Originally Posted by
Badenoch
You're welcome. And just to clarify for other readers, the situation being described about general aviation (non-commercial) passengers is one of those 'highly limited exceptions' mentioned above. The Parliament and Canada Revenue Agency/CBSA carved out an exception just for this type of situation. The same goes for boaters.
These exceptions prove the general rule that everyone entering Canada must present themselves to an open customs office for in-person examination.
Sources:
Customs Act section 11(1): "Subject to this section, every person arriving in Canada shall,
except in such circumstances and subject to such conditions
as may be prescribed, enter Canada only ..."
Customs Act section 11.1 (1): "Subject to the regulations, the Minister may issue to any person an authorization to
present himself or herself in an alternative manner."
Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations section (2)(2):
Part 1
Exceptions to Presentation under Subsection 11(1) of the Act
...
2
...(2) The following persons, in the following circumstances and conditions, are not required to present themselves in accordance with subsection 11(1) of the Act:
...(c) persons arriving in Canada aboard a non-commercial passenger conveyance at a designated customs office where the person in charge of the conveyance may present themself and their passengers by radio or telephone, and the person informs an officer by radio or telephone of their arrival and, if required to do so by the officer, presents themself and their passengers at the time and place specified by the officer;
...
Alternative Manners of Presentation
11 Persons may present themselves in one of the following alternative manners if they have been authorized to do so:
...
(e) on arrival in Canada aboard a marine pleasure craft, by means of the person in charge of the marine pleasure craft if that person presents themself and those persons aboard by telephone to an officer at a designated customs office and all persons aboard the marine pleasure craft are authorized to present themselves in that manner.