So as you may have seen in the news post, we had to cancel our trip to the Calgary Expo because we were caught bringing in goods for resale without disclosing the product. I did mention having some comics as well as tools and a hand truck, because I was also visiting my sister and her kids as well as helping them move. I just didn't mention the comics were for sale and working the convention.

Truth is we wouldn't have gotten through even if we did disclose it because I didn't have a work permit - which I didn't know I needed for Canada. Admittedly my fault but I wasn't told by the show about the work permit either.

Now last year we were allowed through the border without even showing our ID's... which I thought was crazy. Obviously this year was quite different.  I'm not sure if we were just some scheduled "random" search or for some reason they just didn't like the look of us.  You know my Dad, a 65 year-old, sitting in the drivers seat as it was his turn to drive and me, 34 year-old with a beard, in the passenger seat.  I know we looked like an unruly bunch. Who the heck knows, they were just very hostile to us.

Anyway, two days ago in the mail I received a letter, which I knew was going to be a fine. I kind of carefully opened the envelope, worried about what I'd see inside. Opened up the letter and saw the number... my jaw hit the floor. I couldn't believe it, the goddamn Canucks are fining me $2,000 for product that didn't even make it past the border (we were turned away after 2 hours of being detained).

Guess what... I'm not going to pay it. Pure and simple I'm not going to pay $2,000.

Now I'm going to appeal it and if they take it down to $100, maybe I'll pay. But if they don't reduce it, fuck 'em.  

Hell I'd be lucky to have even made $1,000 at the show, and they want me to pay $2,000 on product that they claimed totalled $7,000+.  Two short boxes of comics, some prints and a chunk of original art, some of which wasn't even for sale - I just grabbed it all to sort through later as to what's for sale.

So screw the Canadian border patrol, you aren't likely to see a penny from me for that absurd amount. And apparently I'm not going to be crossing the border again anytime soon.

- James Taylor