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. 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 son and daughter-in-law crossed the border earlier 害羞草研究所� at the Roosville border crossing.

害羞草研究所淥riginally, we were planning on flying,害羞草研究所� Grant Howse said. 害羞草研究所淏ut every flight that we booked with WestJet was cancelled, or pushed to a different date. Finally, we decided to drive.

害羞草研究所淲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害羞草研究所檙e Canadian citizens, but we also have resident status in the Baja.

害羞草研究所淏ut then we were told that we couldn害羞草研究所檛 go to Mexico unless we were Mexican citizens.

害羞草研究所淲e were pulling our trailer, and we loaded up to cross the States, because [Barbara害羞草研究所檚 son and daughter-in-law, who also have Mexican residency] had gone through.害羞草研究所�

The son and daughter-in-law had been advised that they couldn害羞草研究所檛 stop except for essentials 害羞草研究所� gasoline, food 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所� were still denied entry, offered no further reasons, and told to turn around. But that害羞草研究所檚 when their troubles really started.

害羞草研究所淲e were a little stunned,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淲e turned around and came back to the Canadian side, and the fellow waved us up to the wicket. And that害羞草研究所檚 where it all started.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e said, 害羞草研究所榳hat do you mean, come back into Canada? We were just refused entry into the U.S. He said 害羞草研究所榠t doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter 害羞草研究所� you害羞草研究所檙e entering into Canada from the U.S.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

The Howses tried to explain that they had not been in the U.S. at all 害羞草研究所� that they had been denied entry, but the border guard started listing the penalties they could face if they didn害羞草研究所檛 go into the 14-day quarantine, including jail time and enormous fines.

害羞草研究所淲e were treated like crap 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淵ou are not allowed to leave your property, have anyone come to your residence 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he rules set down by this fellow 害羞草研究所� I was just appalled.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淩ob has taken it a long way up the ladder in the political aspect of things 害羞草研究所� he害羞草研究所檚 really been a great help to us, in trying to get this resolved,害羞草研究所� Grant said.

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

害羞草研究所淗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害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所� it came down as an order from Service Canada.

害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所榡ust the same, we hadn害羞草研究所檛 left the country!害羞草研究所� So why were we place in quarantine?害羞草研究所� He said, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 sorry but that害羞草研究所檚 the rule.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

害羞草研究所淚 then told him about the actions of his employee, and how we were treated. He did say he would look into that.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� that they had simply driven a few metres to a turn-around spot so they could go back to the Canadian side 害羞草研究所� did not make any difference. 害羞草研究所淭hose are the rules.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 agent in Baja was able to get an extension period for them to do so. The Howse害羞草研究所檚 ultimate plan to get dual citizenship, Mexican and Canadian, for all the time they spend there.

害羞草研究所淲e love the place, the country, the people,害羞草研究所� Grant said.

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

害羞草研究所淭his is BS,害羞草研究所� Grant said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a bunch of politics that didn害羞草研究所檛 have to happen. This quarantine is okay in its place, but it doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to apply to everybody. Who sets these rules?

害羞草研究所淭here has to be a more neutral area.害羞草研究所�