Kenny and Stuffy are right.
Use the regular postal service. You will pay the local provincial taxes anyway, right? But the damage the couriers do is in the ~brokerage~. Canada Customs has a flat rate charge if they assess your package. Apparently the current fee is $9.95.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/po...roits-eng.html
As for couriers being better/faster, not at base rates (that I've found) and service has actually been ~worse~. Said it before - had a $800+ Tamiya Leopard 2A6 shipped via UPS, guy came to my door carrying the box by a hole punched in the side of it the size of a loonie! Had him take it back to depot to hold until I could pick it up and 'inspect' it. The morons sent it out twice more. I finally caught it at the depot just before closing, and luckily, ask I'd asked, shipper had taken precautions, and she was safe. If he hadn't, the main gun, turret, and associated electronics would probably hyave been trashed, close to 1/3 to 1/2 the model's cost.
Use a Courier? Not unless I have to, because its sole-source item and I need it. Use 'em at your own risk... I'll still go USPS/Canada Post first.
WhiteWolf