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. 91裸聊视频� 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, Barbara91裸聊视频檚 son and daughter-in-law crossed the border earlier 91裸聊视频� at the Roosville border crossing.

91裸聊视频淥riginally, we were planning on flying,91裸聊视频� Grant Howse said. 91裸聊视频淏ut every flight that we booked with WestJet was cancelled, or pushed to a different date. Finally, we decided to drive.

91裸聊视频淲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. We91裸聊视频檙e Canadian citizens, but we also have resident status in the Baja.

91裸聊视频淏ut then we were told that we couldn91裸聊视频檛 go to Mexico unless we were Mexican citizens.

91裸聊视频淲e were pulling our trailer, and we loaded up to cross the States, because [Barbara91裸聊视频檚 son and daughter-in-law, who also have Mexican residency] had gone through.91裸聊视频�

The son and daughter-in-law had been advised that they couldn91裸聊视频檛 stop except for essentials 91裸聊视频� gasoline, food 91裸聊视频� 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 Howes91裸聊视频� were still denied entry, offered no further reasons, and told to turn around. But that91裸聊视频檚 when their troubles really started.

91裸聊视频淲e were a little stunned,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲e turned around and came back to the Canadian side, and the fellow waved us up to the wicket. And that91裸聊视频檚 where it all started.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲e said, 91裸聊视频榳hat do you mean, come back into Canada? We were just refused entry into the U.S. He said 91裸聊视频榠t doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter 91裸聊视频� you91裸聊视频檙e entering into Canada from the U.S.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

The Howses tried to explain that they had not been in the U.S. at all 91裸聊视频� that they had been denied entry, but the border guard started listing the penalties they could face if they didn91裸聊视频檛 go into the 14-day quarantine, including jail time and enormous fines.

91裸聊视频淲e were treated like crap 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淵ou are not allowed to leave your property, have anyone come to your residence 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淭he rules set down by this fellow 91裸聊视频� I was just appalled.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淩ob has taken it a long way up the ladder in the political aspect of things 91裸聊视频� he91裸聊视频檚 really been a great help to us, in trying to get this resolved,91裸聊视频� Grant said.

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

91裸聊视频淗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. Doesn91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频� it came down as an order from Service Canada.

91裸聊视频淚 said, 91裸聊视频榡ust the same, we hadn91裸聊视频檛 left the country!91裸聊视频� So why were we place in quarantine?91裸聊视频� He said, 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 sorry but that91裸聊视频檚 the rule.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 then told him about the actions of his employee, and how we were treated. He did say he would look into that.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频� that they had simply driven a few metres to a turn-around spot so they could go back to the Canadian side 91裸聊视频� did not make any difference. 91裸聊视频淭hose are the rules.91裸聊视频�

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 Howse91裸聊视频檚 agent in Baja was able to get an extension period for them to do so. The Howse91裸聊视频檚 ultimate plan to get dual citizenship, Mexican and Canadian, for all the time they spend there.

91裸聊视频淲e love the place, the country, the people,91裸聊视频� Grant said.

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

91裸聊视频淭his is BS,91裸聊视频� Grant said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a bunch of politics that didn91裸聊视频檛 have to happen. This quarantine is okay in its place, but it doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to apply to everybody. Who sets these rules?

91裸聊视频淭here has to be a more neutral area.91裸聊视频�