Quetico News

	Effective starting with the 1998 season. This procedure is REQUIRED for all persons entering Quetico Park by PADDLING through Prairie Portage. This procedure is NOT REQUIRED for all persons entering Quetico Park by FLYING via Sand Point Lake Immigration Station. With the closure of the Canadian Customs & Immigration Station outpost at Prairie Portage on Basswood Lake, direct clearance for canoeists paddling into Canada's Quetico Park from the United States has been eliminated. (There is no change for those flying to Canadian Customs at Sand Point Lake for Quetico Entry at Lac La Croix or Beaverhouse Ranger Stations). The new procedure is called a "CANPASS" or Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Permit. These permits are required for all persons who have reached the age of 18. The permits are only available to: Citizens and alien residents of the United States Citizens of Canada, and Permanent Canadian residents (landed immigrants)
The permits are NOT available to citizens of all other nations. This precludes paddle access to Quetico Park from the United States for these people. They may, however, utilize our float plane fly-in services for access to Quetico Park. Applicants must complete the official CANPASS application form (available to North Country customers by phoning our office at 218-365-5581). Applications must be mailed; FAXed forms will not be accepted for processing. Proof of citizenship (copy of your birth certificate or copy of the first page of your passport) or proof of legal residence (US Alien Registration card). Adults must also submit a copy of one other piece of government identification (usually a state issued driver's license). Only photocopies of these documents should be mailed with the application. Automatic disqualifications include game violations, weapons violations, or DUIs. Other convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The fee is CN$30 per adult, or per family (applicant, spouse, and dependent children). Non-family members must each submit their own application and their own fee. North Country recommends, when possible, the applications be mailed together in the same large envelope. Applications should only be mailed after Quetico Park has issued a reservation number for the Park permit.
Effective starting with the 2006 season. Camping fee changes (as of December 22, 2005)
	Paddling entry at Prairie Portage: Adults: CN$20 / person / night in Canada Youth: CN$ 8 / person / night in Canada Fly-in entry at Lac La Croix: Adults: CN$16 / person / night in Canada Youth: CN$ 6 / person / night in Canada Fly-in entry at Beaverhouse: Adults: CN$14 / person / night in Canada Youth: CN$ 6 / person / night in Canada
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows: January 8, 2007 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada. There is currently some question as to whether paddling back into the US from Quetico falls under the "sea" definition. North Country is recommending that a passport be obtained if planning to go into Quetico Park. Should it be determined that a passport is in fact required, there may not be sufficient time to secure one from the State Department. Passports are valid for 15 years. January 1, 2008 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports.