Windsor

Busy Ontario-U.S. border crossings expected Easter Weekend

The CBSA says it will be monitoring traffic volumes throughout the weekend "and will use all available resources to maintain service levels and minimize processing times, while ensuring the safety and security of Canadians."
Sporting events scheduled throughout the weekend will contribute to higher volumes and may affect border wait times at some ports of entry, the CBSA said. (Jason Kryk/Canadian Press)

Expect busy border crossings in southern Ontario this Easter Weekend, warns the Canada Border Services Agency.

The CBSA says it will be monitoring traffic volumes throughout the weekend "and will use all available resources to maintain service levels and minimize processing times, while ensuring the safety and security of Canadians."

Historically, Good Friday and Easter Monday are the busiest days of the Easter holiday weekend, the CBSA said in a media release.

Sporting events scheduled throughout the weekend will contribute to higher volumes and may affect border wait times at some ports of entry, the agency said.

The Detroit Tigers open the Major League Baseball season at home Easter Monday, for example.

Travellers using the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Mich., should be aware that traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction due to construction.

No CBSA services are affected by the construction.

Travellers are encouraged to use this checklist to plan ahead and simplify your border crossing: 

Also upon return, people should know their personal exemptions, including those for alcohol and tobacco.

There are no personal exemptions for same-day cross-border shopping trips, so people should be prepared to pay HST and possibly duty on purchases.

The duty-free limit on visits of more than 24 hours is $200. Any visit longer than 48 hours allows Canadians to return with duty-free goods worth up to $800.