Today I’ve decided to share some picture and info on the amenities at the Customs College in Rigaud, Quebec or the formal name which is the CBSA Learning Centre.

Rigaud is a quaint little town…and I mean little!…and I was pleasantly surprised to find quite beautiful. The town has a few little businesses like a hairdresser and few restaurants. The best is probably the greasy spoon down the street where you can get pizza, pasta or even a decent souvlaki if you get sick of the cafeteria food. There is also a Tim Horton’s but no Second cup or Starbucks unfortunately. So if you are a coffee lover you will have to drive for any specialty coffee. As for grocery stores, there is a Metro and an IGA.

The College Campus is quite nice actually. I believe the building was originally a monastery or something to do with the church as there are stained glass windows in one of the training rooms.

Opened in April 1980

The main entrance.

here is a couple shots of the greenery.

  I did spend sometime at this picnic table reading. it was very peaceful!

So lets start with what my room looked like.

Here’s the bed.

  I actually slept great on this bed. It was a queen. mattress is firm.

There is a phone for local calls or charges apply. The phone also flashes red if you have a message. At the bottom left hand corner you can see the edge of a mini fridge. No its not a mini bar!

At the top left you can see part of the closet where you can hang up clothes.

I also had my own TV and a desk.

Here’s what my bathroom looked like.

  Nothing special but not bad at all….served the purpose.

Ok so now let me show you the cafeteria.

  They try to stagger when people have their lunches as depending on occupancy the cafe can get quite packed and the lines long. Also once they run out of something that its so get their early!

 The Coffee station. Nectar of the gods. I was here many times a day!!! Its almost always open.

There was one area for deli stuff like sandwhiches and pita wraps, then there were two islands one for sides, and one for a salad/fruit bar. At the back was the grill for burgers, fries, hot mains, steak, clubhouse sandwiches, poutine etc.

  Bacon and breakfast sausage!

  French toast

  Fruit medley of some kind

 More fruit.

 Fresh grapefruit! Breakfast was definitely my favourite meal of the day.

 After all that food, may be you would like to work some of the calories off here at the gym. The equipment is not bad but not much in the way of free weights. There was one bench press and some dumbells…there rest were machines. Oh they also has a smith machine.

For those of you who prefer sports there is a gymnasium where you can play volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, badminton etc…

or you could go for a swim in the indoor pool (which may have been shut down)

And then have a sauna before you shower.

A little tight I know….and no its not co-ed!

  In the basement of the residence wing there is a lounge in the basement where people get together to relax.

 There is also a pool table in the lounge

 and table tennis…I must say I became quite proficient at ping pong!

 And Bubble hockey! not free or  always operational but a classic!

for those of you who prefer to read there was a shelf with a few books on it for anyone to borrow.

 There was also a communal microwave

 A TV room you could reserve for a movie night

 With some nice seating…even if the TV is outdated…maybe they have a flat screen now.

 Here is the laundry room. you will need your own detergent as they don’t sell any.

In the room next door is a room dedicated for ironing.

 Here is the internet lab….where the connection is like two paper cups with a string in between. Supposedly its regular, but it was super slow.

Also many websites are blocked from being accessed. So if you are a facebook addict bring your own 3G / 4G device.

 And lastly, here is the port of Rigaud where some of the training is done. Just like the real thing!!!

Overall, the amenities were better than I expected the first time I went. Just having your own room is nice. The food is not bad and if you get tired of it there a few place nearby off campus. I must say that I enjoying going to Rigaud and I find it to be a really beautiful place.

For any new recruits going, I’m sure you will be fine with the facilities.

I hope you enjoyed this post

CI

Yesterday I became aware that on November 18th 2011, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat published its Guideline for External Use of Web 2.0. I immediately went to google and looked it up so I could read it in its entirety. I have to admit I was a little anxious.

I didn’t want to see that everything that I have been doing online with Twitter, Facebook, my forum and of course this blog has been in violation of some rule I was not aware of.

I have to say its a serious document.

Its very long and divided into many sections and reads a like a legal terms of use document. Afterwards I did some cursory research online found some interesting comments and opinions online. Mike Kujawski a markerting and social media strategist was of the opinion that a lot work went into it’s creation and that it should not be readily dismissed for its obvious shortcomings that he quickly lists as,

• it’s too long
• it’s ambiguous
• it doesn’t tell me exactly what to do
• it’s overly polished
• it’s too restrictive

His point seems to be that this policy will evolve and that by virtue of having the policy now, there exist a starting point for discussion, “empowerment and engagement”. Kujawski states that the guideline “represents a giant leap forward for the entire public service. There is simply no longer an excuse for not taking social media platforms seriously and thinking strategically about how best to leverage them as a public servant.”

But not everyone online would agree.

Jairus Khan who proclaims he developed the social media policy for the Bank of Canada is a sharp critic of the new Treasury Board guideline which he calls a “case study for design by committee”. His post titled Guideline for Digital Oblivion is perhaps a touch dramatic but he does bring some interesting and valid points. In his analysis he compares the “Benefits of Use” section with that of the British Government’s. He contrasts how “The GoC doc talks about how these tools can help facilitate interactive and rapid communication and engagement; the UK doc talks about helping government to better understand and respond.” These approaches are “worlds apart” according to Khan. He also goes on to explain that rather than “guidelines” the UK has “basic principles” which seem succinct and appropriate:

• Be credible. Be accurate, fair, thorough and transparent.
• Be consistent. Encourage constructive criticism and deliberation. Be cordial, honest and professional at all times.
• Be responsive. When you gain insight, share it where appropriate.
• Be integrated. Wherever possible, align online participation with other offline communications.
• Be a civil servant. Remember that you are an ambassador for your organisation. Wherever possible, disclose your position as a representative of your Department or Agency.

In comparison Khan argues the TBS Guidelines don’t seem to come close to providing a “sense of the voice that government wants to have, of their desire to respect public spaces.” and that “They want to actively encourage constructive criticism.”

Khan’s main complaint it seems is “how much work it is to get involved in social media under these guidelines”. In effect, Khan’s opinion is that “these new guidelines are so heavy that they handcuff the public service”.

Overall I agree with both Kujawski and Khan. I share Jawkuski’s sense of optimism in his comment “My desired end outcome is to see a more open, collaborative and engaged public service. I see this as a necessary step to get over with and move forward” and I hope this turns out to be true but I definitely share some of Khan’s fears of getting so bogged down by bureaucracy and liability coverage (cover your ass mentality), that the open dialogue aspect of web 2.0 will not happen the way it should. in the end, I guess I’m crossing my fingers but not holding my breath.

As for me, and what I do, I guess section 5 titled Establishing Guidance for Personnel would be where I fall under.

Here it is below and my thoughts in italics of how it pertains to me.

For Professional Networking & Personal Use:

1. Your obligations as outlined in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service apply at all times, particularly if your employer could be identified through your use of Web 2.0 tools and services. This is true, my employer can definitely be identified and I believe that I am in line with the code.

2. By virtue of your employment, information shared through Web 2.0 tools and services may be perceived as an official Government of Canada position rather than your own opinion. You should therefore clearly state in your account profile that the views expressed are your own and not those of your employer. However, it is important to note that such a disclaimer does not absolve you of your obligations as a public servant, including your duty of loyalty to the Government of Canada. I do clearly state that my blog and all my social media accounts are unofficial. I am also aware and remain loyal to the Government of Canada and my Country.

3. Forward all requests for statements or interviews from the media to your departmental communications advisor and/or provide a contact to your departmental media relations advisor as you may not be the authorized spokesperson on these matters for your department. Not Applicable. Never had any requests.

4. Only publicly available information may be shared externally, unless you are specifically authorized otherwise. Always check permissions required to reproduce or distribute any information, including Government of Canada content such as illustrations, photographs, videos, audio, logos, trade-marks or wordmarks. Wherever possible, provide links to original source material and attribute as required to respect copyright and intellectual property rights. Yes, I only share publicly available information and only reproduce what is legally allowed.

5. Personal information about others should not be posted through Web 2.0 tools and services, unless you have the explicit consent of the individual(s) to whom the information relates to do so. I don’t post any personal information about others.

6. Divert work-related conversations to official channels (e.g. a Government of Canada e-mail account) as appropriate so that there is a record of any guidance provided or decisions taken. I have many times directed people to call the CBSA info line. However I do answer any questions that I am able to assist with.

7. Do not use any Government of Canada corporate symbols or signatures in your use of Web 2.0 for professional networking or personal use. They are for use in official communication only. I don’t do this. Any image used is for display only and for interest only.

8. Remember that Web 2.0 interactions can be easily republished or repurposed without the original context, and may be permanently accessible. Be sure to understand the Web 2.0 environment and its associated risks. ok.

9. When creating an account on a Web 2.0 tool or service, if it is linked to your Government of Canada e-mail address it should only be used for professional networking purposes. I don’t do this.

10. If you have questions about an on-line activity that you want to or have engaged in, you should speak to your manager or Values and Ethics advisor. No questions.

11. You must not engage in any activity that might put at risk the non-partisanship and impartiality of the public service. If you have questions about political expression through the use of Web 2.0 tools and services, you should speak to your manager or contact your department’s designated political activities representative. I don’t discuss and political preference.

12. If you are accessing Web 2.0 tools and services through Government of Canada networks, you must be aware of the terms of your department’s policy regarding the use of electronic networks, including its monitoring, investigation and disciplinary provisions. ok.

Other than number 6, I think I pass with flying colours. But I mean how could I pass on all inquiries back to the CBSA? That’s the whole point of what I’m trying to do. No one else was doing it online. So I did. The people needed help!

Thanks for reading everyone!

CI

Yay! The CBSA social media finally launched its social media campaign!

Below is the first video they posted on their new CBSA Youtube channel and I have to say its not bad at all.

They are also on Twitter as @CanBorder

and have a Facebook Page as the Canada Border Services Agency

I love it! I just really hope they will use social media to really engage and help people.
I pray they don’t ignore people or censor people who dissent.

They have clearly outlined their terms of use policies here so I hope that aside from people who violate these terms that the rest will be acknowledged and assisted with whatever their issues are.

Word is that there may soon be a CBSA reality tv shows or series coming to TV soon. In 2004, Australia was the first country to have a reality series show on their Customs officers and what they do and apparently it was a huge hit down under. The show was called Border Security: Australia’s Front Line and was on Channel 7 from 2004-2008. The US also had a show called Homeland Security which ran on ABC for 13 episodes. In my opinion it wasn’t bad but not nearly as good as the Australian show. I have my fingers crossed our Canadian version will be as good or better.

Either way it will be good for the public to see a little about what we do.

CBSA was created in 2003 and in 2011 most people have no idea what CBSA stands for or what the Canada Border Services Agency does; hence my reference to Canada Customs (even my domain name). So some branding is better than no branding I guess.

I have to admit that while I am ecstatic that CBSA finally adopted social media…I’m not holding my breath that it will be done right. There is this psychology or culture within the agency to tip toe around anything that could even be remotely considered to be in conflict with the Privacy Act or section 107 of the Customs Act. People are afraid even though the legislation clearly outlines when we can and when we cannot release information. The authority to release the names of suspected war criminals was always there…but for some reason until this year people were too afraid to do just this. I really don’t understand why. Maybe they didn’t feel comfortable until public sentiment was there alongside with conservative government in power. I can only speculate.

On a side note, I know that this site is being monitored by the agency. I hope that they have reached the conclusion that what I am doing is not illegal or against the agency in any way. I hope they understand that I truly do what I do because I love my job and want to help others every way I can. I recognized a hole online that needed to be filled and so I tried to fill it. Now that the Agency is attempting to do the same perhaps my services will no longer be necessary and my blog will have to change accordingly. I don’t know. I guess we will see.

Thanks for reading.

CI

The other day, PNC Bank issued their annual Christmas Price Index based on the song The12 days of Christmas. According to Wikipedia, “Two pricing charts are created, referred to as the Christmas Price Index and The True Cost of Christmas. The former is an index of the current costs of one set of each of the gifts given by the True Love to the singer of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The latter is the cumulative cost of all the gifts with the repetitions listed in the song. The people mentioned in the song are hired, not purchased.”

For 2011, the Christmas Price Index is up 4.4% from last year in contrast to the US Government’s Consumer Price Index which rose 3.9% over the same period.

The total accumulative price of all the items for 2011 over the 12 days was $101,119 USD.

After reading this I decided that I would put my customs spin on the 12 days of Christmas from an import perspective. For the purposes of this article, all items except the “French Hens” will be imported from the United Kingdom; as the songs was first published in England in 1870. For all the commodities the Most Favoured Nation Tariff Treatment will be applied for the calculation of customs duty. The exchange rate used will be today’s customs rate for Nov 29th 2011 of 1.0327 USD to 1 CAD. For the sake of simplicity and size of population provincial sales taxes will be based on Ontario; please adjust the calculation based on your province of residence. Also the gift exemption provided by tariff 9816 of $60 will be applied.

So for those of you who are don’t remember the lyrics to the song, (keep in mind the song is cumulative in that after every verse another verse is added up to the 12th verse)
Here are the lyrics:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
A Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The second verse:

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The third verse begins to show some metrical variance, as explained below:

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

…and so forth, until the last verse:

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords-a-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids-a-Milking
7 Swans-a-Swimming
6 Geese-a-Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

As to determining the value of each day’s gift, PNC gave this explanation, “This year, the National Aviary in Pittsburgh provided the cost of some of the birds in the song, including the partridge, doves, geese and swans. National pet chain PetSmart provided the price of the calling birds, or canaries. The pear tree price came from Waterloo Gardens, a Philadelphia nursery. Gordon’s Jewelers provided the cost of five 14-carat gold rings, and Philadanco, a modern dance company in Philadelphia, offered the price of ladies dancing. The Pennsylvania Ballet gave the price of the lords a-leaping. Prices for the musicians in the song “the drummers and pipers “were provided by a Pennsylvania musicians union. Lastly, maids a-milking are the only unskilled laborers in the Index, and as such, they reflect the minimum wage. Year after year, the sources for the prices remain the same for the most part to ensure consistency, but they have changed on occasion due to changes in the market or business landscape. “

So here we go,

Partridge in a Pear Tree – A partridge is a type of non- migratory bird in the pheasant family native to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In the Customs Tariff, Partridges fall under the Harmonized System code 0106.39.00.90 for Birds, Other, Other. Pear trees fall under HS code 0602.20.00.19 -Trees, shrubs and bushes, grafted or not, of kinds which bear edible fruit or nuts, Fruit or nut trees: Other. Both items are duty free. PNC pegged the value of the bird and a pear tree at $184.99 USD so that would be $191.04 CAD. After applying the $60 exemption under tariff 9816, the value for tax would be $131.04; so HST of $17.04 would be the cost of clearing customs.

 Two Turtle Doves – Streptopelia turtur also known as the European Turtle Dove would also fall under HS code 0106.39.00.90 for Birds, Other, Other with no duty associated.

PNC valued the doves, a member of the bird family Columbidae at $125 USD. That would amount to $129.08 CAD; After applying the gift exemption, value for tax is $69.08 CAD with HST of 13% being $8.98 for the pair upon importation.

Three French Hens – This francophone breed of the chicken is known as Faverolles and was originally bred in France as a utility fowl, used for both eggs and meat. Purportedly the bird was imported to the UK in 1886 for exhibition. This fowl would fall under HS code 0105.11.90.00 for Live poultry, that is to say, fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls;Weighing not more than 185 g, Fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, Other. Once again no duty is applicable. PNC valued 3 of these birds at $150 USD or $154.90 CAD. After the gift exemption of $60 the value for tax is $94.90 and at the border, HST of $12.34 would be due.

Four Calling Birds – For PNC, they took these as Canaries. As per the Customs Tariff, canaries would be under classification 0106.39.00.10 as Birds, Other, Pet or song birds with no duty associated. PNC has the value for this quartet at a hefty $519.96 USD or $536.96 CAD. After the gift exemption, value for tax is $476.96 with HST being $62.00. Canaries were originally wild and native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands then exported to Spain. 

Five Gold Rings – PNC used 14k gold rings as the basis for their calculation and they would incur 6.5% duty if imported from the U.K. They would be classified in the Customs Tariff under HS code 7113.19.90 00 for Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal, Of precious metal whether or not plated or clad with precious metal: Metal – Other. PNC assessed the value at $645 USD or $666.09 CAD. Duty would therefore be $43.29 giving a value for tax of $709.38. 13% HST would then be $92.22. Total owing at time of import would be $135.51 in duty and taxes. 

Six Geese-a-Laying – These birds were valued at $162 USD or $167.29 CAD by PNC which seems like a quite the deal in comparison to the canaries. These geese belong under HS code 0105.14.10 00 for live poultry, that is to say, fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls; Geese, for breeding purposes; no duty. After applying the exemption for gifts the taxable amount would be $107.29 and HST owing would be $13.95.

Seven Swans-a-Swimming – Swans fall under the same HS code as partridges and doves under 0106.39.00.90 with no duty. PNC assessed the value at a whopping $6300 USD! This would amount to $6506.01 CAD. Even after applying the gift exemption the value for tax is still at $6446.01. HST would be $837.98. 

*Please note all the above live animal gifts must be accompanied by the following documents\registrations – Phytosanitary Certificate, Plant Protection Import Permit and fulfill any other requirements from CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) or CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

Eight Maids-a-Milking – According to PNC, these maids are considered unskilled labour and reflect the minimum wage by being assessed at only $58 USD or $59.90 CAD. Citizen of the U.K. do not require a visa to visit Canada so the only cost to import farm help of this sort is a work permit which is $150 per person to a maximum of $450 for the whole group. But keep in mind a work permit is not just a formality. The employer may need to get a labour market opinion from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). A labour market opinion confirms that the employer can fill the job with a foreign worker. Also the application for a work permit would have to be made outside of Canada.

The same goes for the rest of the foreign workers, except 9 Ladies dancing, 10 Lord’s-a-leaping, 11 Pipers Piping and 12 Drummers Drumming are all performers and maybe exempt from requiring a work permit if they fall under the conditions described by Citizen and Immigration Canada as follows:
•They are only performing here for a limited period of time.
•They will not be performing in a bar or restaurant. If they will be performing in a bar or restaurant, performers and their staff each need a work permit.
•They are not entering into an employment relationship with the Canadian group that has contracted for their services.
•They are not performing for the production of a movie, television or radio broadcast.

So for gifts 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is no cost from a Customs import perspective.

So for the entire 12 days of Christmas the cost of importing these gifts would be $9,444.27 CAD….in case you were wondering… lol.

Finally! The CBSA has recognized the value of Social Media. I mean it’s only been 17 years! Why 17 years…well…I would say the birth of Social Media started with Sites like Geocities in 1994. Created by David Bohnett and John Rezner, Geocities allowed users to set up web pages indexed based on geography theme linked topics. In 2001, Wikipedia was started; In 2002, there was friendster; in 2003, MySpace; in 2004, Facebook was launched; and then in 2006 Twitter was born. As of this year 2011, there are over 190 million on Twitter, and 600 million on Facebook.

Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy that CBSA has decided to join 2011 and the world of web 2.0, before web 3.0 is upon us. I just like to lament on why government tends to be so far from the cutting edge; especially when it comes to technology. Maybe the public service just does not nurture a culture of innovation. I guess even if I was that brilliant I would have been at MIT and then recruited by the private sector. Lol.

I guess what frustrates me is that not only do we not innovate but we are behind so many other law enforcement agencies or organizations in adopting new technologies.

Yesterday Nov 19th 2011, Chris Doucette of the Toronto Sun, posted an article titled Social media extending law enforcement’s reach. In the article he explains how Social media has become an important crime fighting tool. He also quotes Michael Gordon-Gibson President of Crime Stoppers International who explains that “Having a social media presence is especially important in building relationships with youth” and according to Constable Scott Mills of the Toronto Police “the more tools we have to reach out and communicate with ourselves and the public, the safer our community will be.”

In March of 2012, there will be a conference in Vancouver called SMILE (Social media Internet Law enforcement) and I sincerely hope the CBSA will be attending. According to the organizers,

“Adoption of social media by law enforcement is in a stage of exponential growth. Some law enforcement agencies have already experienced tremendous successes; while others are ready but don’t know how to get started. The law enforcement field is ready to add another weapon to its arsenal. The Social Media the Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE) conference will arm you with all the technical hands-on skills and the practical knowledge to enter the social media world with confidence”

In an article on Mashable.com by Lon S. Cohen there are 6 six different ways law enforcement is utilizing social media and real-time search to enhance tactics, disseminate public information, and ultimately prevent criminal activity:

1. Police Blotter Blogs – a record of events at a police station in real-time
2. The Digital “Wanted Poster”
3. Anonymous E-Tipsters
4. Social Media Stakeout
5. Thwarting Thugs in the Social Space
6. Tracking and Informing with Twitter
Not a bad list for law enforcement use of social media. Read the article linked above if you want more details.

I would also like to add a few suggestions of my own.

Dear CBSA,

I am so happy that we as an agency are finally getting on board. I have felt like we were really missing out on another medium or opportunity to engage Canada and Canadians in a positive, efficient, and effective way.

I would like to respectfully make a few suggestions that I hope you will consider in the undertaking of this project.

1. “It’s a Dialogue” – With Social media, it should be a conversation. This means that it shouldn’t be one way only. The past federal election was perfect example of how not to use social media. There is no point on tweeting if you aren’t going to reply to anyone. Respond to people…even if its “feel free to contact us via email to discuss this issue further” ( and then actually get back to people in a timely manner)

2. “Be Authentic” – Try and be open and genuine. Don’t be afraid to be human…that’s what we all are…don’t try and censor what you say so much that you might as well not be saying anything…people understand people make mistakes. No one wants to connect or can really connect with someone that isn’t real or authentic. It’s not the quantity of the engagement but the depth of the engagement that matters.

3. Create a Customs Wiki that officers can access through a secure portal outside of work and allow certain knowledgeable officers to create content during work hours. Start with some accommodated officers perhaps. We are losing many seasoned knowledgeable officers to retirement and I predict a brain drain if we do not act quickly. I am seriously concerned about this.

4. Its all about the interaction – engage, engage, engage. Many people are frustrated with Customs. It’s all over Twitter and the internet. Talk to them, and hear them out; listen. Explain the process. Educate, help them understand why we do what we do.

As final note, I would like to say that “Not having Social media is better than having bad Social media”. Please keep that in mind. It’s kind of like espousing Client Service but not actually providing service to Clients. So if you don’t plan on being social…don’t do it at all. My 2 cents.

According to Statistics Canada, in Canada, 13.4 million online orders were made by over 2.2 million households. By 2007, the Internet was used to make almost 70 million orders by about 8.4 million Canadian individuals. By 2009, Canadians used the Internet to place orders for goods and services valued at $15.1 billion, up from $12.8 billion in 2007. Considering the recession

The most common types of online orders are travel services, entertainment products such as concert tickets, books and magazines; and clothing, jewelry and accessories. According to the website creditcardscanada.com in 2009, the breakdown in percentages for online shoppers who purchase goods and services is as follows:

49% Travel

40% Entertainment

35% Reading Material

33% Apparel and Jewelry

26% Music

22% Software

With the advent of deal sites like Groupon, I’m sure this has altered the landscape a bit but the big 6 are probably still the bulk of the popular items being purchased. So with this in mind, I thought it would be useful for Canadians and residents of Canada to understand how much they would be paying in Customs duty and taxes if they some did some online shopping for Christmas gifts.

With the Canadian dollar near par with US dollar, many products are considerable cheaper south of the border. However, most people are unable to figure out how much they would actually save without knowing how much duties, taxes, brokerage and shipping feeds will be. Once you know all these costs, it is easy to determine if there really is a deal to be had.

In a nut shell, in the simplest terms, customs duties are calculated based on the commodity or HS (Harmonized System) Code and tariff treatment applied…and there are a myriad of commodity codes in the Customs Tariff. As such, without knowing the exact details of a commodity it is impossible to make a determination. As such I have decided to take the top ten items gifted on Amazon.com and figure out how much the duty and taxes would be if sent to Canada.

Please note that the following classification and rates of duty I am providing on specific goods are solely that of my opinion and not sanctioned by the CBSA in an way.

For the purposes of this article we will be assuming the following:

*That Customs Clearance is going to be handled by a courier company for an average $20 charge per type of commodity…and the

*Exchange rate will be the rate used today (day of this writing this article) November 17th 2011 of $1 USD = $1.0206 CAD.

*Keep in my mind that Provincial sales tax is dependent on your province of residence/destination. I.e. Ontario – HST of 13% is calculated on the purchase price plus any customs duty; while in Alberta no provincial sales tax applies so only GST will be charged on the purchase price.

1. Electronics for Kids – The number 1 gift in this category is the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet $156.99 USD or 160.22 CAD. This item is great for kids. I myself have been handing my kids the iPad as it entertains them with games and movies. It is a godsend in the car or at a restaurant. Now there is a cheaper version for kids by LeapFrog. This type of item would be classified under HS code 8471.30.00.00 for Portable automatic data processing machines, weighing not more than10 kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display and would be subject to no duty regardless of country of manufacture.

2. Books – The number 1 seller is the Steve Jobs [Hardcover] $17.88 USD or $18.25 CAD. This item is classified under 4901.99.00.91 for Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets, other: hardbound books. Good news folks, you get to read about the founder of Apple without paying any duty.

3. Baby & Toddler Toys – The best seller is Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether for $17.27 USD or $17.63 CAD. Sophie would be classified under HS Code 9503.00.90.54 for Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls’ carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size (“scale”) models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds, Other, Toys representing animals or non-human creatures: Other, not battery powered. Sophie is also free of duty regardless of country of manufacture.

4. Dolls – Under this category, the most popular is FIJIT Friends Willa Interactive Toy for $59.75 USD or $60.98 CAD. I’m not quite sure what this toy is but it appears to be some kind of robot that interacts by responding to speech. This toy would be classified under HS code 9503.00.90.53 for Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls’ carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size (“scale”) models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds, Other, Toys representing animals or non-human creatures: Other, battery powered. No duty again regardless of country of manufacture.

5. Beauty Gift Sets – In this category, the top seller is Shany Studio Quality Natural Cosmetic Brush Set with Leather Pouch, 24 Count $16.95 USD or $17.30 CAD. These professional grade brushes are made of goat and badger hair for applying make up and would fall under Harmonized System code 9603.30.90.00 for -Artists’ brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for the application of cosmetics, Other. No Duty associated with this product.

6. Music – This is a popular category. Many people are downloading their music via online stores such as iTunes but for those of you who still enjoy purchasing a CD, Christmas by Michael Bublé is selling for $11.88 USD or $12.12 CAD. CD’s are classified under HS Code 8523.40.90.00 for Optical Media, Other and has 6% duty associated to it unless it falls under specific tariff treatments. But before you get disappointed this is of no consequence to your wallet as pre-recorded CDs can be free of duty by applying Tariff 9948 as per Customs D memorandum D10-14-51. This Tariff provided duty free importation for goods that were “committed by design to enhance the functioning of computers and other high-tech products” and a ruling by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal in cases AP99-116 and AP2001-097 has found that CDs fall into this Category. So no duty folks!

7. Women’s Wraps and Pashminas – Sakas Pashminas 70″ x 28″ Border Pattern Double Layer Woven Pashmina Shawl / Scarf / Wrap / Stole ( 20 Cool Colors ) $19.99 USD or $20.41 CAD If this pashmina is made real cashmere wool, then in the Customs Tariff it would fall under the classification number 6214.20.90.00 with 18% duty unless it was manufactured in a country that falls under a few particular tariff treatments. So worst case scenario duty would be $3.67 and then provincial sales tax would apply on the sum of $20.41 + $3.67 which is $24.08; plus possible brokerage and shipping charges if applicable.

8. Movies & TV – Another popular category, currently in number 1 position is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD is selling for $13.99 USD or $14.29 CAD. Just like recorded CDs, DVD movies are classified under HS code 8523.40.90.00 for Optical Media, Other in the Customs Tariff. Once again duty is %6 but by using the duty remission tariff 9948 duty is completely zeroed out.

9. Gourmet Gifts – Under this category the most gifted item on Amazon is Numi Organic Tea Flowering Gift Set in Handcrafted Mahogany Bamboo Chest: Glass Teapot & 6 Flowering Tea Blossoms for $22.99 USD or $23.46 CAD. Included are 6 flowering tea blossoms, 1 x 16 oz glass tea pot which will make a total of 18 pots of organic tea with 100% natural ingredients. As per General Interpretative Rule 3(b), this item qualifies as a set with the item giving this set its essential character being the glass teapot. Glass teapots would be classified under 7013.49.00.90 as -Glassware of a kind used for table (other than drinking glasses) or kitchen purposes, other than of glass-ceramics: Other, Other and is free of duty.

10. Electronics and Computer tablets – These two categories are hugely popular. At number 1 for both we have the Amazon Kindle Fire for $199 USD or $203.10 CAD. At half the price of the iPad, The Kindle Fire is Amazon’s contribution to the tablet market with their full colour multi-touch display and Wi-Fi capability. You can watch movies, listen to music, surf the web and of course read books and magazines; and install apps. Just like the kiddy Leapfrog version and iPads, the Kindle Fire is free of duty.

11. Toys and Games – Toy manufacturer Mattel is top spot with Angry Birds: Knock On Wood Game for $32.95 USD or $33.63 CAD. I’m sure Rovio the company who built the app Angry Birds are making even more money licensing their brand to Mattel. This game would be classified under 9504.90.10.90 for Articles for funfair, table or parlour games, including pintables, billiards, special tables for casino games and automatic bowling alley equipment, Other, Bagatelle and other game tables or boards, Other and is again free of duty.

12. Bath and Shower Sets – Number 1 with their Honey Vanilla Bath Set – Style 34187 by Gift warehouse for $17.42 USD or $17.78 CAD. In this set, Bath gel, soap, lotion, and bath salts in a delicious ”Pure Pleasure Honey Vanilla” scent are combined with a wood massage tool and a sponge. This bath set would be classified under 3307.30.00.90 for Perfumed bath salts and other bath preparations, other bath preparations. Duty is 6.5% which is $1.16 for a total cost of $18.94 plus GST/HST and any applicable provincial sales tax.

13. Kitchen and Dining – In first place is the Cuisinart CSB-76BC SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender, Brushed Chrome for $28.99 USD or $29.58 CAD. This blender is has dishwasher safe, stainless steel blending shaft and comes with a 2 cup plastic beaker and 3 year limited warranty. This product would be classified in the Customs Tariff under HS code 8509.40.90.90 for Electro-mechanical domestic appliances, with self-contained electric motor, other than vacuum cleaners of heading 85.08, -Food grinders and mixers; fruit or vegetable juice extractors, Other, Other; and is duty free.

14. Jewellery – This is the last category I will cover – The most gifted item is the Sterling Silver “A Mother Holds Her Childs Hand For a Short While And Their Hearts Forever” Heart Pendant, 18” for $25 USD or $25.51 CAD. This is pendant is engraved with the inscription as a testament to the enduring love of a mother for her child. A polished 18” sterling silver necklace is also included. Silver jewellery is classified under HS Code 7113.11.90.00 for Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal, Of precious metal whether or not plated or clad with precious metal: Of silver, whether or not plated or clad with other precious metal, Other. With 8.5% duty associated if not manufactured in a country with a free trade agreement with Canada. In this case, duty would be $2.16. GST/HST and provincial sales tax depending on your province of residence will be on the total of $27.67 CAD.

Well that’s it folks, as you can see many of the popular items are free of duty. Just be aware that if you’re thinking about buying someone a gift of clothing the duty rate is 17-18% for most items and jewellery ranges from 5%-8.5% (unless the item is made in the US or Mexico, or another country we have a free trade agreement with; and there not many).

Happy Online Shopping!

The Comprehensive Guide to Canadian Military, Border Services, Corrections and Security Exams

(from the CBSA website)

The test consists of 15 sub-tests. There are 178 multiple-choice questions.
It takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete the test (this includes the break and administration
procedures).

The timing of the test is organized as follows:

STUDY BOOKLET

Candidates are given a study booklet and allowed 20 minutes to study the material. Candidates will need to recall this information to complete sub-tests 6, 7 and 8 in Part 1.

TEST – PART I Candidates are allowed one hour to complete sub-tests 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

PHOTO BOOKLET
Candidates are allowed 2 minutes to study 4 photographs in order to complete sub-test 8 and 9.

TEST – PART I (continued) Candidates are given 20 minutes to complete the remainder of Part I (sub-tests 6 to 9). Questions are based on the study booklet and the photo booklet.

BREAK  30 minutes

TEST – PART II  Candidates are given 1¼ hour to complete sub-tests 10 to 15.

So here’s what you need to do to pass….

1. Get this book.

2. Practice memory work. –  My suspicion is that the memory portion is worth a lot of points.

3. Brush up on all the basic math and grammar – its all covered in the book!

I recommend using the memory palace technique where you take a location, place or object you are very familiar with and then associate what you need to memorize with it. The stranger the association the better. The Study guide book has exercises so you can practice.

4. Take the practice tests in the book and time yourself. Then comeback a few days later and try again. Don’t run out of time. There is no penalty for a wrong answer so make sure you answer every question.

5. On any section of the test where you are allowed, as soon as the facilitators tell you that you may begin, flip through and answer the types of questions you find the easiest. It is my suspicion that the questions get progressively harder so they must be worth more points as you get deeper into each section. So jump forward and answer what you are good at.

If you do all this, you will be better prepared than any everyone else and can be part of that 20% that is successful.

So click on the image below now and order your copy of the Study Guide from Indigo Chapters.

The Comprehensive Guide to Canadian Military, Border Services, Corrections and Security Exams

Christmas is around the corner, and many of you will be sending and receiving gifts to and from abroad. Some of you will also be travelling to visit friends and family in other countries. So here are some tips for the holiday season.

1. If your Aunt Hilda wants to send you a gift basket in the mail or via courier from Europe, let her know not to send bottles of alcohol (wine etc), meat products (i.e. sausages) and dairy (i.e. cheese). These items are not allowed and often spoil en route. Also any flammable items such as perfume are also considered non-mailable.

2. If Uncle Hubert wants to send you gift, tell him to declare it as a gift and have him remove tags and wrap it. If your shipment is examined and there is no indication that it is a gift, i.e. no card, no wrapping then the exemption provided by tariff 9816 may not be applied.

3. If Cousin Habib is sending you a care package for Eid, make sure you know what the contents are exactly and how much everything is worth in Canadian dollars. You will have to make a full declaration to Customs as to the contents and the value in order to obtain release of the shipment. Also if you are claiming it is a gift you will need to provide some kind of evidence to have tariff 9816 applied to any of the items. i.e. a letter from your Cousin to that effect.

4. If you travel abroad to visit family or friends for the holiday season and take your brand spanking new Canon digital camera with you, be prepared to show proof of Canadian origin upon your return. This can be done by showing the receipt showing purchased in Canada or by documenting the Camera on Form Y38. Form Y38 can be completed at any inland Customs office or at the airport Customs info counter before you check in. On this form they will document your camera, note the serial number or affix a sticker with a unique number on it. When you return to Canada, and you pass through customs and there is any question just produce the Form Y38 and Bob’s your uncle. 

5. If you despise your extended relatives and decide to go away for the Christmas break somewhere warm and exotic like Thailand and you end up coming across a giant carving of a Buddha you really really like, you can have it shipped home. Then upon your return just let the customs officer now that you have goods you purchased abroad that are not accompanying you and are being shipped. The officer can then issue you a form E24 to apply your personal exemption under tariff 9804 and remove whatever amount is remaining when the buddha arrives. i.e. After being in Thailand for a 10 days you return to Canada and you only bring a bottle of scotch with you in your luggage that you bought from the duty free for $50 CAD. So the remaining $700 on your exemption will noted on form E24 and can be taken off whatever you paid for the statue before duty and taxes are assessed.

6. For all you residents of Canada who will be travelling for the holidays be sure to read my post on Canada Customs Limits, especially the part titled 9 Tips with regards to Canada Customs Limits or Allowances with regards to your Personal Exemption. There is also a post on the $60 gift exemption you might find useful.

If you enjoyed this post why not subscribe via RSS or join my email newsletter here -> Subscribe

A “like” on facebook or Google+ would also be appreciated. Thanks!

With the Xmas season around the corner, Do you know what qualifies as a “Gift” for Canada Customs?

Today’s topic is one that is commonly misunderstood by the general public and it is to do with the $60 gift exemption under tariff 9816. So here are 8 facts associated to tariff 9816:

1. This tariff 9816 applies only to casual donations sent by non-residents of Canada to a  resident of Canada. A common mistake is that some residents of Canada returning from a trip or holiday purchase gifts for friends and family and believe that these items will qualify under 9816. They do not. These types of gifts retired to fall under tariff 9804 to be imported duty and tax-free as part of their personal exemption.

2. Gifts under tariff 9816 may not be considered advertising matter, or the alcohol or tobacco.

3. If the value of the gift under tariff 9816 exceeds the $60 amount, then the taxable amount will be reduced by $60. For example, your uncle from Poland brings you a sweater valued at $100 Canadian, then tariff 9816 would be applied by taking off $60 and leaving $40 is the amount duties and taxes would be applied to.

4. An association, organization, company, or business of any kind does not qualify as eligible recipient under tariff 9816.

5. In order to qualify under tariff 9816 for duty and tax free importation, no individual item/gift can be valued at more than $60 Canadian, notwithstanding the number of joint recipients. For example, a gift valued at $180 cannot be divided equally by 3 family members.

6. There are no limits to the number of gifts that can be imported free under tariff 9816 so long as they are under $60 Canadian and for different individual who is a resident of Canada.

7. In order to qualify for tariff 9816, items should be clearly marked and identified as a gift. For example, they should be a card or gift to be wrapped.

8. Gifts can be sent by nonresident Canada directly from a third-party such as an online store and qualify for tariff 9816 so long as the customs officer is satisfied that the gift was unsolicited and bona fide.

9. Lastly, tariff 9816 cannot be combined with the postal imports remissions order or the courier imports remissions order for free importation for goods valued at not exceeding $20 Canadian.