According to Canada Border Service Agency’s Memorandum D19-8-5, travellers coming through highway border crossings must ensure that their watercraft is free of Zebra and Quagga mussels and Clean, Drain, Dry before entering Canada. Failure to meet these requirements could result in the watercraft being refused entry into Canada and/or travellers receiving a financial penalty.

To ensure that your watercraft enters Canada, ensure that it is:

1.      Clean; free of aquatic vegetation, mud, sand, and any organisms (alive or dead);

2.      Drain; all drain plugs have been removed or opened to allow standing water to drain from bilges, live wells, and any other location that holds water; and

3.      Dry; free of any standing water and interior compartments (e.g., live well) wiped dry, if possible. 

Mandatory watercraft inspections may be encountered at provincial or international borders, on highways, or at boat launches in Canada. Failure to stop at these stations carries a fine, which varies by province and can range from $324 to $4,200 CAD.

For more information on bringing a watercraft into Canada, learn more at the following links:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Clean, Drain, Dry and Decontaminate – At the border
• Invading Species Awareness Program (Ontario) – Boating   
• Manitoba – Clean, Drain and Dry  
• Saskatchewan – Clean, Drain and Dry Your Boat 
• Alberta – Clean, drain, dry your gear