Are you leaving the
country for Christmas? Then
you'll be running into the
same problems that we are
concerning gifts.

I called my fnend Val
Arnold at Canada Customs

and hit him with these
quesuons:
1. Since once im every

calendar year each Canadian
is allowed to bring $150
worth of goods back duty
free, what do you do if you
CAN'T REMEMBER if
you've already taken this
option for the current year?
tthis is a problem for us
because we took our entire
family to Hawaii in January
1980 and I don’t remember
whatinhell our kids bought
and declared!)

2. Will have any
problem bringing gifts from
Canada to be given to our
kids on Christmas Day on
our lana) in Maui and then
brought back through
Canada Customs when we
return?

Val laughed when I told
him that

we

our flight was
returning at 10 30 pm on the
Vist of December “Don't
worry about your $150

exemption’ That place wall
be such a madhouse that vou
won't get out of there before

midmeght.”
There seems to be an
unusual number of

Canadians heading for the
sun at this time of year

To answer the question for
other travellers caught in the

same bind, there are two

GOOSE NECK

LAMP From #9995

CHRISTMAS

(he

approaches. If you want to
protect your integrity and
uphold Canada’s laws with

b y Barbara
McCreadie

all your heart, you will write
our Canada Customs head
office in Ottawa, attention
Travellers’ Fxemption Unit

and request a4 file search
That ought to take a few
months‘

The second approach
seems a lot more sensible

Trot mght up to the Customs’
officer and make vour $1>0
declaration If. in fact
youve made an honest error
and the government happens
to discover that

unwittingly made

you've
{wo

BRASS SHELL
TABLE LAMP

$7995

declarations, they will bill
you 25% of anything over
the $50 you might normally
have brought back.

The interesting thing here
is the average duty you
might pay at the air-
port/border ts 30% By

taking the second approach,
you'll save a long wait and
about five bucks.

I honestly can't remember
the kids’ declarations. If I
tned writung Ottawa now,
the reply would never reach
me in time. Guess what each
of my kids will declare at the
airport?

The second problem, re.
Canadian purchased gifts, is
easily solved. If the object is
Stamped “Made in Canada”
don’t worry about it. If not,
keep your sales slips in your

vepurse and present them
without being asked. It has
been my experience that any
Customs’ officer is impressed
by this type of foresight and
gives you the appreciation
you deserve

There is another, and
possibly cheaper way to
thwart the bureaucracy

when it comes to gift giving
USE THE MAIL'

A few vears back. when
the Conservatives

were in
charge. they upped the
amount allowable for a

single gift from $15 to $25
When that other party took
over, they shoved 1 back to
$15 A short while ago, they
quietly returned the $25
limit) Wonder what else
they've done so quietly that

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we don't
rules?

It makes sense to buy uny
gilts no ume to give
husband that chain saw he's
always wanted! and
simply mail the object home
when you've finished the
Xmas unveiling. Use your
head and buy several small
— under $25 — gifts instead
of one blockbuster.

understand the

You don't have to send
each gift individually! One
package will do the tnck
BUT make sure that each
item is designated with a
card indicating the recipient.

I spoke to Jim McPherson
at the Canada Customs mail
department and asked a few
pmme questions.

“What makes you searcha
parcel?”

“Audits are done
regular basis.

“How regular?”

“Right not very
We're working seven days a
week. 10 hours a day,
process the volume
parcels armving.”

on a

now,

to
of

“What else will make you
suspicious?”

“Well. it we get a parcel
marked One Sweater and it
weighs 20 pounds. we're apl
to take a second look'”

“Lead lined, eh?”

“Something lke that ~

Jim also explained that the
law states that a gift must

C9 - Wednesday, December 10, 1980 - North Shore News

Bringing Xmas gifts across the border

come from the “giver”, not
from a commercial firm. As*
most of us don't come
prepared with brown paper,
twine and boxes to mail stuff
home, we often get a store to
do it for us. Customs must
open these parcels. If there
is no gift enclosure card — a
personal one — you're apt to
get hit with the duty. Make
sure that the gift you send
from Macy's to dear Aunt
Hattie includes a little note:
“Saw this and thought of
you. Having a wonderful
ume. Glad you're not here!”
or something along those
lines.

Remember, liquor
Cigarettes are on the for-
bidden list for mailing.
Besides, Aunt Hattie doesn't
touch the stuff!

and

passport

ph

otos

while you wait
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