This past Saturday, February 4, I went to a Continuing Legal Education Program in Duluth which included a presentation by the members of the bar from Thunder Bay.  The attorney from Thunder Bay said there were two ways to enter Canada if you had a DWI conviction.  The first way was to lie about the conviction.  The second way was to lie about the conviction.  If you have  a DWI you can start a rehabilitation program which apparently takes about two years to complete, but no mention of cost.  He further went on to say that if you admitted to a DWI at the border you could apply to begin the rehabilitation program at the border.  He said he thought the cost was about $200 and would take several months to complete, but you would get a temporary permit to enter Ontario on the same day.  There is, however, no guarantee that the border patrol would give you that option.  He said that the emphasis at the entry points of Pigeon River and International Falls was on compliance and not enforcement.  Entry at other points such as Detroit would be enforcement.  When I said that really wasn't a very good choice, he agreed, but said that the way it was.  As a practical matter, I have entered Canada about 50 times and have never been asked if I had a criminal conviction or a dwi.  He also said that the border agent does not routinely do a criminal check when you give them your passport.  He would not advise a person to take a chance, but the unspoken message was that the most practical way was to just go and hope they don't ask about any dwi convictions.

I don't know if this is a lot of help, but this topic has been discussed before.

I know quite a lot can change over a span of time, but in 2002 the process for Rehabilitation and Expungement of Criminal History  for a DWI was not too bad.  It was around $200, and the form to be filled out apparently was the same for a DWI as it was for Axe Murderers, Child Molesters and Bank Robbers.  Without my being aware, they had recently closed the Customs House at Prairie Portage and for the first time I had to obtain an RABC to enter there.  The trip date was not far off so I made a call to Thunder Bay and talked with a very helpful individual who explained the process.  As I remember it only took  two or three months.  Although the form is one size fits all, I would guess non-violent and offenses where there is no actual victim, committed in the USA, are dealt with more easily than other onerous issues.   I have to wonder if a person applies for Rehabilitation if that automatically slots you in their system as Inadmissible  until your paperwork clears?    The Temporary Residency Permit mentioned is intended to be for emergencies, work, death in the families, etc., so no guarantees here either.