Following an inquiry to the MN Board of Animal Health regarding the requirements to transport my four legged paddle partner into and from Canada:

"I appreciate you reaching out. Coming back from Canada is not as complicated as some other countries, so hopefully I can make it more clear for you. Below is a list of the documents you will need to import your dog back into Minnesota.
Copies of these documents must be submitted to me at least 7 days before you depart for the United States by emailing them to companion.animal@state.mn.us.

Required documents:
1. International Health Certificate
(must include full Canada address and full Minnesota address, as well as rabies vaccine information).
*** If you are going to CN and returning to MN within 30 days, the original international health certificate you get in MN can be used to come back, so long as CN is written as a destination with MN as the final destination.
2. Rabies Certificate."

As I am going on two extended trips to the Quetico in the next couple of months I was dismayed to learn (in a follow-up email):

"Sending the health certificate to the Board of Animal Health is new as of just over a year. It’s always been required to have one to come into Minnesota, although Canada may not always need one. The health certificate is good for 30 days and if a trip is within that time, the same IHC can be used to travel back. Minnesota just needs to be written as a final destination, with Canada as a stop in between."

This Agency overreach is ridiculous and costly as each certificate requires a veterinarian check. I have not had an issue crossing back to the US in previous trips prior to the pandemic using my rabies and vaccination certificates. Perhaps I am ignorant of a dramatic uptick in the transmission of dog diseases when crossing the border with Canada. Maybe somebody has a "work-around" they can share?

I think there was some miscommunication. Sounds like they are talking about importing which is different than just travel. The border crossing are federally regulated, not state regulated. All you need is a current signed rabies vaccination certificate within 30 days. I just crossed with my lab two weeks ago, no problems. The Canadian crossing agent didn't even care that I had a dog. Never even asked to look at my rabies certificate.