I'm taking my family to Canada, what laws should I know about?

You certainly can take food and booze across the border...you just have to be careful about that kind of food items you bring..for example-chicken is OK...beef (or beef products) is a no-no.Most types of produce are OK(other than potatoes) the only thing is it has to be US-grown(right now-this time of year- a lot of the stuff you find in US grocery stores isn't grown in the US)-it's grown in central America and Canada has restrictions on some of those countries for things like tomatoes and so on.All kinds of junk and snack foods are Ok.Pet foods are about the only other thing you can't bring in.

As far as booze and cigs each US visitor can bring for their own personal use 200 cigs- for booze..Persons entering Canada from the U.S may bring one 40 ounce bottle of liquor OR 53 oz. wine-OR 24 cans of beer (can only be 1 of the 3) (see link below from Canada Border Service)

As far as smoking in Ontario-like most everywhere else now you can't smoke in bars or restaurants-some cities and town have bylaws that prohibit smoking near building entrances(a couple even prohibit smoking ON the sidewalk)..depends where you go really.

As far as things you cant bring.."personal weapons" like stun guns,tazers,handguns and mace are a no-no-..radar / laser detectors are illegal in Ontario..other than that you probably won't likely have anything with you that would be restricted.

Drinking age is 19 in Ontario. No smoking is permitted in restaurants and other public indoor spaces...if the restaurant has an open terrace, you can usually smoke out there, and large outdoor establishments like theme parks usually have "designated smoking areas" cordoned off with blue lines painted on the ground.

Canada is very strict about drunk driving. If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.05 to 0.08 you may be automatically fined and lose your driving privileges for 3 to 30 days, without a chance to fight it in court. If you have a blood alcohol level of over 0.08 then you will face serious criminal charges. You could be imprisoned for up to 3 years and be banned from ever returning to Canada.

Don't worry about laws.. they're practically the same.

You won't be able to smoke in public buildings, including restaraunts/bars.

There are plenty of designated smoking areas outside public buildings.

Alcoholic beverages are products that exceed 0.5% alcohol by volume. If you meet the minimum age requirements of the province or territory where you enter Canada, you can include limited quantities of alcoholic beverages in your personal entitlement. Minimum ages for the importation of alcoholic beverages, as prescribed by provincial or territorial authorities, are as follows: 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec; and 19 years for the remaining provinces and territories.

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcoholic beverages free of duty and taxes:

•1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine; or

•a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages; or

•up to 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

Note:

The CBSA classifies "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer and wine coolers are considered to be wine. Beverages not exceeding 0.5% alcohol by volume are not considered to be alcoholic beverages.

The quantities of alcohol you can bring in must be within the limit set by the province or territory where you enter Canada. If the value of the goods is more than the free allowance, you will have to pay duty and taxes, as well as provincial/territorial assessment on the excess amount. In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, you cannot bring more than the free allowance. For more information, check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority before your arrival to Canada.

you can't take food or booze across the border.

Also, smoking laws in Canada are nazi-like. Not sure about Ontario, but in my province, you can't smoke in any public place. Also, cigarettes are extremely expensive

There really isn't any other extremist laws. Just don't act strange. It's not like Canada is a different planet or anything. And don't take it personally when everyone is rude to you [and they will be], it's like that in all big cities.

Also, if you're driving, fill up before you cross the border. Gas in Canada is much more expensive than USA.

You can smoke anything you like, all drugs are decriminalized.

its illegal to ride a moose on the freeway

Smoke what? Please be specific.