm not playing coy and I do plead ignorance of the fees. I have no idea of what fees Canada charges other than knowing that if I book a flight here and I am looking at the fare, I can pretty much double it when the taxes are added in. We flew to Ottawa about 1.5 yrs. ago and that's the extent of our travel.
I did not say that Canadians needed to pay more. I just said that maybe Canada should charge the same $5.50 back to Americans when they cross the border into Canada. I have heard some Canadians say that they cross the border and get a flight to their destination but I also hear a lot of people state that they cannot be bothered. If there is a substantial savings depending on how long it takes you to get to your US destination to "fly out" and if it doesn't cost a budle in ferry fees to get there, I can see the reason.
Have you ever been to Vancouver Island via car? It's not cheap.
No - I don't think the Mexicans should pay more and why would you even ask that? Their country is not near as big as yours and while I think the $15.50 is excessive on their part, I would not see any reason to charge them more than an American or any other country either.
Probably.
And now this fee everyone will pay, including Canadians and Mexicans.
If I were to wager a guess... people are still going to come to the U.S from Canada and not be deterred to what amounts Five Dollar Foot Long at Subway.
Well this isn't a new fee. They always charge it. They were dumb enough to give the US and Canadians an exemption as my government was.
I'm just being me!
No, no, no. For all I know I could be much older than you. I just remember your name as one of those that have been here awhile. If I have been here longer than I was mistaken.
But why! This is a fee that Canadians paid up until they were exempted in 1997. This is a fee that EVERYONE paid EXCEPT Canadians and Mexicans. The Germans, British, Chinese, Irish, and US Citizens pay this fee at this moment. Why make a US specific fee because of $5.50? Your fees are high enough.
2 Million plus see a reason.
I've only been to Newfoundland and that isn't cheap either.
I ask because you are suggesting a fee on US Citizens only because of us removing the exemption at this time. You want to tack on an additional $5.50... tit for tat.
The smart thing to do is work on the Canadian Govt. and airlines to lower their fees. But this is more fun I think.
Having spent time on Vancouver Island while in the navy back in early sixties I decided to attend an ERA (engine room articifers) reunion and take our RV across to stay at Westbay Marina. At over 65 feet long you could say the fees were prohibitive at being close to $300.00 EACH way but the trip was great and seeing all those old pharts was even better.
So; reason for response; if denying yourself the opportunity to see new things or vistas and meet new people is an option you'll exercise over spending $5.50 for the priviledge; I'd hate to be your waiter at a resaurant as I could readily guess how superlative service on my part would be rewarded on your part.
C'mon now; once again, put this in some kind of rational perspective and consign it to way down on the list of stuff to get your knickers in a twist over.
So; reason for response; if denying yourself the opportunity to see new things or vistas and meet new people is an option you'll exercise over spending $5.50 for the priviledge; I'd hate to be your waiter at a resaurant as I could readily guess how superlative service on my part would be rewarded on your part.
C'mon now; once again, put this in some kind of rational perspective and consign it to way down on the list of stuff to get your knickers in a twist over.
I think that before you get your own knickers in a twist, read all posts. This is a quote from my own post higher up on the page:
It's really quite funny when I look at the number of responses this thread has generated over a mere $5.50 charge for entering the USA .
I never said anything negative about the $5.50.
And I think I said something about the "straw that broke the camel's back"- A few $5.50s in a month and there goes the pension! :smile:
Tell me about it; last summer, when we went to Arizona, we drove to Bangor, Maine, and flew from there, and saved about $600 per person. That adds up pretty quick, not hard to justify a 2.5 hr drive to Bangor at that rate.
The greed motivated issues in the US are so prevalent now that even some Public Restrooms require a coin to enter and then another coin to use a stall. Look at our Congress. They all belong in stall with their heads in the commode. Greed in corporate American has become rampant. The Banks now want to charge you a fee to use the money you have on deposit with them.
Well JLM, it's not likely that most of us are going to pay that fee anymore than once or twice a year so if it's going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, I would say a person shouldn't be going in the first place.
The banks in Canada have been doing that for a long time.
Whoa! $600 a person you saved! That is crazy! I went to AZ last January round trip for $320 out of Boston. If roles were reversed I would absolutely take the 3 hour drive to Montreal to save that much. That's a lot of spending money. $600 would get me to Europe and back. Plus you got to make fun of the people from Maine. That makes it worth it right there.
ES - using Air Canada as an airline and Nanaimo, BC as your departure, check out a fare to Ottawa on say a Friday.
Do the same thing using Comox, BC as your departure and West Jet as your airline and check out a flight to anywhere Mexico. Using the same departure place, try almost any tourist mecca in your country.
Air Canada has been trying to go on strike for awhile now. They are rumbling again today about it.
Any short trip within Canada is usually much more expensive than going almost anywhere out of Canada. I don't travel but I do see the whole page of ads in the newspaper.
Do the same thing using Comox, BC as your departure and West Jet as your airline and check out a flight to anywhere Mexico. Using the same departure place, try almost any tourist mecca in your country.
Air Canada has been trying to go on strike for awhile now. They are rumbling again today about it.
Any short trip within Canada is usually much more expensive than going almost anywhere out of Canada. I don't travel but I do see the whole page of ads in the newspaper.