Hi Julie,

I know that lots of people try to cheat the sales tax system by smugling new goods across the boarder. I've been in the Platsburg NY. shopping mall (1.5 hrs from Montreal) on a Saturday afternoon and was totaly disgusted with all the empty boxing, wrapping, old shoes etc. left behind by my fellow citizens. The lure of cheeper shopping in the US is a myth that refuses to die. As painfull as taxes are they all fall into the category of "rendering unto Cesar the things that are Cesar's".

To keep this somewhat on topic, my kayaks were by no means in the shrink wrap and didn't have the appearance of being newly store bought, at least to me!

BTW. I'd better start working as Cesar is my boss (ie. gov't of Canada)!!!