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Border brouhaha

'No-no-no all the way'

HAYLEY MICK

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 5:17 AM EDT 21/12/07

Border brouhaha: Beloved Christmas tree man from Montreal is barred from Manhattan ...Read the full article

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  1. Angry West Coast Canuck from Canada writes: American officials and bureaucrats. They're a pain in the arse to both Canadians and Americans alike. Then there's border guards. A more despicable subspecies of human waste will not be found, and I don't care what nationality they are.
  2. Alex Yaxmos from Canada writes: Just lie and make it across the border. Border guards are just powertripping jack asses.
  3. S G from Montreal, Canada writes: Cher Daniel: pour quoi vous ne considerez pas la possibilite de faire la meme chose (vente des arbres) ici a Montreal, juste a cote Notre-Dame?
  4. Eric the Red from Canada writes: Another quick reminder, before the holiday season sets in, to illustrate how completely moronic border guards are.
  5. Philosopher King from Ottawa, Canada writes: S G from Montreal, Canada writes: Cher Daniel: pour quoi vous ne considerez pas la possibilite de faire la meme chose (vente des arbres) ici a Montreal, juste a cote Notre-Dame?

    I think it's likely demand SG. There are already too many venders in Montreal. New York is a very population dense city and has much higher demand.

    Besides, he's developed a special relationship with people there making Canadians look good. Why not back this friendly gesture of peace between cultures?

    Just like the border guards that stopped Montreal fire fighters from helping New Jersey, this is just the latest example of the intolerance being taught to US border guards. These people need to get a grip.

    I'd bet my life that Canada is just as safe a place to live as the US, so why the added security?
  6. Philosopher King from Ottawa, Canada writes: What do we expect I guess. Most border gaurds are pretty young and their heads are stuffed with nonsense about "living in a post 9/11 world".

    Other than that the whole idea that they'll accept our resources (trees) but not us follows a dirturbing pattern showing up with way too much regularity these days.
  7. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: C'mon, the tree's might be the beginning of some monstrously conceived terrorist plot.
  8. Swifty J from Mariposa, Canada writes: S G, it would probably take more permits, paperwork, and bureaucratic hassles to sell trees outside Notre Dame than it would to sell enriched plutonium outside the United Nations.
  9. Norman Dupuis from Calgary, Canada writes: The lesson to take away from all of this is that, as individuals, Canadians and Americans can live side by side quite nicely and enjoy the commonality of our cultures and experiences, thank you very much.

    The unfortunate downside of the lesson is that you get the government you vote for, and the interpretation of the law can sometimes be spelled PETTY and SMALL MINDED.
  10. Heywood Yaspareadime from Canada writes: Maybe he should have been trying to get guns or drugs across the border. Given the sories in the media these people never seem to get hassled.
  11. Philosopher King from Ottawa, Canada writes: Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: "C'mon, the tree's might be the beginning of some monstrously conceived terrorist plot."

    Maybe he tried to pay the toll with one of those remembrance day quarters the FBI were so worried about? LOL
  12. Neiland Robert from Canada writes: Norman Dupuis 11:35am ... well put.
  13. L DR from Ottawa, Canada writes: I guess Free Trade only works one way US to Canada -- not the other way around.
  14. Buddy Rich from Toronto, Canada writes: To philosopher king:
    the US is very "data" oriented, even when it is incorrect or statistically not valid...and 70% of the Canadian population reside within 100 miles of the US/Canadian border coast to coast. This is one of the reasonS for the increase of ...you know what...
  15. crazy fiddler from Canada writes: Wait a sec -

    While we never seem to miss the opportunity to express "bah humbug" sentiment against the border guards, the fact is that this guy is running a business, albeit a temporary, seasonal one, that in addition to giving him his "social fix" nets him something like $30k (since he's donating 10% to the church). Why shouldn't he be required to provide papers at the border? I'm a professional musician, and if I want to work in the U.S., I have to apply for a special license. Just because this guy is engaged in a touchy, feely enterprise doesn't change the fact that at the end of the day, it is very much a money making venture, and should be respected as such by all parties. I have an accountant friend who loves to say "just because you got away with it before doesn't make it legal".

    Not meaning to be Grinch-like, but......

    a joyous, peaceful Christmas to you all!
  16. Louise Pharand Doren from Toronto, Canada writes: You would think a man in charge, with an Asian name would be sympathetic to unfounded claims of job loss!? Or is it that they want minorities in NYC to take over a job this Quebecois has been doing incredibly well, and fairly? Are the Americans so sore over lumber exports? Let the man continue a tradition no one contested before, for Christmas's sake!
  17. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: How did he manage to get across the border before? There is nowhere in the world that you can enter a country as a tourist for a couple of weeks and set up a business that nets you tens of thousands of dollars. NAFTA be damned, the American and Canadian tax men should be all over this guy every January. Something smells funny here.....
  18. Lydia von Schreiber from Canada writes: I have to agree with the sentiments expressed by the crazy fiddler. Bah humbug, I wish I could see this just as a wish to experience the NYC Christmas excitement. Sorry Daniel. Perhaps a Christmas with your girlfriend may turn out to be a good thing?

    I too have ticked off the border guards, and unless I am prepared to go into the US and make my plea before a magistrate I can no longer cross. Who'd want to take that chance?

    I am sure there is a tinge of jealousy in my comment since I too love NYC and have never found a way to live there for free, let alone be paid for the joy of such an unusual experience.

    Good luck next year.
  19. Wayne Gray from Oakville, Canada writes: NAFTA seems to be a one way deal. Canada is getting screwed on soft wood lumber, cedar shakes, potash, beef, wheat and potato exports to the USA. Now Christmas trees are the target. It is time to give the six month notice to opt out of NAFTA. After we opt out, lets turn off the taps for natural gas and oil to the USA.
  20. Steve Gibbons from Calgary, Canada writes: American border guards in upstate New York look like Afred E. Newmans with with guns.
    Another fine example of how NAFTA works so effortlessly.
  21. Michael McCarthy from Toronto, writes: Although I sympathize with Mr. Lemay, this has nothing to do with problems with NAFTA. He quite simply didn't do his paperwork. I work in the states about 50% of the time. To do so, I had to aquire a US TN visa. Canada also requires Americans to obtain a Visa under NAFTA if they wish to work here.
    Pretty simple actually (and this has nothing to do with shipping Canadian xmas trees to the States - I wish people would read the story) And for people who want to tear up NAFTA....leave your uninformed emotional reactions out of the debate, and look at the statistics. Canada has thrived under FTA and NAFTA
  22. thomas courtemanche from Canada writes: This conversation is about more than christmas trees and the recent fire-truck crossing. Political borders are obsolete, the only things that need monitoring in North America are: Multi-National Corporations, shareholder votes, not elections; board meetings, not senate meetings. It's 1984 all over but the government are not pulling the strings, even in a small christmas tree business. I'm truly sorry this man could not make his yearly 30k, but this lesson will echo throughout the informal market between our countries, watch the next election, if Huckabee wins the MNC's rule the world not the people anymore and there will have to be and American tian-a-men before long. Free Tibet, Free Myanmar, Free Women Worldwide, Free Food.

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