With pleasure-craft season about to peak, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has launched its annual awareness push, warning boaters that failing to report immediately upon entering Canadian waters can lead to fines starting at C $1,000 and potential vessel seizure. The advisory, published 1 May via regional media, stresses that all travellers—citizens and foreign nationals alike—must contact CBSA without delay, whether they anchor, dock or transfer goods and passengers. Key requirements include having government-issued photo ID for everyone on board, declaring all goods (including firearms and cannabis), and using designated telephone-reporting centres or in-person marine sites. NEXUS members benefit from streamlined options but must still phone ahead. The reminder is particularly relevant this year because many marinas report a surge in U.S. registrations as boat owners seek cooler northern cruising grounds. Corporate relocation teams moving staff to lake-rich regions such as the Ontario ‘cottage country’ may need to brief expatriates on the strict rules, which differ markedly from the more flexible U.S. regime. CBSA officials also highlighted a new text-message alert system that notifies boaters of wait times at popular reporting stations—a pilot aimed at reducing congestion during holiday weekends. The agency says the initiative complements its broader digitisation plan, which will eventually allow small-craft pre-arrival declarations via the ArriveCAN app. Non-compliance penalties have climbed steadily since 2024, when CBSA adopted a ‘no-warnings’ policy after a spate of undeclared firearms cases. The agency seized 87 vessels last season; early enforcement statistics for 2026 will be released in July.
Source: 94.1 myFM St. Thomas
