Alexander1968 wrote:
I always wonder if Italy and Italians bashing is still a popular sport in the UK and, sadly, it is indeed. I'm used to see sniding remarks in The Economist but reading them here too...    I'm sure in the future I'll attempt to avoid you the hassles and the great danger to ship items here. I don't want to see fine British people like Gyg having to do business with a lowly country such as the Brazil of Europe  

Sigh...  

gyg wrote:Reading back Alexanders post, it seems that my post ws taken really seriously, for which I am truly sorry.

It was not my intention to upset anyone, I was merely stating the facts as I see them.

My only shipping with delivery confirmation was not a knee-jerk reaction, it was the direct result of several chargebacks. I cannot know whether these were fraudulent or otherwise, I can only know that I am out of pocket from items shipped to Italy - in my situation, would anyone do any differently?

Sorry to offend, none was intended.

Carl

Deadlord39 wrote:That does seem like a grossly unfair statement. I don't think Italian officers needed to drink wine to be lazy, incompetent buffoons.
I think I have more problems with Canada than Italy. The Mounties, or whoever inspects the mail, seem to single me out and open every item I send up there. I once sent a big box of Magic cards, and they arrived at the person's house with DIRT inside, and many cards were scraped. They had obviously been spilled on the floor and swept back in.

News Release National 2008
The Government of Canada proposes amendments to the Customs Act to strengthen border security
Ottawa, Ontario, February 15, 2008 - The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today took another step to enhance Canada's border security and prosperity by introducing amendments to the Customs Act in the House of Commons.

"Stopping illegal activity and protecting Canadians from threats to their health, safety and security is a key priority for this Government," said Minister Day. "These changes give Canada Border Services Agency officers the information, tools and flexibility they need to detect threats and tackle crime, while ensuring that legitimate trade and travellers can cross the border efficiently."

The amendments will make it mandatory for all businesses involved in the import trade chain to provide the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with electronic data on their shipments before the goods reach Canada. With this advance information, the CBSA will be able to make better decisions about the admissibility of the goods, including whether the goods pose a risk to Canadians.

Other amendments will enable the CBSA to fully implement "customs controlled areas," which will provide border services officers with the flexibility to examine goods and question and search people anywhere within those areas, as opposed to only at exit points as in the current Act.  

"Enhancing border security is a key priority for our Government," said Minister Day. "Our Government has made significant investments in support of a smart, secure and trade-efficient border. For example, it has invested $430 million to upgrade border infrastructure and security. It is arming 4,800 CBSA officers and hiring 400 new officers to eliminate situations where they have to work alone. Today's announcement further demonstrates our Government's commitment to strengthen the integrity of our border."

bombadil wrote:Yeah, and they keep legalizing drugs like pot just to keep the populace stupefied!  

Marijuana advocates across Canada are celebrating a May 16 Ontario court decision, which effectively legalized possession in Canada's largest province.

On Friday, May 16, Ontario Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin upheld the lower court ruling of Justice Philips, concerning a case of pot possession in Ontario.

Justice Rogin agreed that the federal government had failed in its obligation to change the law to allow for medical use of marijuana, and so the entire law was void.

This decision is binding on Ontario's lower courts, which means that no-one can be convicted of pot possession in Ontario. This effectively means that marijuana is now legal in Canada's largest province.

It is expected that other Appeal courts across Canada will also ratify the decision. Related cases are making their way through the courts in at least four other provinces.

The federal government has appealed the case to Ontario's Court of Appeal.

The "decrim" legislation being contemplated by Canada's Liberal government will presumably be aimed at filling this void in Canada's pot laws.

Marijuana advocates are encouraging pot smokers in Ontario to enjoy their new-found freedom. "The people of Ontario should be celebrating this monumental victory!" said Marc Emery of the BC Marijuana party. "Anywhere you can smoke tobacco, they should be smoking marijuana."