Crossing the border with bear spray?

I am going tent camping in northern ontario for a week this summer and I've decided to bring a canister of bear spray. I've done a little research about buying here in the states and bringing it across and found some conflicting info. Anyone here ever cross with bear spray bought in the U.S.? It looks like I can save about $25 if I buy here in the states.

As long as the canister is labeled (from the manufacturer) as bear spray you can take it across the border. Last July I had some along for a camping trip. The border guard asked if I had pepper spray and I told him that I had bear spray. He never even asked to see it once I told him it was labeled as bear spray. I will have it along on the next camping trip up there also and won't be concerned with the border crossing.

Thanks for the responses.

I went to the Canadian government website and did a search for pepper spray. In one click, I got the following explanation. Is pepper spray allowed in Canada? The Criminal Code of Canada and its related regulations prohibit “Mace” and similar products designed to injure, immobilize or incapacitate a person. Bear sprays and similarly devices clearly designed for protection from wild animals are allowed. Pepper spray from the states is ILLEGAL as it comes in small containers that can be concealed and used as a weapon on another person. Bear spray is LEGAL. I would just purchase it in Canada. The couple bucks you may save buying a product in the states, may cost you a headache at the boarder when you are crossing. Here is the link from the Canadian government site. www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/faq/im-ex-eng.htm#g6

I tried to bring pepper spray into Canada on a bear hunt a few years back. The border patrol would not let me cross with it, had to leave it at the border and pick it up on the way back.

I've never taken bear spray in before, I have taken firearms that I have declared for specific hunting season. that being said of the several trips a year that I make I distinctly remember the following question at every pass in. Do you have any firearms or pyrotechnic devices? Do you have any mace or pepper spray? etc. Easiest thing to do is call customs and ask them. I would not take anyone's word on a chat board no matter how convincing an argument they made. Look it up and confirm. I don't suppose they are asking that question without a particular reason. And just because they are asking may not make it illegal to bring across it just may need to be declared. Good luck GF

My experience has been if it is listed as bear spray on the canister and you declare it as such when asked, it isn't a problem. If you wanted to you could always pick up a can at Canadian Tire instead.........