Here is what one of our International customers is saying about us.

Please visit their blog for the full article.  http://miguelissimo.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/an-exemplary-move/

 An exemplary move

In April this year (2011) Kate and I moved our residence from Calgary, Canada, to Cellardyke, Scotland. Our budget for the move was limited, and, although we decided not to move any big pieces of furniture, we have quite a big collection of books. Moving is something that we dreaded since we knew we had to do it in January. So… how do you go about it?

Well, we started by looking on-line for moving companies. This is one of those sectors on the internet where most of what you find is aggregated sites that ask you to fill forms, and supposedly, they will send your way a number of quotes. Generally useless because most of the time you get nothing back, but sometimes even dangerous, because we got at least one quote (from Euro Transport International) that we later found by doing a quick search on-line was basically a scam (check this out for scary stories on how a move can become a nightmare).

Finally, we thought that it would be a lot safer to go local, and it paid off. Before anyone says anything, this post is just the result of grateful clients to a wonderfully executed service, and we have absolutely no conflict of interest here. The service from Highland Movers which operate as STARLINE OVERSEAS MOVING for international relocations was wonderful, friendly, courteous, timely, and dead-on on the estimation. We chose to do groupage to make it cheaper, but it still took shorter than expected. Every box arrived in perfect state, dry, and the movers back here were also friendly and very quick. In other words, if you are in western Canada, and need to move abroad, you should call these guys. Thanks Robin!!

So you have an idea, we moved about 195 cubic feet (equivalent to approx 80 banker’s boxes), and before insurance, the total price came below 4000 $CAN. It took about two months to arrive, and it could have been less if the local movers had trusted Kate that “a 40 foot truck will not fit through our narrow street”. After the initial payment there came no extra charges, not even from customs (at least so far).

Anyways, I thought I would put this out in the interwebs: if you are moving, please, check your mover with the BBB, do not trust anyone that does not want to do a visual inspection of your stuff, and choose local if you can. Also, if they are not very responsive on e-mail through the whole process, that’s probably a bad sign (I count at least 20 e-mails sent by our moving manager in the last few months).

Canada is signatory to an international protocol that requires heat treated wood to be used for all pallets and containers shipped to other countries.   Since 2006, Canada has had a bilateral exemption for wood packaging material crossing our southern border, however the United States has proposed the removal of this exemption by mid-2012.  This will mean that ALL wood packaging material entering the US will require an IPPC stamp.

Please see the latest press release issued by CFIA on February 14, 2011.


The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are moving forward to remove the current exemption for wood packaging being shipped between the two countries, as outlined in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15. This action is necessary to prevent the introduction of new forest pests, as well as slow the spread of forest pests already established in North America.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2011/20110214e.shtml

Implementation of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (2009) for Wood Packaging Material Moving Between Canada and the United States

OTTAWA, February 14, 2011 : The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are moving forward to remove the current exemption for wood packaging being shipped between the two countries, as outlined in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15. This action is necessary to prevent the introduction of new forest pests, as well as slow the spread of forest pests already established in North America.

This standard requires wood packaging to be heat-treated or fumigated with methyl bromide. Wood packaging moving between Canada and the continental United States has been exempted from this requirement because it was thought that existing pest-specific regulatory controls were providing sufficient protection.

With a number of invasive species being introduced into the two countries, the CFIA and the USDA-APHIS have jointly agreed to begin enforcing the international standard.

Canada and the United States are working together on implementation of the standard, including a phased-in approach based on consultation processes in each country.

After implementation, shipments with wood packaging material found to be non-compliant will not be permitted to enter the country of destination. If live pests are detected, the importer may also be required to treat the shipment to prevent pest escape, before having it returned to the country of origin.

Canada adopted ISPM No. 15 in 2004, to prevent invasive species from outside North America being introduced into Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has instituted two export certification programs, the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP), and the Canadian Heat Treatment Wood Products Certification Program (CHTWPCP) to certify Canadian wood packaging producers, Canadian wood packaging treatment facilities, and Facilities registered under the CHTWPCP, to produce ISPM No. 15 compliant wood packaging material.

Approved producers and treatment facilities will mark their products with an ISPM No. 15 compliant approved wood packaging certification stamp.

The CFIA approved wood packaging certification stamp can only be applied by a facility registered under one of these two programmes.

What does this mean for international transportation of Household Goods & Personal Effects?

Proper overseas packing, wrapping and preparation of your household goods is one of the most important steps to ensuring a successful move.  Due to the nature of these goods it is necessary for us to provide custom crating when required.  These crates both protect and secure the goods while in transit.  Wood provides the strength necessary and the use of timber wood cuts costs and adds further strength.  We also require dunnage material within sea containers to build bulkhead, decks and blocking.   Our crating and dunnage is a combination of manufactured wood products and timber making it necessary for us to be part of the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program.

When looking for international expertise it is imperative that your mover complies with these government regulations.  Starline Overseas Moving is one of two professional moving companies in Alberta that meet the specialized requirements for this program. 

For more information on the implementation of ISPM No. in Canada, please visit www.inspection.gc.ca

        
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting our forests by preventing the introduction and spread of invasive plant pests, which can seriously harm Canada’s environment, forests and plant resources.

For information:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: 613-773-6600

Moving rules not so simple
By Jamie Golombek, Financial Post October 16, 2010

If you move to start a new job, don't assume that your moving expenses will be tax deductible.

Under the tax rules, to be entitled to deduct moving expenses, the distance between your old residence and your new work location must be 40 kilometres greater than the distance between your new residence and the new work location.

While this rule may seem straightforward, it has been the subject of some dispute between taxpayers and the Canada Revenue Agency as to how the 40 kilometres is measured.

In the most recent case decided earlier this month, the issue wasn't how the distance was to be measured, but where Lisa Moreland, an employee of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 2005, was actually employed at a "new work location" for purposes of the moving deduction.

Prior to February 2007, Ms. Moreland worked at an office complex at 255 Attwell Drive in Etobicoke, Ont. In February 2007, she was assigned new employment duties, which she still performed at the same location, but in a different area within it.

In June 2007, she moved from Cambridge, Ont. to Milton, Ont., which was indeed 40 kilometres closer to work. She testified that she made the change of residence "for the sole purpose of being closer to [work] and, consequently, of shortening her commuting time."

In filing her 2007 tax return for the year of the move, she claimed $26,000 in moving expenses, which the CRA denied. The tax agency claimed that since Ms. Moreland did not have a "new work location," within the meaning of the Income Tax Act, she was not entitled to deduct any of her moving expenses.

Ms. Moreland disagreed, claiming that she moved from the old residence to the new residence to enable herself to be employed at a "new work location." She argued she "changed physical locations [offices] of work to start a new job within the same office complex at 255 Attwell Drive, Etobicoke."

The Tax Court judge, citing an earlier case, said there are four separate elements required to claim a moving expense: an old work location, a new work location, old and new residences and the comparison of two distances -- the 40 kilometre test.

The judge concluded that Ms. Moreland did indeed change physical work locations -- she moved offices -- to perform her new duties, even though she was assigned by the same employer. But, since she moved within the same office complex -- 255 Attwell Drive -- this did not constitute a "new work location."

In denying Ms. Moreland's expenses, the judge explained: "I cannot imagine that Parliament's intent was to permit a taxpayer who goes from a job on the seventh floor of a building to a new job [with the same employer] on the sixth floor of the same building to deduct moving expenses."

Jamie.Golombek@cibc.com

-Jamie Golombek, CA, CPA, CFP, CLU, TEP is the managing director, tax and estate planning, with CIBC Private Wealth Management in Toronto.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

This Edmonton mover has some simple tips to help you prepare for your next move in an eco-friendly fashion. Whether Highland is moving you locally in Edmonton or Calgary or if you're heading west to B.C. these tips will help you along the way.

DOWN SIZE & DECLUTTER 

Moving forces you to come face to face with all your stuff. What better time to decide what goes and what stays. You may have the urge to throw everything out rather than taking the time to organize your goods and either donate, sell or recycle them.

Below are a few great alternatives dumping your goods in a landfill site:

• Sell your goods online. most people will come to your home and pick up your unwanted items right from your home. Both  Kijiji and Ebay are easy ways to sell used goods online.

• Hold a yard sale. Take a weekend to sit back relax and get rid of all your stuff the good old fashion way.

• Donate your good to a charitable organization. Go to Charity Villiage to find the charities in your town or city that will accept furniture or clothing donations. Also look for drop-off and pick-up information on this helpful site.

If dropping off unwanted goods ask your movers about scheduling an additional drop-off on the day of your move. This is a great alternative to making several trips with your vehicle. It will save you time, money and reduce your carbon footprint!

All images provided by flickr.com