The rules around crossing the U.S. border during the pandemic led to a bizarre situation for an Invermere couple earlier this month, leaving them angry and frustrated as they were forced to go into quarantine without having technically entered the U.S. 香蕉视频直播� indeed, without having even left their vehicle.

Grant and Barbara Howse were on their way to Baja, Mexico, where they have residency and property. There are rules in place to allow for this; in fact, Barbara香蕉视频直播檚 son and daughter-in-law crossed the border earlier 香蕉视频直播� at the Roosville border crossing.

香蕉视频直播淥riginally, we were planning on flying,香蕉视频直播� Grant Howse said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut every flight that we booked with WestJet was cancelled, or pushed to a different date. Finally, we decided to drive.

香蕉视频直播淲e got to the border, waited for the command to come in to the port of entry. We explained we were on our way to Mexico, and we were residents of the country. We香蕉视频直播檙e Canadian citizens, but we also have resident status in the Baja.

香蕉视频直播淏ut then we were told that we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 go to Mexico unless we were Mexican citizens.

香蕉视频直播淲e were pulling our trailer, and we loaded up to cross the States, because [Barbara香蕉视频直播檚 son and daughter-in-law, who also have Mexican residency] had gone through.香蕉视频直播�

The son and daughter-in-law had been advised that they couldn香蕉视频直播檛 stop except for essentials 香蕉视频直播� gasoline, food 香蕉视频直播� until they were over the southern border into Mexico, but otherwise they had been waved through.

The Howses explained that they had all their provisions, sanitary gear and masks, and were aware and prepared to follow all safety protocols while crossing the U.S. But even after the U.S. border checked with his supervisor, the Howes香蕉视频直播� were still denied entry, offered no further reasons, and told to turn around. But that香蕉视频直播檚 when their troubles really started.

香蕉视频直播淲e were a little stunned,香蕉视频直播� Howse said.

The couple were told to drive ahead a few metres to a turn-around spot and go back to Canada, and that the U.S. border guards would call their Canadian counterparts and tell them the Howses were coming, having been refused entry.

香蕉视频直播淲e turned around and came back to the Canadian side, and the fellow waved us up to the wicket. And that香蕉视频直播檚 where it all started.香蕉视频直播�

The Howses were told they were not allowed to come back into Canada unless they went into quarantine for 14 days.

香蕉视频直播淲e said, 香蕉视频直播榳hat do you mean, come back into Canada? We were just refused entry into the U.S. He said 香蕉视频直播榠t doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter 香蕉视频直播� you香蕉视频直播檙e entering into Canada from the U.S.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

The Howses tried to explain that they had not been in the U.S. at all 香蕉视频直播� that they had been denied entry, but the border guard started listing the penalties they could face if they didn香蕉视频直播檛 go into the 14-day quarantine, including jail time and enormous fines.

香蕉视频直播淲e were treated like crap 香蕉视频直播� like we were a couple of idiots. No compassion at all. And he placed us under quarantine. And he told us we had to go directly to our address [in Invermere], and that he would be contacting the RCMP, and they will at any time during the 14 days to make sure we were at the place of quarantine.

香蕉视频直播淵ou are not allowed to leave your property, have anyone come to your residence 香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淭he rules set down by this fellow 香蕉视频直播� I was just appalled.香蕉视频直播�

The Howses duly returned to Invermere on Oct. 8 and went into quarantine. Grant then called Member of Parliament Rob Morrison, looking for some help on the issue.

香蕉视频直播淩ob has taken it a long way up the ladder in the political aspect of things 香蕉视频直播� he香蕉视频直播檚 really been a great help to us, in trying to get this resolved,香蕉视频直播� Grant said.

The Howses subsquently got a call from a Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) superintendent.

香蕉视频直播淗e told us this order had come down, that anyone going into the U.S. and coming back into Canada were to go into a 14-day quarantine. Doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter if you were there for 15 minutes of 60 days. I told him that we had been denied entry. He said there was nothing he could do 香蕉视频直播� it came down as an order from Service Canada.

香蕉视频直播淚 said, 香蕉视频直播榡ust the same, we hadn香蕉视频直播檛 left the country!香蕉视频直播� So why were we place in quarantine?香蕉视频直播� He said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 sorry but that香蕉视频直播檚 the rule.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

香蕉视频直播淚 then told him about the actions of his employee, and how we were treated. He did say he would look into that.香蕉视频直播�

Last week, the Howses got a call from Service BC, who confirmed that they would remain under quarantine until October 22. And again, their remonstrations that they had not even left the country 香蕉视频直播� that they had simply driven a few metres to a turn-around spot so they could go back to the Canadian side 香蕉视频直播� did not make any difference. 香蕉视频直播淭hose are the rules.香蕉视频直播�

Grant was not allowed to speak with anyone higher up the ladder at Service BC.

The Howses had planned on renewing their Mexican residency while there. In fact, the deadline to do so was October 23, at the Mexican consulate in Baja. But the Howse香蕉视频直播檚 agent in Baja was able to get an extension period for them to do so. The Howse香蕉视频直播檚 ultimate plan to get dual citizenship, Mexican and Canadian, for all the time they spend there.

香蕉视频直播淲e love the place, the country, the people,香蕉视频直播� Grant said.

In the meantime, the Howses are stuck in quarantine, and are still furious.

香蕉视频直播淭his is BS,香蕉视频直播� Grant said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a bunch of politics that didn香蕉视频直播檛 have to happen. This quarantine is okay in its place, but it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to apply to everybody. Who sets these rules?

香蕉视频直播淭here has to be a more neutral area.香蕉视频直播�