Letter to the Editor

Re: "Fire guts warehouse" by Tom Godfrey March 6, 2012

I would like to point out and correct inaccuracies portrayed in the article "Fire guts warehouse" on March 6, 2012.

The fire and damage to the warehouse on Elmbank Road on March 4 was at a privately owned and operated facility as was indicated to Mr. Godfrey (March 5). The facility is not leased or owned by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), nor does it house CBSA staff or files, nor does it house traveller's luggage.

Under the legislation, s24 of the Customs Act, when a warehouse operator aims to store and/or allow in-bond goods to proceed inland, the operator requires a license to do so. It is the responsibility of the CBSA to issue said license. These sufferance warehouses allow for the control, short-term storage (maximum 40 days) and examination of imported goods at a place other than a port of entry. Under the Act, it is the warehouse keeper who is liable for all duties or taxes levied on the goods in his/her facility unless he/she can prove the goods are still in the warehouse, were destroyed while in the warehouse, were removed from the warehouse in accordance with the Customs Act, have been taken as a sample or seized under Canadian law, or have been released by the CBSA.

While the warehouse may hold different goods, it is not the practice of the CBSA to provide detailed information on importers and their import patterns. We invite you to peruse the CBSA Web site, particularly Memoranda D4 Warehousing, Duty Free Shops and Ship Stores for a detailed explanation on the types of warehouses.

I hope we can continue to work together to accurately inform Canadians on CBSA issues and events.

Goran Vragovic
Regional Director General
Greater Toronto Area Region
Canada Border Services Agency