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. sa国际传媒� 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, Barbarasa国际传媒檚 son and daughter-in-law crossed the border earlier sa国际传媒� at the Roosville border crossing.

sa国际传媒淥riginally, we were planning on flying,sa国际传媒� Grant Howse said. sa国际传媒淏ut every flight that we booked with WestJet was cancelled, or pushed to a different date. Finally, we decided to drive.

sa国际传媒淲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. Wesa国际传媒檙e Canadian citizens, but we also have resident status in the Baja.

sa国际传媒淏ut then we were told that we couldnsa国际传媒檛 go to Mexico unless we were Mexican citizens.

sa国际传媒淲e were pulling our trailer, and we loaded up to cross the States, because [Barbarasa国际传媒檚 son and daughter-in-law, who also have Mexican residency] had gone through.sa国际传媒�

The son and daughter-in-law had been advised that they couldnsa国际传媒檛 stop except for essentials sa国际传媒� gasoline, food sa国际传媒� 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 Howessa国际传媒� were still denied entry, offered no further reasons, and told to turn around. But thatsa国际传媒檚 when their troubles really started.

sa国际传媒淲e were a little stunned,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淲e turned around and came back to the Canadian side, and the fellow waved us up to the wicket. And thatsa国际传媒檚 where it all started.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淲e said, sa国际传媒榳hat do you mean, come back into Canada? We were just refused entry into the U.S. He said sa国际传媒榠t doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter sa国际传媒� yousa国际传媒檙e entering into Canada from the U.S.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

The Howses tried to explain that they had not been in the U.S. at all sa国际传媒� that they had been denied entry, but the border guard started listing the penalties they could face if they didnsa国际传媒檛 go into the 14-day quarantine, including jail time and enormous fines.

sa国际传媒淲e were treated like crap sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淵ou are not allowed to leave your property, have anyone come to your residence sa国际传媒� sa国际传媒淭he rules set down by this fellow sa国际传媒� I was just appalled.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淩ob has taken it a long way up the ladder in the political aspect of things sa国际传媒� hesa国际传媒檚 really been a great help to us, in trying to get this resolved,sa国际传媒� Grant said.

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

sa国际传媒淗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. Doesnsa国际传媒檛 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 sa国际传媒� it came down as an order from Service Canada.

sa国际传媒淚 said, sa国际传媒榡ust the same, we hadnsa国际传媒檛 left the country!sa国际传媒� So why were we place in quarantine?sa国际传媒� He said, sa国际传媒業sa国际传媒檓 sorry but thatsa国际传媒檚 the rule.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 then told him about the actions of his employee, and how we were treated. He did say he would look into that.sa国际传媒�

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 sa国际传媒� that they had simply driven a few metres to a turn-around spot so they could go back to the Canadian side sa国际传媒� did not make any difference. sa国际传媒淭hose are the rules.sa国际传媒�

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 Howsesa国际传媒檚 agent in Baja was able to get an extension period for them to do so. The Howsesa国际传媒檚 ultimate plan to get dual citizenship, Mexican and Canadian, for all the time they spend there.

sa国际传媒淲e love the place, the country, the people,sa国际传媒� Grant said.

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

sa国际传媒淭his is BS,sa国际传媒� Grant said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a bunch of politics that didnsa国际传媒檛 have to happen. This quarantine is okay in its place, but it doesnsa国际传媒檛 have to apply to everybody. Who sets these rules?

sa国际传媒淭here has to be a more neutral area.sa国际传媒�