Any chance you might be making a mountain out of a molehill?? Unless your client is a Canadian, and he is hiring you to come up into Canada to work for him, I would think you are simply going up to Canada to look at equipment. What business is it to the Canadian government other than that? When you get to the border, or customs at the airport, I would think all you need to say is you are planning on *looking* at equipment for sale, where you will be traveling, and how long you plan to stay in Canada. Whether or not you are getting paid by another U.S. citizen or business should be of no concern, nor even matter to the Canadian government. I would believe, however, if you are going to be compensated for this venture by a Canadian citizen or business, that probably would change things.