I think you're correct that a Canadian can always repatriate, however that doesn't mean they can flash a BC/DL and waltz across the threshold. Those attempting to do it with a BC/DL since 2009, I suspect may be invited to establish their citizenship to the satisfaction of the officer.

Probably of more practical importance is there's also the airline to deal with first: "International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport. Therefore, Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents such as those noted below.[list of documents including EDL or BC plus regular DL]"
< http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-...dmiss-eng.html >

Also
"Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to assist in confirming your legal right or authorization to enter Canada upon your return. Proper identification includes a Canadian passport, a Canadian birth certificate, a Canadian citizenship certificate, a Certificate of Indian Status or a Canadian Permanent Resident Card.
For all modes of entry, we recommend you carry a valid Canadian passport for all visits abroad, including visits to the United States. A passport may be required by your airline or alternative transportation authority, as it is the only universally-accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada." Interestingly, it goes on to say "Citizens and permanent residents of Canada, who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs, may present their membership cards to the CBSA as proof of identity and as documents that denote citizenship, when arriving by land or marine modes only." [emphasis added]
< http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/travel-voyage/...rpcrc-eng.html >

Also, apparently, a passport is considered a "secondary proof of citizenship" from the citizenship perspective, while a BC is proof of citizenship (except in certain cases, e.g., non-Canadian diplomatic parents for person born in Canada after 1977)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp

I guess the passport is "secondary" because you had to show the BC to get it. However, your BC on its own is not sufficient for the border because you can't prove it's yours without a matching government issued photo ID, hence the DL.

Rooting through that stuff, I also read to my surprise on the CBSA web page that "If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification." (I guess the Americans will have the passport if they want to go home, though.)

Bring every document you referred to in your application. If you have passports from more than one country, bring every single one of them.

How big is your birth certificate that you can't fit it into the envelope to take with you?? I honestly don't understand not taking things in case. I didn't just take one bank statement. I took a utility bill and something else of that ilk as well. Overkill, sure, but it weighed like a gram, and gave me peace of mind that my bases were covered.

Yeah mine was taken with a Logitech webcam. The background wasn't even white like those in your passports, dl's etc...I have like waiting chairs in my photo. lol.

I had a business ID card taken today and the webcam (golfball type) was crooked so the photo looks like it's from a villain segment from the old Batman TV show.

Ah, the traveling with Nexus by air without a passport debate again.

Technically, the above I believe is correct, though you'd have to prove your citizenship to the officer so they were happy. As far as an EDL is concerned, only works for the land border, not for travel by air.

But if you have Nexus, you can throw the technical can I be let in without a passport question completely out the window unless you want to risk having it taken away. Nexus guide specifically states you must, when traveling by air, carry a passport. Also, the rule on the Nexus card being a WHTI-compliant document specifically is tied to crossing the border by land or sea only.

Could you potentially get away with flying transborder using Nexus without a passport? Sure - could certainly happen. Would I ever, in a million years risk this? Absolutely not.

I wonder how often a year one must travel to make NEXUS worth it...

I don't travel that often, but the delays at crossing by land during the weekends make it worthwhile to consider.

Worth it? It costs $50 and lasts five years. How little would you have to travel to make it not worth it?

thanks for info. worst case we'll wait till September and go make a day of cross boarder shopping. in the mean time I'll keep a eye out on YYZ for openings.

The only reason I brought my birth certificate was because I read on this thread, others suggesting I do so. So I did, and in the end they did ask me for it. Maybe it depends on the agent and or location. I had mine at yyz.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

But let's go with "once". Christmas. You skip the lines at customs and security. You've just saved yourself 90-120 minutes.
90 minutes, once a year, for five years, is 450 minutes, or 7.5 hours. That values your time at less than minimum wage.

So if you value your time at all, it's worth it :p

Good to know. I will bring mine just in case as well.

I have Nexus, but the 'price' is a lot more than $50.

You're giving The Man your fingerprints and a photo associated with those prints. If you're a Canadian, you're having a background check run on you, and that info is going to the Americans.

If you value your privacy, the 'price' is a lot more than $50 - I weighed it and decided it was still worth it, but I know some who have not.

That was the reason I deferred it as long as I did, but then I figured I've had background checks, fingerprints, and even a log of my scars (!) registered for a co-op job with the military back in the day, and subsequently, a former Mr. FQ doing defense contracts out of the home office. I figured HMS Privacy has sailed for me. However anything they want about most people they already have now.
(But it did cost me $72. $50 for the card and $22 for the parking at YYZ!)

Wife and I don't travel much. Once a year to Canada, couple trips international each year for vacation, one or two US flights a year and a couple business trips a year for my wife. We drove 7 hours one way to have our Nexus interview at a land crossing.

With Nexus, GE and Pre-Check all included I get a big smile every time I get to use them. Worth it! :)

I held out on getting NEXUS for a few years because I didn't want the govt to have my prints or iris scan. However, when I was taking the train from Vancouver to Seattle, I showed up very early at the train station. The CBP agent was bored (I was the only person in line), and she took my fingerprints. At that point, I figured that since they now had my prints, I might as well get the benefits of NEXUS. I had the card in my hands within 6 weeks. :p

Since then, I've probably saved 15 hours crossing at land borders, 20 hours standing in queue at the airport, and countless uncomfortable conversations with CBP/CBSA officers.