Questions for Canada

Most readers have heard by now the drama related to Michel Jalbert’s crossing the border into the United States. In fact, some reports have gone as far as to claim that Jalbert’s arrest has negatively affected Canadian-American relations. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate to seek answers from Canada to the following questions:

. Will an American with a criminal record, even if it is a drunk driving record, be allowed by Canadian border guards to cross into Canada?

. Will an American with a gun in the vehicle be allowed by Canadian border guards to cross into Canada? Each time I have gone through Canadian customs I have been asked if I have any weapons with me, including Mace.

. If I, like Jalbert, have a criminal record and a gun in the vehicle and choose to enter Canada by circumventing the border station, how will Canadian customs officers welcome me?

The media should obtain answers to these questions and publish them so that both Canadians and Americans can compare how our border crossing laws do or don’t differ.

It is unfortunate that Jalbert chose to enter into Maine with a weapon. I don’t think anyone can label American border laws unfair, however, until we find out how Canada would respond to an American who arrived in Canada in the same manner that Jalbert arrived in the United States.

Beth Gott

Kenduskeag