What Foreign Affairs Canada Can and Cannot Do

What Foreign Affairs Can and Can Not Do


DIANE Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), issued the following statement reminding Canadians of the importance of careful planning for safe travel and what consular officials can and cannot do:

“During this holiday season, the many Canadians travelling abroad are reminded to be proactive in reducing the risks and increasing the chances of having a safe and enjoyable trip. Consular services are available in more than 150 countries around the world, it is important for Canadians to know which services we do and do not provide.”

“Our consular website offers advice for planning a safe trip, including Travel reports and warnings for more than 200 countries, the Traveller’s Checklistand tips for travelling with children.”

Consular Officials CAN:

• Provide advice and information for medical services.

• Contact relatives or friends when you need serious help.

• Provide sources of information for local laws and customs.

• Replace lost or stolen passports.


Consular Officials CANNOT:

• Ask your mother-in-law to leave your house.

• Purchase tickets for a musical or entertainment event.

• Settle disputes between you and your partner.

• Pick up your dog at the airport.

Travelling anywhere involves a degree of risk, but this risk can be lessened with a little advance planning. Our government encourages Canadians going abroad to observe the three Rs of international travel:

• Read up on relevant topics such as safety, security and local laws in the destination country by consulting the travel reports and warnings.

• Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service, which lets Foreign Affairs contact and assist Canadians in the event of emergency.

• Reach Foreign Affairs at their Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa if a Canadian experiences problems abroad.

“Safe and secure travel is primarily the responsibility of travellers. However, when travellers find themselves in situations beyond their control, Canadian officials are there to help.”

For more information on these and other topics, please consult www.travel.gc.ca.

Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

US-CANADA BORDER PLAN TO BE SIGNED

According to a CTV News report, the new US-Canada Border Plan is scheduled to be signed soon in Washington by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US President Barack Obama, despite issues of privacy concerns. The plan is a 32-point border action plan that will reportedly feature a new entry-exit control system that will allow the United States to track everyone coming and leaving Canada by air, land and sea.


The federal government says there is little to worry about, despite the information that will be shared with the Americans. According to privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, no details have yet been shared with their office on the new rules. But she does make it clear that “Canadian sovereignty and privacy rights must be protected”. Washington claims that in exchange for this information, they will be addressing the heavy cross border traffic by setting up pre-screening stations with hopes to alleviate the congestion at the border.

According to CTV some of the features of the plan could take place within months, while others, such as the entry-exit system, could take longer to implement. The plan to push security to the perimeter of North America includes steps to screen cargo at the port of first arrival, screen air passengers at the point of departure and introduce entry-exit verification. New fast lanes may also be built at border crossings to make it easier for trucks to pass through.

For Canadian air travelers, one of the main benefits of the plan would be not having their baggage rescreened when flying through a U.S. hub. For travelers and consumers, the Border deal would also mean:

• Border crossings should move faster, with commercial traffic getting more dedicated lanes and technology to move them through faster;
• Wait times measured and posted at border crossings.
• Consumer health products that have already been approved in the U.S. could get faster approval in Canada, with regulatory bodies sharing information and adjusting labeling standards to make it easier to market a product in both countries.

The security plan includes an initiative for a pilot program to integrate some border law-enforcement teams and improve cross-border communication between law-enforcement agencies. The business community has given positive feedback to the border deals.

Reprinted from YYZ Travel Group - Business First January 2012 Newsletter

KEEP YOUR PASSPORT PRISTINE

DAMAGE CONTROL
Keep your passport pristine

27 DEC 2011: WestJet wants Canadians planning a holiday in Mexico to make sure their passports are in ``perfect'' condition. The airline says Mexican customs and immigration officials could deny entry to anyone arriving with a damaged passport. Rips, tears, missing corners or water damage to the cover or inside pages are all no-nos.

Mexico ``definitely takes the most stringent approach'' concerning passport damage to any country the airline flies to, including the US and Caribbean destinations, said Robert Palmer, WestJet's manager of public relations.

He said ``a handful'' of the airline's customers have been turned away so far this winter season - either prevented in Canada from boarding a flight to Mexico or denied entry on arrival - because of the state of their passports.

One B.C. man with a water-damaged passport was stopped from boarding a Mexico-bound flight by a WestJet ticket agent at Kelowna International Airport earlier this month. He had stored it in a shaving kit where it got wet.

If Mexico denies someone entry, the airline bringing the person in is responsible for getting him out immediately, said Palmer. That could mean having to pay to put him on another airline’s flight.

``We need to screen passports at the point of departure'' to avoid such a scenario, he said. ``We're really between a rock and hard place on this.''

Mexico adopted its tougher approach over the past year, Palmer said.

However, the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa denied that there has been any change in the passport policy of the country's customs and immigration officials.

``Passports must be in a generally good condition -normal use is no problem,'' Milko Rivera Hope, responsible for economic and tourism affairs at the embassy, said in an email.

But Rivera Hope added that ``any alterations or major damage to the passport will definitely be a problem for any passenger who wants to travel anywhere in the world. Not only to Mexico.''

Passport Canada recommends that individuals with a damaged passport apply for a new one, regardless of their destination.

``Travellers whose passport is damaged in any way could face significant delays or be denied entry at border crossings, or be denied boarding on flights,'' Passport Canada says on its website.

Palmer's advice is to keep your passport in a protective sleeve. Don't store it in a kitchen cupboard where something could spill on it. And don't carry it around as all-purpose ID.

``I know young people who use their passport for identification when they go to a bar. ... You're just increasing your risk if you're hauling your passport around like it's another card in your wallet.''

Reprinted with permission of Travel Industry Today.com


http://travelindustrytoday.com/web/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=13286:damage-control-keep-your-passport-pristine&Itemid=64

‘Be merry and pack smart!’ – CATSA

As the holiday season is the busiest time of the year at Canada’s airports, CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) offers helpful packing tips that will make air travel more about the destination and less about the common stressors of flying.

Gifts and wrapped packages: Leave gifts and packages unwrapped until you arrive at your destination as their contents may need to be inspected.

Liquids: Pack liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) such as sunscreen, hair gel, hand cream and perfume, in your checked baggage. LAGs are only allowed in carry-on baggage when packed in containers with a capacity of 100 ml / 100 grams (3.4 oz.) or less. The containers must fit comfortably in one clear, closed and re-sealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart). One plastic bag per person is allowed, and must be removed from carry-on baggage and placed in a bin at security.

Food products: The holidays are a time for delicious treats and baked goods. Food products should be packed in your carry-on baggage, given that certain items may require additional searches. Solid food can be packed in your carry-on baggage, and food items that are liquid or gel based should be carefully packed in checked baggage. These are a few common items that are subject to regular LAGs restrictions:

• Cranberry sauce
• Jams and jellies
• Oils and vinegars
• Maple syrup
• Alcohol

* Remember that, when travelling internationally, some food items are restricted when crossing the border, so check the regulations for your individual destination. When returning to Canada, consult the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about restricted items.

Duty-free purchases: It is recommended that you place all duty-free purchases in checked baggage. To learn more, consult the duty-free purchases page.

Electronic devices: The following items do not need to be removed from cases or bags in order to be screened:

• Cellphones
• MP3 music players (iPod)
• E-book readers (Kindle)
• Portable DVD players
• Tablets (iPad)

Laptops and gaming consoles (PSP, Nintendo 3DS): These items must be removed from carrying cases and laptop bags and placed in a bin.

Toy weapons: Toy weapons such as water guns, replica swords, or any toy resembling a weapon must be packed in checked baggage.

Sporting equipment: Most sports equipment, including skis, snowboards, are not allowed as carry-on baggage. Place these items in checked baggage.

Dress for success: The way you dress can significantly affect the time it takes to go through screening. By following these tips, you will speed up the screening process and decrease the likelihood of setting off the walk-through metal detector:

• Be ready to remove coats, jackets and blazers and place them in the bins provided.
• Dress comfortably with easy-to-remove outerwear, jackets and belts.
• Limit jewelry to small earrings, watches and wedding bands/engagement rings.
• Wear clothing without snaps, metal buttons or studs.
• Avoid wearing shoes with metal arches, buckles, steel-toes or shanks.
• Avoid wearing belts with metal buckles.
• Remove hidden body piercings before you fly.

Be ready to empty all contents of your shirt and pant pockets and place these items in the bins before passing through the walk-through metal detector.

In order to make your screening experience as smooth as possible, contact your air carrier for the number and size of items permitted as carry-on.

Many airports have posted holiday travel tips on their website. It would be wise to check the airport’s website for other tips they may offer for a smooth travel experience.

For more information go to www.catsa.gc.ca.

TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Wrap Gifts After You Arrive

Do not wrap gifts and packages when carrying them on board. All items carried on board are subject to inspection and may be unwrapped at the security checkpoint.

Check In Before You Arrive at the Airport

Use Web Check-In from 1 to 24 hours before your flight and print your boarding pass in advance. You can add passport information, change your seat assignment, sometimes upgrade to First Class, and print a receipt for your flight.  With some airlines you can also opt for Mobile Check-In or download a Mobile App and check in from your mobile device.

Plan for Extra Transportation Time to the Airport

Airport drives and parking lots can become very congested during holiday travel periods. Please allow extra time getting to and from the airport.

Travellers are encouraged to take a shuttle to the airport or park at a satellite parking lot nearby. Travellers should allow extra time for parking during busy holiday travel periods, as lots may be full.

Plan Extra Time For Baggage Check and Security Procedures

The ticket counters and security lines are very busy during the holiday travel season. Plan to arrive extra early and give yourself some breathing room to relax, rather than worry that you won't make it through the line in time.

Made it through security with lots of time to spare? Purchase an airport lounge one-day pass and wait for your flight in comfort!

Passport Canada ready for ePassports

BREAKING NEWS

Passport Canada ready for ePassports

PASSPORT Canada will start issuing higher-security electronic passports, or ePassports, to Canadians next year. With the ePassport, Canadians will have the option of getting a new, security-enhanced passport that is valid for five years, starting next year, or a 10-year passport, starting in early 2013.

In accordance with the User Fees Act, Passport Canada is unveiling its new fee-for-service proposal to accompany the new 10-year ePassport. Canadians are invited to have their say on this proposal.

As always, Passport Canada is striving to strike the best possible balance between security, service andcost. In fact, the proposed fee for a 10-year ePassport is actually lower, per year of validity, than the fee forthe current 5-year passport. The proposal and all supporting documentation may be found at:

www.passportcanada.gc.ca/consultations.

A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document
available to Canadians who want to travel abroad. The more secure ePassport is a document that benefits  all Canadians by protecting our national security.