I post on here to mainly help people who have queries on CBSA and Immigration who are coming to Canada. Am I doing it out of the goodness of my own heart or actually being told by CBSA to actively take part. Hmmm I wonder.
People ask questions and I try to answer them. Even when they are given the answer they sometimes question it or choose not to believe it or indicate they will not do this or that without realizing who I am or what I do.
That is their choice in the end I merely tell them of some of the consequences they may encounter and not all of these consequences are nice.
I can think of several posters on here who post answers on a variety of subjects whom some might think rude obnoxious or helpful.
Its an internet site and Im guessing that a lot of posters are nothing like they are perceived on here in real life.
Im not one to sit back and see the Agency I work for or myself be trashed in a non joking or friendly banter type of way. Have a pop at me by all means but Im not one to shy away. You can have all the assumptions and perceptions of me but until you actually have met me in person then you just might be wrong.
There are several legal people who post on here and I have a friendly banter with them but I dont think all lawyers are assholes and money grabbing bottom feeders as some might suggest they are.

Did you read post #61?
Im sure the Police Officers dealing with the worst elements of society are always pleasant and polite. How about Correctional Officers Im sure they are always polite to their clients.
There are good CBSA officers and there are some who should not be in the job.
There are a lot of very polite travellers and some absolute dickheads.
Oil & water always don't mix.

Yes I did and it did not answer my comments and questions at all.

I see Correctional Officers and OPP very often in my job and have never seen them as any thing less than polite, usually more so.

I am not a dickhead so by your standards would expect CBSA to be polite, pleasant and helpful towards me but they are not.

Workers dealing with the public have to learn to pull their necks in. If someone is rude to me I do not respond with rudeness. I may do outside work but in my job there are ways and means of doing things.

Your motivations and reasons for posting are irrelevant, it's the impression you leave that's important.

I'm sure your posts are useful to many, but you're missing a key point about other posters that offer advice, whether general or specific to their profession. Market forces and choice operate in their environment. Interaction with CBSA is random and individuals can't pick and choose based on friendliness or personality. Your online persona, even if polar opposite to real life, is the impression people are left with concerning how CBSA operate. That makes you very much an unofficial PR representative of your employer.

Ask yourself if your employer would be happy that what you perceive as banter or off the cuff remarks would be acceptable to use in an official press release - if not, realize the impression you're leaving may not be healthy.

I don't like to see this thread getting too personal against FL.

The reality is, though, that many on here have legitimate reasons to dislike or question the CBSA, whether it's individual officers, or unnecessarily frustrating processes. FL admits himself that there are problems with individual CBSA officers and that there are some unnecessarily frustrating processes, but then sits back and claims "But what can I do?".

Most people accept CBSA interaction as a necessary evil and leave it there... I don't think I'm far off the mark when I suggest that nearly every thread on the subject of CBSA stuff has actually been started by FL. Well, sorry, FL, but if you invite our comments on the shortcomings of the Canadian system, that's exactly what you'll get. No need to be so defensive, we know you take pride in your work.

My posts are a bit of harmless fun and poking back at comments made.
I treat people the way I expect to be treated.
At work on any given day I can be dealing with sweet and not so sweet little old ladies, movie stars and singers, children, CEOs and owners of very successful companies, normal travellers and gang bangers.
Id say over 95% of my interactions are dealt with in a courteous manner.
We all get frustrated at times and at times I really have to bite my tongue.
When dealing with difficult clients you have to be firm but fair.
A gang banger might not appreciate or understand the Im sorry sir but if you would like to take a seat I will be with you in a moment as opposed to the Sit down and STFU. He understands that language.
I have dealt with many deaf/hard of hearing, blind, unable to speak and others who suffer from a variety of challenges. We have interpreters if needed and we manage without it turning into an unpleasant experience.
I dont work at Pearson. I have heard many stories about the officers at Pearson
Vancouver, Montreal & Calgary. Some good, some funny and some not so good.
I can think of 3 officers at my port who I choose not to sit next to because of their attitude and they probably account for 90% of our complaints.
Im not a manager and they certainly wont listen to me.
Have I flown off the handle once or twice you bet I have. Im a human being and we all have good days and bad days.

I for one have found your information on this forum invaluable. I regularly bring in loads of extra booze, fags and persuasive anti-seal elements and haven’t been stopped since. Cheers.


BTW, is Purell tax deducible for you lot?

I dunno the Agency supplies it if meaning the sanitizing gel

You can get caught out doing that.

Three or four years ago there was an additional passport check after security. The official couldn't help but notice the absence of an entry visa in my passport.

The desks are still there. I now check if they are manned before presenting a passport.

I've not seen those desks manned in a couple of years or more. I always travel with both passports so would just present the appropriate one at the time.

My bro nearly got caught on that one.

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a far........ er, a teacher.

<he's a dairy farmer>

So are you allowed to use you UK passport going into the UK and your Canadian one coming back ? Is it legit ?

Legit or not I do it every time I travel to UK. No problems thus far.

Ditto but I didn't notice the official that time (in time).

All completely above board as you have dual citizenship.