Entering Canada with criminal record

[elinacan]

My partner and I are wanting to go for a holiday to Canada early next year and are just wondering what to do as both of us have criminal records. We're Australian and I know that both our country and Canada are part of the visa waiver program so shouldn't need visas for less than 90 days but would we have to fill out that question card on the plane? Namely where they ask you if you've ever been convicted of a criminal offence like they do in the US? I know we should really be applying for rehabilitation visas but that is quite expensive just to apply ($1000AUS), is a lengthy process and I'm sure they would just knock us back anyway. My partner has several drunken and public nuisence offences and I have been convicted of unlawfully setting fire to property (an ex-boyfriend's car, not something I would do in any sane state!) These are quite recent and they say to be rehabilitated your conviction needs to be at least 5 years ago. We have a young son and want to take him over to visit my partner's family. We haven't booked our tickets yet as I was wanting to see what our chances were of actually getting in before we did that. I've heard that you should just tick no to the question if you're going to the US and they have no way of knowing your criminal record anyway. Is that the same for Canada? Also I've recently read that the US is implementing an online questionnaire that you must fill out a few days before departure and they must approve it before you can board the plane. Would they be cross-checking your answers on databases or why are they doing this? Will this also be the case for Canada? Lastly, if we do get into Canada and want to drive into the US to visit for a few days would we be drilled at the boarder crossing? Sorry I've asked so much, it's just all so overwhelming and I'd hate for us to be turned around when we land cause the authorities found us to be lying. Sorry if you've heard these questions a million times before. Thanks in advance!

[dzug]

Canada does not have a visa waiver program and there is no form to fill in on the plane. Although they have rules about criminal records they never (in my experience) ask short term tourists about them, only potential immigrants. The bottom line is they ain't interested.

You appear to know the answer for the US already.