Canada Day is behind us, and that means summer travel is in full swing.
The Canada Border Services Agency is ready to handle additional traffic this weekend for the U.S. Independence Day holiday, and every weekend this summer.
"The CBSA plans and prepares for long weekends and summer travel," read a release from the CBSA. "We monitor traveller volumes and prioritize efficient processing of travellers at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security."
The agency added that additional people making the trip may not account for all delays they might experience.
"If you encounter wait times at the border, it is likely because we are working behind the scenes to conduct examinations, seize drugs, firearms, or stolen vehicles, or prevent high-risk individuals from entering Canada," read the release.
Tips are being provided to help make crossing the border as stress-free as possible.
The CBSA suggests checking real-time wait times and considering additional entry points if available. Southwestern Ontario is served by the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, and Sarnia by the Blue Water Bridge.
Travel during non-peak times, such as early morning or late at night, may also cut wait times further. Border crossings tend to be the busiest on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
Have all the proper travel documents ready at the point of entry, including passports, permanent residency cards, or other required papers.
Be ready to declare any items you purchased outside of Canada and have any receipts ready. If you are not sure what's allowed and what's not, a CBSA officer can answer your questions.
If you are boating and cross the border via water, you must report to the CBSA immediately upon doing so.
Recreational cannabis may not be brought over the border, despite it being legal across Canada and in the state of Michigan. This includes any products with or without the ingredient THC. If you must have cannabis for medical purposes, a valid permit or exemption issued by Health Canada is required, not a prescription from a doctor.
Those caught smuggling cannabis may face steep fines and criminal penalties, including a lengthy ban on crossing the border.
Complete information on what cross-border travellers must know can be found on the official CBSA website.