2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report: Canada Border Services Agency – Supplementary information tables

Program Goals: The program supports Canadian producers who face unfair foreign competition in the domestic marketplace. The program is responsible for the administration of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), which helps protect Canadian industry from injury caused by the dumping and subsidizing of imported goods.

Target Population: Canadian producers (such as steel producers) is the specific sector of the economy affected by the program.

Distribution of Benefits: Canadian producers benefit by being protected from border-related risks, specifically those who are protected from unfairly dumped and subsidized imports, and by ensuring that importers are compliant with SIMA measures. The program directly helps protect Canadian jobs and production levels.

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Specific industries or sectors of the economy (Canadian producers who face unfair foreign competition in the domestic marketplace).

Key Program Impacts on Gender and Diversity: Not available. The program is currently not able to measure its impact on gender and diversity.

Currently, the CBSA does not collect GBA Plus data on companies or individuals within a company that interact with this program, however the Agency intends to begin collecting data in 2024-25.

Actions taken in 2022-23:

• January to present: Guidance provided to program staff on the use of gender-inclusive language when corresponding with colleagues or clients, as provided by the Translation Bureau, which can be found here.

Key Program Impacts on Gender and Diversity: The program is not able to measure its impact on gender and diversity for 2022-23 because the data was not collected.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: Currently, the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program and the CBSA at large do not collect GBA Plus data on companies or individuals within a company that interact with this program. Although there may be data available on various companies and industry sectors in Statistics Canada, for example, this data does not sufficiently enable the program to measure impacts on gender and diversity. Additionally, the program cannot substantiate external sources of data to those companies or individuals that interact with this program. As a result, the program intends to begin collecting data in 2024-25 based on the following planned actions.

Planned actions:

The Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Directorate (TAPD) will implement a GBA Plus data collection strategy. The strategy will enable TAPD to identify and address gaps related to gender and diversity (e.g., more education and promotion in specific demographics such as gender, ethnicity, culture, age, language and geographical areas where gaps have been identified). TAPD will invite 100% of regular users of the anti-dumping program, such as steel producers represented by the Canadian Steel Producers Association and other industry-based producers, to participate in the data collection in the form of a survey. While this will be a voluntary method of participation, TAPD aims to base the analysis on a response rate of 56% (recommended to be a meaningful sample size by statistics and market research). The scope of the data collection will be developed in October 2023 as per the detailed action plan. Once data has been received and analyzed, the results will enable TAPD to work to address previously undetected barriers to compliance.

The plan will focus efforts where TAPD programs engage with sectors of the economy. This TAPD implementation will be launched in 2023-24 through the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program, and may be applied in other TAPD programs where possible, such as the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program. The planned actions are:

1. TAPD CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) team to update the CARM software requirements – October 2023.
   • a. Include the requirement to update the language in the CARM Client Portal (CCP) in a future CARM release to consider GBA Plus considerations.
   • b. Include the requirement to support a potential survey and facilitate a data collection process through the CCP in a future CARM release.
2. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service – December 2023.
   • a. Identify points of service throughout TAPD programs.
   • b. Categorize interaction by company or individual:
     • i. Individual interaction may require customized demographic data;
     • ii. Company interaction may require customization to collect leadership, board and organizational considerations.
3. Conduct a risk assessment of applicability and methodology of data collection for each program to mitigate a negative reaction from the public – January 2024.
   • a. There may be programs that require a level of neutrality and additional levels of sensitivity. The risk assessment will facilitate the categorization of engagement to:
     • i. Initial contact survey (e.g., “Tell us more about you”);
     • ii. Post-engagement survey (e.g., “How did we do to meet your needs?”; “Are there ways we can improve our communication with you?”);
     • iii. A voluntary survey at any point in time
4. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation Compliance Program – February 2024.
   • a. Consult with internal and external subject matter experts such as:
     • i. CBSA Communications Directorate;
     • ii. Information, Science and Technology Branch.
   • b. This survey may accompany existing materials at different points of service. The survey form may be offered during the interaction with a company or individual when appropriate. The potential points of service are:
     • i. All licence applications (e.g., warehouses; duty-free stores; brokers; Duties Relief program applications);
     • ii. As part of the payment process of the broker licensing fee;
     • iii. D-Memos;
     • iv. Advance Rulings;
     • v. Refund submission process;
     • vi. CARM portal registration/program enrollment.
5. Develop survey data collection framework – February 2024.
   • a. Identify methods of survey collection, TAPD unit/resource responsible to receive and analyze surveys.
   • b. Consult:
     • i. Regional resources;
     • ii. GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility;
     • iii. Communications Directorate;
     • iv. Information, Science and Technology Branch;
     • v. Finance and Corporate Management Branch;
     • vi. Human Resources.
   • c. Analysis and approval by senior management.
6. Survey review and consultations – February to March 2024.
   • a. Conduct a program-level review.
   • b. Consult external subject matter experts such as the Border Commercial Consultative Committee and other industry associations.
7. Survey implementation – May 2024.
   • a. Electronic dissemination (e.g., email correspondence).
   • b. Web-based resources (e.g., CBSA website).
   • c. Include the requirement to update the language in the CCP in a future CARM release to consider GBA Plus considerations.
   • d. Include the requirement to support a potential survey and facilitate a data collection process through the CCP in a future CARM release.
8. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement as part of the Departmental Results Report supplementary information table – June 2024.
9. Survey collection – June 2024 to June 2025.
10. Survey analysis and report – September 2025.
11. Senior management to review and approve the GBA Plus action plan – October 2025.

Program goals: The Buildings and Equipment Program oversees infrastructure and equipment maintenance activities and capital investments delivered at the CBSA’s air, land and marine ports of entry (POEs), at the CBSA College, at Immigration Holding Centers, and at staff housing units, in support of travel and trade activities. The program ensures that the infrastructure and equipment are suitable, sustainable, safe, resilient and operational for Agency staff and members of the public through appropriate asset lifecycle management activities and accessibility management. As part of accessibility management, GBA Plus is incorporated into the building designs for port replacements and/or constructions, ensuring barrier-free access at CBSA POEs. The integrated GBA Plus design elements include textured flooring and non-gendered facilities that will enhance accessibility for the visually impaired and create barrier free facilities for all genders.

Target population:

• All Canadians
• A particular demographic group:
• Persons with disabilities or health issues or their caregivers
• Women
• Men
• 2SLGBTQI+

Distribution of benefits:

Specific demographic group outcomes: All Canadians, specifically the demographic of those with vision impairment or facing gender-based barriers, will benefit directly from the incorporated GBA Plus elements.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not available. The incorporation of GBA Plus in POE design is still in the early stages of implementation. Data on key program impacts on gender and diversity is currently unavailable.

Key program impact statistics:

Other key program impacts: First POE with these GBA Plus elements will be completed this fiscal year. The design guide itself has incorporated these elements of GBA Plus and will become the template of future LBCPs. Textured flooring is expected to benefit persons with vision impairment by providing additional sensory input with navigation. Non-gendered facilities are expected to benefit broadly gender-balanced groups by removing gender-based barriers that may exclude certain groups from fully utilizing onsite facilities.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: Ad-hoc collaboration with internal project team to collect and analyze GBA Plus outcomes as they relate to program activities.

Program goals: The Commercial Facilitation and Compliance Program contributes to overall border management and assists in the interdiction of risks associated with the free flow of commercial goods into, through, and out of Canada. This includes using a risk-based approach, leveraging data analytics, ensuring the consistent application of compliance methods, and using education and industry cooperation to promote fairness and facilitation.

Target population: Without targeting a specific population, the program impacts all Canadians, from various socio-demographic groups involved in the sending or receiving of electronic or paper communications from the Agency. The program also impacts a wide range of industry partners across the globe seeking to conduct commercial-based business transactions with the Agency through the import or export, or both, of goods into and out of Canada.

Distribution of benefits: The program has benefits nationally and on a global scale by reaching its facilitation and compliance objectives and aiding in the assurance that commercial goods and conveyances are not considered a health, safety or security threat to Canada and Canadians or to the global population when exiting Canada.

Specific demographic group outcomes: The program is beneficial to business owners who seek to import or export, or both, legitimate goods into, through or out of Canada by providing education, aiding in facilitation, and ensuring voluntary compliance using a compliance and risk-based approach. It also benefits all Canadians by offering a diversity of goods and preventing dangerous or inadmissible goods from entering Canada, as well as by supporting a global advantage on Canadian exports and aligning with international and partnering customs organizations.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not available. The program cannot currently report on its key impacts on gender and diversity.

Other key program impacts: In collaboration with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility, the program has updated its guidelines on how to address clients, with the objective of being more inclusive of people with diverse gender identity or expression. Guidelines were updated to encourage gender neutral or inclusive language in both English and French.

To date, most employees have a good understanding of unconscious bias through training, which assists in fostering a more positive relationship with external clients from various equity-seeking groups. This training focused on bias related to ethnicity and race, in collaboration with the Canadian Anti-Racism Network.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: The Commercial Program Directorate will implement a GBA Plus data collection strategy, which will enable the program to identify and address gaps related to the following identity factors selected: gender, age, ethnicity, geographic area, and disability/accessibility. To do so, the program will collect information on the industry sector that companies belong to, as well as their business size. It would then be possible to see the distinct socio-demographic composition of industry sectors and what challenges or barriers they face.

The program will collect and analyze data to identify its policies impacted by gender and diversity. More specifically, the objective of the data collection strategy is to identify how policies related to the program as well as the risk-based approach concerning import and export may impact various socio-demographic groups differently. The program will look into the identity factors mentioned above to better understand the challenges faced by underrepresented groups operating within the trade community.

Collecting and analyzing the data will allow the program to determine if (and which) identity factors related to gender, age, ethnicity and disability face additional or specific challenges in complying with program requirements.

Planned actions:

• 1. August to December 2023: Conduct an analysis to identify which policies and programs are under Program and Policy Management Division purview to establish a repository of feedback via points of service received.
• 2. January 2024 to January 2025: Collect data and conduct analysis on industry sector, business size, geographic area and disability through a survey:
  • a) Industry Sector: The program will collect information on the industry sector that companies belong to. It would then be possible to see the distinct socio-demographic composition of industry sectors and what challenges or barriers they face.
  • b) Business Size: The program will collect data from government sources (e.g., Statistics Canada) and industry sources (e.g., industry associations) on small- and medium-sized business in order to identify additional or specific challenges to underrepresented groups.
  • c) Geographic Area: The program will collect information about the location of operations in order to see the distinct socio-demographic composition of geographic areas and what challenges or barriers they face (e.g., technical barriers to registration).
  • d) Disability/Accessibility: The program will collect data on the accessibility of external-facing points of service to the public, and to ensure all posted information is up-to-date and relevant.
• 3. May 2024: Present initial results in terms of key impacts on gender and diversity to senior management for discussion.
• 4. June 2024: Report on initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement for the GBA Plus Management Accountability Framework as part of the Departmental Results Report supplementary information table.
• 5. May 2025: Present final results in terms of key impacts on gender and diversity to senior management for discussion.
• 6. June to September 2025: Create action plan to address identified gaps based on results of the analysis conducted.

Program goals:The Field Technology Support (FTS) program provides integrated border services that support national security and public safety priorities and facilitate the free flow of people and goods, including animals and plants, that meet all requirements under the program legislation. The FTS program conducts analytical and forensic analysis, including suspected contraband, documents, images, trade commodities, excise instruments and radiation detection, to support program legislation and border services officer health and safety. It also provides detection technology support to the Agency as the Technical Authority on detection technologies and tools under its Lifecycle Management Framework. The FTS program carries out a wide range of activities related to the lifecycle of detection technology assets, instruments, sensors, devices, tools, and networks that are employed at the border, and contributes to the Departmental Results and program-level outcomes by reporting on the following key performance indicators:

• The number of analytical and forensic samples processed;
• The percentage of analytical and forensic samples analyzed within the service target;
• The operational availability of detection technology in the field;
• The operational availability of health and safety equipment/detection technology in the field.

Target population: All Canadians is the target population of the FTS program as it is a program that supports public safety.

Distribution of benefits:

Specific demographic group outcomes: The FTS program is directly responsible for supporting the health and safety of the scientists who use laboratory instruments to perform analysis, the field technicians who are responsible for repairing and maintaining the equipment used in the field, and the border services officers who operate the detection technology equipment at the various ports of entry across Canada. The FTS program indirectly impacts the well-being of the Canadian public by providing expert guidance, equipment and tools to conduct business and allow people and goods to flow safely and freely into Canada. The impacts of the accessibility of laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment can affect anyone where an issue exists that limits a person’s ability to perform their duties (e.g., a physical disability). While there is insufficient data to adequately assess the scale of the direct and indirect benefits at this time, collecting survey data on accessibility will provide the FTS program with the means to quantitatively assess the inclusivity and usability of the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment employed across the country. 

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not currently available. The FTS program is at the beginning of its data collection strategy. It is anticipated that this information will be available in June 2024.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: As an organization, we recognize that we have a responsibility of widening our understanding of GBA Plus in order to be better positioned to identify tools or processes that currently exist or that need to be created to increase our inclusiveness within multiple diverse groups under GBA Plus. To achieve this, the FTS program is adopting a data collection strategy that includes a streamlined survey with a section dedicated to collecting data on GBA Plus. The focus for the FTS program is to increase the accessibility of laboratory instruments and detection technology through the procurement of goods and services. The data collection will provide the FTS program with an opportunity to identify gaps and explore whether a need exists to adjust certain laboratory instruments or pieces of detection technology equipment to become more accessible to a wider group of people.

The FTS program currently conducts several surveys annually soliciting feedback from clients to ensure that program performance indicators are being met. The survey data enables the FTS program to measure the effectiveness of delivering quality support and services to the CBSA and other government departments (e.g., Canada Revenue Agency). In 2023-24, the FTS program will adopt a new data collection strategy to include a streamlined survey with a section dedicated to collecting data on GBA Plus. The survey data collected will provide the FTS program with a means to identify and assess the accessibility, effectiveness and safety of laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment in use. The data will assist in determining whether barriers exist for the use of laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment for specific groups (e.g., people with disabilities) and accessibility for all body types (e.g., heights, weights and genders) for the equipment to be used correctly and effectively by everyone and thereby creating a more diverse workforce.

Consultations are underway with subject matter experts at the laboratory in Ottawa. Certain areas where accessibility issues and/or other possible barriers might exist have been identified and will provide the foundation for the data collection strategy.

The next steps and anticipated timelines for the FTS data collection strategy are:

• May to November 2023: Engagement with FTS program managers to streamline existing surveys into one cohesive survey with a section dedicated to GBA Plus.
• June to November 2023: Development of a draft data collection plan and communication strategy (who are we going to target and how do we reach them).
• October 2023 to April 2024: Identify resources to provide administrative support (overseeing survey distribution and data collection). Survey preparation and implementation phase.
• April 2024: Data collection phase.
• April to June 2024: Data analysis phase and preparation of final report.
• July 2024: Presentation of initial results of the GBA Plus pilot project to senior management.

The survey will assist the FTS program to determine who is using the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment at the various ports of entry; how it is being used; and how can it be adapted to make it more accessible to everyone. Collecting survey data on accessibility will provide clients and staff with a means of communicating their needs, while providing the FTS program with a method of measuring whether those needs are being met.

By identifying unforeseen barriers, we can ensure that the FTS program continues to adapt to the unique needs of all identities to mitigate existing barriers. The program’s data collection strategy will encourage a mindset where we think about accessibility and inclusiveness by default and will support an outcome where other activities and initiatives within the Science and Engineering Directorate adopt a GBA Plus mentality.

Program goals: The Officer Induction Model (OIM) is a comprehensive approach to recruiting, training and developing CBSA officers suited for service in an armed law-enforcement agency. The model comprises three components: the Officer Trainee Selection Process, the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP), and the Officer Induction Development (OID) Program.

Target population: All Canadians. Specifically, the Force Generation Program seeks to attract qualified Canadians and permanent residents who are interested in a career in law enforcement at the CBSA.

Distribution of benefits: All persons in Canada benefit from the activities carried out by the Force Generation Program, which are to recruit and train border services officers who uphold and administer over 90 different government acts and regulations.

From a GBA Plus perspective, the program is not intended to benefit one demographic group more than another. 

Specific demographic group outcomes: The demographic groups directly impacted by the program include eligible Canadians and permanent residents who are interested in a career on the front line at the CBSA. While the CBSA is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit and attract diverse candidates that reflect Canada’s population, it recognizes that certain demographic groups may face employment barriers.

The recruitment and development process imposes a number of costs on candidates (such as travel for interviews, assessments, etc.) in addition to specific physical requirements that are conditions of employment. Once a candidate is selected as a recruit, they participate in an 18-week training program where there is a minimal weekly stipend of $125. They are required to attend on-site training at the CBSA College, Main Campus located in Rigaud, Quebec for the duration of this program, housed on-site at the College. Once successful in the program, recruits are assigned to a pre-determined location, which may be different from their hometown.

Some of the program factors identified above may create barriers for numerous demographic groups, including Indigenous persons, Black people, racialized people, persons with disabilities (PWDs), 2SLGBTQI+ people, ethno-religious minorities, lower income people, unilingual individuals, lone parent households, etc.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: N/A

Key program impact statistics: In 2022 to 2023, the National Officer Recruitment Program (NORP) launched the 008 selection process, which ran from June 15, 2023, to July 13, 2023. In total, 17,770 applicants were screened-in using the automation feature embedded within the Government’s hiring system. Given the volume of candidates who apply to the Officer Trainee Development Process, the NORP only pulls a percentage of screened-in applicants to be assessed in the 8-stage assessment process.

The Force Generation Program collects employment equity data through the self-declaration process, which is a voluntary process used to understand the diversity of candidates. Data is currently limited to the four designated employment equity groups as per the Employment Equity Act. The four groups are: Women, Indigenous Persons, Visible Minorities, and PWDs.

This self-declaration process is led by the Public Service Commission, the body centrally responsible for recruitment and staffing programs within the Public Service. Self-identification data is collected once a candidate becomes an employee, and is collected voluntarily. The Treasury Board Secretariat’s Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) is currently modernizing the self-identification process to enable a broader array of data collection in relation to religious affiliation and gender and sexual identities. These changes are expected to take place in October 2023, however data availability will be contingent on the stabilization of data collection at the Public Service level. In the interim, the CBSA uses the data that it collects through its current processes to assess and understand barriers.

Other key program impacts: The Force Generation Program has implemented a strategy entitled the National Officer Recruitment and Outreach Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2025) which strives to strengthen the diversity of its frontline workforce. The strategy specifically aims to reduce and eliminate barriers for recruitment and retention of qualified individuals within five demographic groups: Indigenous Peoples, Women, PWDs, 2SLGBTQI+ and bilingual persons. The strategy also considers intersectionality to ensure that efforts and processes do not result in unintended discrimination or disadvantage.

The key impacts of this work to date are summarized below:

Inclusive mindset: All employees who participate in the recruitment and training of officers are required to complete mandatory diversity and equity training, including Anti-Racism training, GBA Plus training, and Indigenous-related training. Notably, employees in this area indicated that they feel comfortable speaking up against racism in the workplace (80% positive response vs. 70% for the CBSA at large).

Inclusive hiring process: Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations are embedded throughout the process. The Agency has a diverse group of recruiters and interview board members. It has completed a review of the language used in the selection process to ensure that it is more inclusive, while also engaging with people from negatively impacted communities in the development of communications, recruitment initiatives, etc. This has resulted in more focused events and activities, including those geared toward recruitment in Indigenous communities, such as the Indigenous Candidate Mentorship (ICM) initiative which connects Indigenous candidates with an Indigenous mentor to provide ongoing support through the various stages of the process. Notably, the attrition rates of mentees in the ICM are lower than those of all Indigenous candidates, notably where other forms of attrition are concerned (i.e., this refers to candidates becoming inactive for reasons other than failure, such as withdrawals, no-responses, and no-shows for assessments). ICM mentees had an average other attrition rate of 8.8% at the interview stage compared to 23% across all Indigenous candidates (-14.2%); 2.5% at the psychological assessment stage compared to 7% for all Indigenous candidates (-4.5%); and 12.7% compared to 31% at the additional requirements stage (-18.3%).

Indigenous Recruitment: Acknowledging that Indigenous candidates may not have access to or be aware of the CBSA’s recruitment process, non-advertised processes can be used to accept Indigenous candidates throughout the year. In 2022-23, 82 Indigenous candidates were included through non-advertised means. This allows for the timely hiring and onboarding of key shortage groups at the CBSA. The CBSA is committed to respecting the unique position of Canada’s Indigenous People and their territory. As such, efforts are made to offer a candidate a port of entry near their community if there is a vacancy available in their language profile. 

Workforce Planning: The CBSA conducts detailed workforce planning, recognizing that the frontline workforce falls short on key designated employment equity groups, and prioritizes the hiring of qualified candidates within the four designated employment equity groups. The CBSA also considers employment equity goals when considering the preferences of candidates for placement at ports of entry across Canada.

Student Hiring: The CBSA has a robust student employment program to attract and recruit Student Border Services Officers (SBSOs). It works closely with the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) to ensure that it attracts and recruits a diverse and talented pool of candidates. Notably, gender parity exists within the SBSO population, with 50% of SBSOs being women. It should be noted that SBSOs work in the region where they are recruited and have shorter training periods.

Community Partnerships and Engagement: Continuous research is conducted on intersectional organizations that can be partnered with to help identify barriers and mitigation strategies within the selection process for various identity groups (e.g., the Native Women’s Association of Canada, which is a national Indigenous organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people in Canada).

Inclusive Workplace: An information package has been created for all candidates in the CBSA Officer Trainee selection process to provide valuable information, particularly on efforts to support various identity groups and accommodations throughout the assessment process. Beyond the recruitment process, the CBSA continues to explore and research different defensive equipment and tools to better meet the needs of diverse employees. This includes the introduction of light-weight equipment such as defensive batons to support officers and reduce the weight of equipment on duty belts. The Firearm Modernization Strategy will also seek to reduce barriers for employees as the CBSA seeks to reduce trigger pull weight and introduce optical sighting systems for more inclusive and accessible duty firearm platforms. 

Addressing recruit attrition: In an effort to address increasing recruit withdrawals, long-term leave and accommodation requests, significant progress in alignment has been made between the geographic distribution of recruit invitations and the regional seat allocation. This alignment is expected to reduce the number of training deferrals and withdrawals as it is generally accepted that the preference of candidates is to remain closer to their residence.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: In 2022 to 23, the CBSA implemented regular reporting on employment equity goals in relation to key CBSA strategies and initiatives. Reports are available on a quarterly basis and allow for adjustments and corrective actions should deficiencies be found. Additionally, weekly updates are provided to senior management on progress against gender parity and employment equity goals of recruits.

For every Officer Trainee process, the NORP tracks self-declaration data and measures the attrition rate of candidates against data provided during the eight assessment phases.

In addition, the Force Generation Program has started to collect and analyze data from candidate feedback surveys to better understand their experiences. This includes collecting information from Indigenous candidates through the Indigenous Candidate Form, as well as an Exit Survey for candidates who withdraw from the process. This data is not currently analyzed in a systematic manner, but rather on an ad-hoc basis. There are plans to review this process so that data can be analyzed more systematically.

Self-declaration is a voluntary process, hence data may not be accurate as not all candidates complete a self-declaration form. For the 008 selection process (BSF23J-019776-000019), 7,177 candidates self-declared (42%). Of those, 6,167 wished to have their self-declaration used for recruitment purposes and the other 1,010 wished to have it used for statistical purposes only. However, various steps are taken in an effort to increase the self-declaration rate, including:

• During recruitment information sessions and throughout the selection process, the NORP encourages potential applicants and candidates to self-declare and request accommodations, if needed. Information is shared on the confidentiality of the data as well as the benefits of self-declaration.
• Messaging on self-declaration is reiterated numerous times through ongoing communication with candidates. This also includes detailed definitions of what is considered a person with a disability.
• The NORP’s quarterly newsletter, “The Candidate Column,” is distributed to increase communication with candidates and improve their experience. Recent iterations have included topics on the benefits of self-declaration, demystifying self-declaration for PWDs, and workplace accommodations. It also listed different types and examples of disabilities. A section on self-declaration is now embedded within every iteration of the newsletter.

To better report on program impacts on gender and diversity, and gain feedback on the barriers faced by various intersectional identities, the CBSA will do the following:

• Conduct and analyze experiences from candidates and recruits who withdraw from the process.
  • September to December 2023: Review and update the candidate exit questionnaire with an inclusive lens.
  • January to March 2024: Implement the new questionnaire and train staff on how to use it.
• Analyze attrition data of candidates on a quarterly basis to identify selection process stages where certain groups experienced higher levels of attrition than others, and implement steps to better support candidates, where possible.
• Launch the modernized self-identification process to collect a broader array of information and data:
  • September 2023: Start communicating information to employees on the new self-identification process.
  • October 2023: OCHRO launches new centralized portal.
  • October to December 2023: Host information sessions for managers and employees to explain the value of self-identification in supporting program design and improvement.
  • January to April 2024: Analyze and report data provided by OCHRO.

In June 2023, the NORP launched an employment equity selection process specific to Windsor POEs, and will be collecting, analyzing and reporting on the impacts of the program on a quarterly basis.

Program goals: The Intelligence Collection and Analysis Program (ICAP) collects, interprets and analyzes information and intelligence to produce border-related intelligence on people, goods and/or conveyances that may be inadmissible or pose a threat to the security of Canada, as well as on other border threats. Information is collected from surveillance activities, Confidential Human Sources (CHS), classified and open sources, as well as domestic and international partners, resulting in a range of intelligence products including lookouts, surveillance reports, threat assessments, and alerts. These support informed enforcement-related decisions and help the Agency prioritize risks, ultimately resulting in the mitigation of risks and threats to the safety, security, and prosperity of people living in Canada.

Target population: All Canadians can be recruited and/or volunteer as human sources within the ICAP.

Distribution of benefits: The ICAP contributes to making Canadian society safer and therefore benefits Canadians at large.

Specific demographic group outcomes: All Canadians may benefit indirectly from the outcomes of the program as the overall goal is to provide intelligence in support of national security and public safety priorities, thus providing safer communities for all Canadians. The ICAP is actively working to apply GBA Plus to its CHS program.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not currently available. Although the ICAP collects information on a wide range of GBA Plus factors throughout the analysis and production of intelligence reports (such as age, sex, gender, ethnicity, and religion), the program’s impacts on gender and diversity are not known at the moment as the data has not been considered for this purpose. No GBA Plus results can be reported at this time.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: Collecting information from CHS is a key activity associated with intelligence production where we can better understand, shape and influence our program’s impacts on gender and diversity. As such, the ICAP has established a plan to apply GBA Plus to its CHS program. The program will look into identity factors included in the GBA Plus Framework to gain insight into the socio-demographic composition of CHS.

To do so, we will analyze data from the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year. The number of active CHS participants at any given time fluctuates, but for the purpose of this exercise, we will consider all CHS participants within that timeframe, active or not. This will provide us with a sufficient baseline sample.   

Program goals: The Recourse Program provides travellers and businesses with an accessible mechanism to seek impartial reviews of CBSA decisions and to voice any feedback or complaints, in accordance with legislation and policies administered by the Agency. Feedback from Recourse decisions on appeals and complaints results in improvements to CBSA services and program delivery.

The program is mandated by border-related legislation and, as such, when consulted on impacts that proposed legislative changes, initiatives or policies may have, the program conducts a GBA Plus analysis and provides input as appropriate.

Target population: Any persons or businesses who have had interactions with the CBSA and submit feedback (compliments, comments or complaints) or request a review of certain CBSA decisions or enforcement actions.

Distribution of benefits: Travellers and businesses that interact with the CBSA.

Specific demographic group outcomes:  Any persons or businesses who have had interactions with the CBSA may submit feedback (compliments, comments or complaints) or request a review of certain CBSA decisions or enforcement actions. 

The Recourse Program is governed by the principles of transparency, accessibility, consistency, impartiality and timeliness. As such, the program strives to ensure that there are no barriers that exist in seeking redress. Border services legislation allows for a reasonable time to request a review, and there are no fees to request a review. In addition, guidelines are provided on the CBSA website on how to submit appeals or complaints. These are regularly reviewed to ensure they are as comprehensive and simple as possible and to avoid creating barriers for any group. Recourse accepts feedback and appeals electronically, but also by regular mail. Work is also being done to implement an e-portal for appeals to improve communication with clients who may not wish to use mail or email.

The CBSA also has the Border Information Service (BIS) telephone line, text to voice (TTY) line, plus multiple web and social media channels that CBSA clients can contact to request clarification of any program, including appeals, compliments and complaints.  

There are additional communication channels beyond Recourse that CBSA clients can use to provide feedback. For example, the Agency is working toward reducing, removing and preventing barriers for its employees and clients through its Accessibility Plan and Feedback Process. The CBSA’s Accessibility Office, through ongoing consultation and collaboration with the PWD community, has recently published its inaugural three-year plan and Accessibility Feedback Process. Feedback submitted on the plan or to report a barrier will be incorporated into future planning and implementation strategies. CBSA is committed to developing an equitable and accessible environment for all Canadians.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: N/A

Other key program impacts: As part of Recourse’s commitment to applying GBA Plus, the program has updated all its communication templates to ensure that all communication with clients is gender-neutral. Employees have also received training and guidance on ensuring that any non-templated communication with clients is respectful of the GBA Plus principles, using gender-inclusive language and avoiding gendered pronouns.

At the conclusion of ministerial reviews, litigation and complaints, formal feedback is provided to internal stakeholders. The feedback includes key messages to support the Agency in incorporating GBA Plus into its policies, programs and initiatives. The feedback is based on the findings of the review and may include suggestions for program improvements or identify service- or policy-related gaps. For example, at the outcome of a human rights complaint, Recourse provides qualitative feedback such as reminding personnel to be mindful when engaging in conversations with travellers and to ask questions in line with the performance of their duties during processing and examinations (e.g., it is not necessary to ask a traveller about their religious beliefs, unless there is a specific reason for the line of questioning). Recourse also provides the Agency with raw data and qualitative feedback that allows further analysis by program owners contributing to training and service delivery improvements, or to the identification of policy gaps where applicable. 

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: The Recourse mandate is to provide an accessible mechanism for travellers and businesses to seek impartial reviews of CBSA decisions or voice any feedback/complaints in accordance with legislation and policies administered by the Agency. To ensure that additional biases are not introduced at the redress stage, the program limits the collection of information to what is strictly necessary for the program to be administered, and does not require additional or specific data elements to be provided beyond what the client shares as part of their service request. The program collects data that clients choose to share as part of the appeals process or through their feedback/complaints to the Agency (e.g., race, gender, socio-economic status, etc.). Of note, the Traveller Facilitation and Compliance Program is establishing a GBA Plus Data Collection Plan that, once in place, could enable further GBA Plus analysis of Recourse outcomes, as required.

Following a complete and impartial review of Agency actions and decisions, as well as following complaint investigations, Recourse provides qualitative feedback to CBSA program owners and frontline operations. Case-specific analyses are conducted to identify gaps in policies, procedures or operational processes, which may highlight the need to update written polices that are not aligned with legislation or include reminders to be mindful of the questions posed to travellers and be sensitive to their needs. The information provided by clients, subject to information sharing practices, also contributes to the understanding of diverse client experiences at the border and allows for the Agency to adjust and mitigate impacts on diverse population groups. For example, monthly dashboards are provided to internal key stakeholders providing the number of service-related complaints received, the type of complaints received, and monthly trends. When travellers provide feedback to Recourse about their interactions with the CBSA, it offers valuable insights on areas for improvement. The scope of the feedback, which ultimately contributes to improving training and service delivery, will vary depending on the legislative framework of the case/proceedings. 

Recourse will continue to provide case-specific feedback that ultimately leads to legislatively sound enforcement, program decisions and compliance related to the enforcement of the laws administered by the CBSA.

Program goals: The CBSA conducts security screening activities for temporary resident, permanent resident and refugee claimants who are seeking to enter or remain in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives and performs an initial assessment of applications for temporary residence (TR) or permanent residence (PR) and refers applicants with potential inadmissibility concerns to the CBSA and/or Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for in-depth security screening. These referrals are based on thematic risk indicators established by the CBSA and public safety partners. In addition, all adult refugee claimants who submit their claims at a CBSA or IRCC inland office in Canada, and whose claims are deemed eligible, are referred to the CBSA and CSIS for security screening. GBA Plus was applied as part of an evaluation of the Immigration National Security Screening (INSS) program in 2021, but a more detailed analysis is warranted. This will be applied to assist in further refining security screening indicators which, in turn, could result in greater program effectiveness (i.e., by focusing screening on applicants who are most likely to pose a security concern) and more equitable distribution of program impacts.

Target population: Foreign Nationals applying for temporary or permanent immigration status in Canada. By improving the immigration security screening process, the program aims to facilitate entry to Canada for persons that are admissible while ensuring that Canada remains a safe country for both Canadian citizens and foreign nationals residing in Canada on a temporary or permanent basis.

Distribution of benefits:

Specific demographic group outcomes:  The program benefits all Canadians by conducting a fair, effective and efficient immigration security screening process to ensure that Canada remains a safe country. It is aimed at the Canadian population as a whole and supports the broader values of Canadian society through bolstering public safety. In addition, the program impacts foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis. Notably, as all foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Canada may be referred for security screening, they may be subject to barriers or processing delays should the thematic indicators be inaccurately interpreted or unnecessarily broad. An evaluation of the INSS program in 2022-23 showed that applicants who were male were most likely to be referred by IRCC for security screening.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not available. The program’s impacts on gender and diversity are not known at this time.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: The program is currently missing data on what GBA Plus identity factors are used to assess an applicant’s risk profile in terms of severity of concerns and how that impacts individuals with specific or intersecting identity factors in regard to gender and diversity. This data is needed to assess the alignment (or lack thereof) between applicants’ GBA Plus characteristics and their actual risk profiles, including the combination of different characteristics (e.g., country of origin, age and employment history). Such analysis could assist in further refining the security screening indicators, which, in turn, could result in greater program effectiveness (i.e., by focusing screening on applicants who are most likely to pose a security concern) and more equitable distribution of program impacts.

Taking into consideration intersecting identity characteristics for each applicant, such as cultural, regional and geopolitical factors, thematic indicator packages were created by the Centre for Immigration National Security Screening (CINSS) and Public Safety as a means to provide procedural guidance to IRCC officers on when to refer applicants to the CBSA and screening partners for further review. Although the parameters of the various thematic risk profiles are founded, the security screening process of risk assessment is subjective and could benefit from a comparative analysis of IRCC’s application data versus CINSS’s security screening data to assess the referral proportionality among various populations.

The security screening program is vulnerable to various layers of bias throughout the screening process which means it could benefit from a thorough analysis of the alignment between applicants’ GBA Plus characteristics and their actual risk profiles. The program will be assessed as follows:

• 1) A review will be conducted on the thematic indicator packages that are provided to IRCC by assessing the level of concern of specific intersecting identity characteristics and comparing them against IRCC’s immigration application referral data to draw inferences on how the thematic indicators are utilized.
  • (a) October 2023: We will aim to coordinate with IRCC to extract data from their Global Case Management System (GCMS). There has not been communication with IRCC to review immigration application data in GCMS specifically at this time. 
  • (b) October to December 2023: Review of the data extract from GCMS will be conducted in order to compare the total number of immigration applications received against the percentage of cases that get referred for security screening. Further analysis will be performed to assess how thematic indicators are utilized between IRCC offices. This will enable the program to report on initial results in regard to key program impacts on gender and diversity in the following months.
• 2) As part of the Security Screening Automation project, the CBSA will ensure that GBA Plus data collection capabilities are included in the development of the new case management system (Epsilon) which is replacing the current Secure Tracking System (STS). More specifically, this will assist in determining whether IRCC officers are following the guidelines in the thematic indicator packages and to make inferences of whether there are trends of officer bias impacting the type/amount of applications being referred for security screening.
  • (a) April to June 2025: As Epsilon is scheduled to be completed in March 2025, the data collection period will be set to run weekly for the duration of Q1 2025. This is to ensure ample opportunity to address any potential operational system anomalies for Epsilon so as to not impact the reliability of the data collected.
  • (b) June 2025: Data collected throughout Q1 2025 will be analyzed to identify any potential trends of officer bias impacting the type/amount of applications being referred for security screening.
  • (c) July 2025: Based on the data collected and analyzed in Q1 2025, thematic indicator package training for IRCC officers will be adjusted to increase or decrease application referral rates or to improve IRCC officer objectivity when assessing a file.
  • (d) July to September 2025: Testing the revised thematic indicator package training for IRCC officers and implementation.

Program goals: The CBSA receives advance information from commercial air carriers to identify people for pre-arrival risk assessment purposes. The requirement for commercial air carriers to provide Advance Passenger Information (API) and all available Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, concerning all travellers (including crew) to the CBSA before a flight’s departure, comes from section 5(a)-(f) of the Passenger Information Customs Regulations (PICR) and section 269(1)(a)-(f) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). API and PNR data enables the CBSA to identify in advance people who may pose a risk to national security, or who may be involved in illicit migration or the smuggling of contraband. Domestic law and international agreements restrict Canada’s use of PNR data to preventing and detecting terrorism offences or serious transnational crime while limiting the impact on privacy, civil liberties and human rights.

The API/PNR data is automatically screened through pre-determined Scenario-Based Targeting (SBT) rules known as scenarios within the CBSA Passenger Information System (PAXIS). Scenarios are generated upon intelligence, emerging threats, and comparative enforcement analyses that are associated to terrorism offences or serious transnational crime including contraband or illicit migration.

When API/PNR is received by the CBSA, it is processed through all active scenarios. If the traveller’s information matches all criteria of a scenario, the traveller is placed on the “Scenario Work List” in PAXIS. Targeting Officers at the National Targeting Centre (NTC) will conduct comprehensive reviews on travellers who have matched scenarios in order to confirm or negate the potential risk. In addition to the scenario match, the traveller’s information is processed through a number of queries to various internal and external databases either automatically or manually, in order to provide supplemental information for use during the review by the Targeting Officer. If the risk is determined to be valid, a target will be issued which will enable the interception of the traveller for further processing upon arrival in Canada.

Target population: The program’s target population does not have any specific demographic characteristics related to GBA Plus identity factors.

Distribution of benefits: All Canadians benefit from scenario-based targeting by improving public safety for Canada as a whole. 

Specific demographic group outcomes: All Canadians benefit indirectly from SBT as it ensures that high-risk individuals are being identified prior to arriving at the border. Travellers could experience negative impacts such as wait times and secondary examinations, should they be referred for an examination due to SBT.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not available. The program’s impacts on gender and diversity are not known at this time. While the SBT program considers certain GBA Plus identity factors, and there is some existing data, GBA Plus analysis has yet to be conducted. The program has recently increased its resources and attention toward GBA Plus and will now conduct an analysis on the existing data set and enhance it as needed, as per the plan with clear dates and actions below. As GBA Plus has yet to be applied to the SBT program, no results can be reported in relation to impacts on gender and diversity at this time.

Other key program impacts:

• We are actively participating in the MAF Sprint exercise with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility. The MAF Sprint initiative aims at supporting programs to create and implement a GBA Plus data collection plan.
• The NTC uses “they” instead of “he” or “she” in order to challenge gender-based assumptions when developing and reporting within SOPs, and other internal communications.
• Written products use generic language when referring to an individual (e.g., “subject,” “associate,” etc.) and care is taken in written/oral communications to use proper spelling and pronunciation of foreign countries and cities.
• SBT development procedures will include a challenge function that requires analysts to confirm that human rights and civil liberties are respected, and that GBA Plus considerations are applied.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: The program will collect data related to SBT development on an annual basis, looking into all available GBA Plus identity factors such as age and gender, and identify if there are trends in the data set. This will involve collecting data on all existing scenarios, of which there are generally between 300 to 400. The program is interested in applying a GBA Plus lens to these activities to ensure that controls are being respected and that biases toward certain GBA Plus identity factors are not being included in scenario development.

As mentioned above, the scenarios are created based on current intelligence, emerging threats, and comparative enforcement analyses; however, the Targeting program would like to ensure that GBA Plus identity factors (e.g., gender and age) that could be included in the criteria of a scenario are indeed required and that GBA Plus is being considered as often as possible. This activity will enable the program to measure its gender and diversity impacts as it works to ensure that high-risk individuals are identified prior to arriving at the border.

Program goals: The program ensures that importers comply with revenue requirements and that duties and taxes owed to the Government of Canada are collected.

Target population: The trading community (i.e., Canadian importers) is the specific sector of the economy affected by the program.  

Distribution of benefits: The target population benefits from having the means to voluntarily comply with revenue requirements.

Specific demographic group outcomes: Canadian importers who must comply with trade rules. We will be able to provide more specifics after our GBA Plus survey and action plan are completed.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: Not available. The program is not able to measure its impact on gender and diversity for 2022-23.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: The program and the CBSA at large do not currently collect GBA Plus data on companies or individuals within a company that interact with this program. Although there may be data available on various companies and industry sectors in Statistics Canada, for example, this data does not sufficiently enable the program to measure impacts on gender and diversity. Additionally, the program cannot substantiate external sources of data to those companies or individuals that interact with the program. As a result, the program intends to begin collecting data in 2024-25 based on the following planned actions.

Planned actions:

TAPD will implement a GBA Plus data collection strategy. The strategy will enable TAPD to identify and address gaps related to gender and diversity (e.g., more education and promotion in specific demographics such as gender, ethnicity, culture, age, language and geographical areas where gaps have been identified). TAPD will invite 100% of regular program users and the spectrum of trade chain partners (particularly the 250+ licensed customs brokers) to participate in the data collection in the form of a survey. While this will be a voluntary method of participation, TAPD aims to base the analysis on a response rate of 56% (recommended to be a meaningful sample size by statistics and market research). The scope of the data collection will be developed in October 2023 as per the detailed action plan below. Once data has been received and analyzed, the results will enable TAPD to focus efforts to address previously undetected barriers to compliance.

The plan will focus efforts where TAPD programs engage with trade chain partners through service offerings. This TAPD implementation will be launched in 2023 to 2024 through the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program, and may be applied in other TAPD programs where possible (e.g., Anti-dumping and Countervailing programs). The planned actions are:

• 1. TAPD CARM team to update the CARM software requirements – October 2023.
  • a. Include the requirement to update the language in the CARM CCP in a future CARM release to consider GBA Plus considerations.
  • b. Include the requirement to support a potential survey and facilitate a data collection process through the CARM CCP in a future CARM release.
• 2. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service – December 2023.
  • a. Identify points of service throughout TAPD programs.
  • b. Categorize interactions by company or individual:
    • i. Individual interactions may require customized demographic data;
    • ii. Company interactions may require customization to collect leadership, board, organizational considerations.
• 3. Conduct a risk assessment of applicability and methodology of data collection for each program to mitigate a negative reaction from the public – January 2024.
  • a. There may be programs that require a level of neutrality and additional levels of sensitivity. The risk assessment will facilitate the categorization of engagement to:
    • i. Initial contact survey (e.g., “Tell us more about you”);
    • ii. Post-engagement survey (e.g., “How did we do to meet your needs?”; “Are there ways we can improve our communication with you?”);
    • iii. A voluntary survey at any point in time.
  • 4. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program – February 2024.
    • a. Consult with internal and external subject matter experts such as:
      • i. CBSA Communications Directorate
      • ii. Information, Science and Technology Branch
    • b. This survey may accompany existing materials at different points of service. The survey form may be offered during the interaction with a company or individual when appropriate. The potential points of service are:
      • i. All licence applications (e.g., warehouses; duty-free stores; brokers; Duties Relief program applications);
      • ii. As part of the payment process of the broker licensing fee;
      • iii. D-Memos;
      • iv. Advance Rulings;
      • v. Refund submission process;
      • vi. CARM portal registration/program enrollment.
  • 5. Develop survey data collection framework – February 2024.
    • a. Identify methods of survey collection, TAPD unit/resource responsible to receive and analyze surveys.
    • b. Consult:
      • i. Regional resources;
      • ii. GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility;
      • iii. Communications Directorate;
      • iv. Information, Science and Technology Branch;
      • v. Finance and Corporate Management Branch;
      • vi. Human Resources.
    • c. Analysis and approval by senior management.
  • 6. Survey review and consultations – February to March 2024.
    • a. Conduct a program-level review.
    • b. Consult external subject matter experts such as the Border Commercial Consultative Committee and other industry associations.
  • 7. Survey Implementation – May 2024.
    • a. Electronic dissemination (e.g., email correspondence).
    • b. Web-based resources (e.g., CBSA website).
  • 8. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement as part of the Departmental Results Report supplementary information table – June 2024.
  • 9. Survey collection – June 2024 to June 2025.
  • 10. Survey analysis and report – September 2025.
  • 11. Senior management to review and approve the GBA Plus action plan – October 2025.

Program goals: The Traveller Facilitation and Compliance (TFC) program supports the facilitation of travellers and goods and the protection of Canada’s population from border-related risks.

GBA Plus elements are applied to these goals through:

• Increased mandatory training for frontline staff (i.e., bringing attention to and addressing unconscious bias)
• Improving and adding tools to their toolbox (i.e., communication strategies) which result in staff having the knowledge and awareness they need to administer consistent program delivery to travellers of diverse backgrounds
• Improving data availability and reporting through continual program consultations and system advancements (i.e., Data Strategy 2.0 and updating performance metrics through annual corporate reporting exercises)

In 2022 to 2023, work was done within the Travellers Branch GBA Plus working group to position CBSA staff to attain knowledge on dealing with and reporting instances of discrimination or mistreatment of travellers without fear of reprisal from their superiors. The residual effects of this work will not be immediately seen as it will take time for staff to use this information. The goals of this completed work will be:

• To ensure this new knowledge creates a more inclusive and dialogue-oriented work environment, and results in consistent, respectful interactions with travellers of diverse backgrounds
• To see indirect effects of this work through traveller complaints data that is pulled on an ad-hoc basis

Target population: All Canadians, permanent residents, and foreign nationals bound for Canada.

Distribution of benefits: All travellers

Specific demographic group outcomes: The group has no notable characteristics beyond stating that all populations travelling to Canada are processed in the same manner. This includes Canadians who enter Canada by right, permanent residents, and foreign nationals.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: The program does not measure its impact on gender and diversity at the moment, but through ongoing GBA Plus-related activities, it is aiming to address this by the end of 2024 to 2025.

Other key program impacts: To ensure consistent program delivery, the CBSA has undertaken a number of GBA Plus-related activities in 2022 to 2023, including:

• Increasing GBA Plus mandatory training for officers on topics related to GBA Plus (i.e., intro to GBA Plus, applying tools and best practices, unconscious bias).
• Enhancing data collection beyond gender, income level and age group (i.e., working to include more specific elements such as race, people with specific disabilities, etc. and apply these to existing or new performance measures).
• Creating a follow-up survey directed at frontline staff to get a pulse on instances of discrimination and/or mistreatment of travellers. Outcomes identified that instances of discrimination and/or mistreatment are occurring, and staff are still hesitant in reporting some of these instances for fear of negative consequences for their careers.
• Using the results from the follow-up survey to help inform an implementation plan to improve the dynamic between frontline staff and travellers, and staff and their superiors. This plan contains several deliverables for our Travellers, Strategic Policy and Human Resources branches, aims to improve communication between staff in relation to witnessing these instances, and will hopefully have a positive, residual effect on how officers interact with travellers at ports of entry.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: Work is underway on a series of tools, resources, processes and approaches that will contribute to the improvement of data collection, retention, management, and analysis to better support GBA Plus in the TFC program. By having more data available (such as having the ability to perform system queries on the various groups being referred to secondary), focus may be brought to potential unconscious biases and thereby allow the Agency to course-correct. The enhancement of data collection will also assist IT in adjusting current system algorithms, as well as creating new ones in the future to assist in processing population groups. Having more GBA Plus-related data will also assist the program areas in the development of new and meaningful performance metrics. The results of these new metrics can be used by programs to make adjustments to various policies/processes, which should have a direct positive effect on various population groups that present themselves at POEs.

Although the Agency can only readily query its systems for gender, age and income/socio-economic factors, it is currently looking at ways to link these three elements to a broader range of priorities over the next few years. These discussions will take place not only as part of annual performance management conversations with the Risks and Results team, but between the program areas and Chief Data Office (CDO) to ensure that our systems are capable of pulling the data that is needed. The TFC areas have begun discussions with CDO and will look to engage the Risks and Results team prior to the next Departmental Results Report exercise.

In terms of the consultations already underway with the CDO, the focus has been on how its Data Strategy 2.0 can help the TFC GBA Plus-related performance storyline. Through these ongoing consultations, the Agency will be able to ensure that its systems allow for and are able to pull the necessary data needed to improve its GBA Plus footprint in its reporting. This work is also important in identifying and addressing gaps related to gender and diversity data elements. CDO is working to include certain GBA Plus data elements in a pilot format. The chosen data elements will be announced following the analysis of the pilot results. The objective is that, through these pilots and continued consultations, the Agency’s systems will be well-positioned going forward to report on ethnicity, culture, language, and geographical areas. As next steps under the Data Strategy work:

• Consult Travellers Branch (and others) to create a GBA Plus plan, including data and analytics – Summer 2023
• Brief senior management on program plans, final results and recommendations – Fall 2023
• Write a final report on the Data Strategy and direction and present to senior management and program areas. Following CDO’s final report, TFC will conduct analysis to measure program impacts on gender and diversity – July 2024

Within the Traveller Modernization project, the Digital Traveller Experience (DTE) sub-project will affect certain populations prior to arrival or upon arrival at a POE. The DTE will build on lessons learned from past projects and initiatives such as ArriveCAN and the Advance CBSA Declaration web and mobile application (app) tools, as the DTE will be accessed through a single mobile app as well. The data gained through surveys on previous apps showed that the Agency needs to improve the user friendliness and accessibility for all population groups (i.e., visually impaired, elderly, low economic regions without cellphone access/affordability, etc.). The DTE will involve a shift in policy that will impact IT-enabled business transformation projects including enhanced attention to GBA Plus. With this in mind, GBA Plus data elements and reporting will be discussed or considered as part of the following phases within this sub-project:

• Phase 1: TB Submission seeking project approval - Expenditure Authority - Planning and Execution (Design Only) – by October 31, 2023
• Phase 2: TB Submission seeking expenditure authority for Phase 1 - Execution and Phase 2 Planning – by September 30, 2024
• Phase 3: TB Submission seeking expenditure authority for Phase 2 - Execution and Phase 3 Planning – by September 30, 2025
• Phase 4: TB Submission seeking expenditure authority for Phase 3 - Execution and Phase 4 Planning – by September 30, 2026
• TB Submission seeking expenditure authority for Phase 4 Execution – by September 30, 2027
• Full implementation with all previous GBA Plus considerations accounted for – March 28, 2029

Another piece within Traveller Modernization that will have GBA Plus-related data collection implications is the Officer Experience – Traveller Compliance Indicator sub-project. This sub-project will be reinforced and supported by a dynamic, risk-based compliance model that leverages traveller data and predictive analytics to identify the risk level for all travellers entering Canada. It will be important to use the data generated from this sub-project to continually adjust and analyze system algorithms, with the goal of eliminating system bias. This sub-project consists of four phases and spans the same timeframe as the DTE. Many of these phases include analysis and discussions around all data implications (including GBA Plus), the first of which will be done in October 2023 as part of the Treasury Board Submission exercise.

Another area within TFC that is continually improving data collection and analysis is the dynamic between selective and random referrals to secondary. The Agency currently tracks this data, but is not only looking at trends in these referral types alone, but also at which population groups are being referred and why. The CBSA is continually looking at this data to ensure that bias reduced or eliminated, while using this analysis to ensure that policies, procedures and system algorithms are adjusted accordingly. This work is ongoing and will continue indefinitely.

Program goals: The goal of the Trusted Trader program is to facilitate trade and strengthen supply chain security by providing streamlined and efficient border processes to pre-approved, low-risk traders.

Target population: The target population of Trusted Trader programs is private sector industries and organizations across Canada involved in cross-border trade, including importers, exporters, carriers in all modes, couriers, customs brokers, warehouses, freight forwarders, and shipping agents. Specifically, they are traders who are members of, or are potentially interested in joining, a Trusted Trader program: Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) and/or Partners in Protection (PIP).

Distribution of benefits: The Canadian economy, and Canadian society at large, benefits from the Trusted Trader program, which ensures the supply chain is both secure and facilitated.

Specific demographic group outcomes: Businesses and organizations of different sizes, industry sectors or modes, and geographic locations.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: The program is currently unable to report on its key impacts on gender and diversity. At this time, the data collected by the program and the CBSA, and the analytical tools needed to evaluate this data, are not adequate to conduct GBA Plus.

Other key program impacts: In collaboration with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility, the program will ensure that its guidelines and training for Senior Trusted Trader Officers meet inclusivity and equity objectives. Specifically, Standard Operating Procedures and training modules will be updated to provide guidance on how to assist members when non-compliance is uncovered, from a GBA Plus perspective.

All employees have undertaken training on unconscious bias to foster more positive relationships with clients and stakeholders from various demographic groups. This training focused more specifically on bias related to ethnicity and race, in collaboration with the Canadian Anti-Racism Network.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: We will look at the following three identity factors: geography, ethnicity and gender. We will start by exploring and understanding these factors to see whether they represent barriers created by our business processes. We will do so by undertaking a qualitative study using focus groups made up of various program stakeholders. The insights gained from this process will inform a subsequent quantitative study that will be done using data from other sources. This will require us to clean up our data, create new reports and processes, and develop a new usable Excel database.

Collecting the data gained from the qualitative study will enable us to verify the following assumptions: whether companies located in remote areas or certain geographic locations experience challenges in staying compliant with program requirements; whether businesses that are women-owned or predominantly made up of visible minorities face barriers in staying compliant with program requirements; and whether business size or industry sector plays a role. These assumptions will then be validated through a quantitative analysis.

Using this information, the program will be in a position to measure its impact on diversity. In the future, this will enable the program to do targeted outreach, and offer enhanced client service and support, to help these businesses stay compliant with CBSA requirements, legislation and regulations, which is a central part of the program’s activities.

Planned actions:

• September to November 2023: The Trusted Trader Programs Division will extract and clean up (where applicable) data from the TTMS and CBSA records, including geographic location, business size and mode, compliance Action Plans, CSA Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs), and membership suspension or cancellation decisions.
• November 2023 to February 2024: Set-up and hold a focus group with select program stakeholders (develop an interview guide, select participants, conduct interviews, analyze the results) and create a usable database.
• March to April 2024: Conduct a quantitative analysis of disaggregated data to identify any trends, patterns or disparities associated with Agency compliance actions taken by the Trusted Trader program.
• May to June 2024: Write and present a report on findings regarding program impacts on gender and diversity, including recommendations for immediate or future remedies and analysis of any impacts of program requirements directly related to GBA Plus.

Program goals: The Trusted Traveller program seeks to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada.

Target population: Pre-approved, low-risk travellers who meet program eligibility criteria.

Distribution of benefits: The Canadian society at large benefits from the Trusted Traveller program, which supports the facilitation of travellers and goods and the protection of Canada’s population from border-related risks.

Specific demographic group outcomes: The group has no notable characteristics beyond those of the Canadian population travelling to Canada.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: The program is currently unable to report on its key impacts on gender and diversity. At this time, the program is unable to analyze data; however, it will be able to report on key program impacts on gender and diversity in 2023 to 2024 as per the GBA Plus Data Collection Plan below.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: On an ongoing basis, members and applicants to Trusted Traveller Programs (TTPs) submit their information to the CBSA for the purpose of the administration of the programs. Currently, there are approximately 1,750,000 active members across the TTPs. The CBSA is in the process of extracting GBA Plus data elements, including gender, date of birth, preferred language, postal/zip code, and citizenship or permanent resident status, from the records of active program members in its membership databases. In accordance with CBSA policy governing the extraction of data from its systems, the use of this data and related security controls must be assessed by the Departmental Security Officer (DSO) and the Information Security, Access to Information and Chief Privacy Office (ISATICPO) before this information is available for analysis. This data will be used to analyze the impact that gender, age, language, geographic characteristics, and citizenship may have on access to the TTPs, which will inform program delivery as well as the development and delivery of tools and products for outreach and stakeholder engagement. Through the analysis of this data, the program will be able to identify barriers experienced by certain socio-demographic groups when accessing the TTPs. Through the membership base of the TTPs, the program will enable the efficient allocation of CBSA resources on persons of high or unknown risk while facilitating the entry of pre-approved, low-risk travellers.

Planned actions:

• August to September 2023: The use of membership data for GBA Plus analysis and the security controls to be implemented will be assessed by the DSO and ISATICPO. The program will extract and clean up (where applicable) the raw data set from the membership databases.
• October to November 2023: Once the data has been cleaned, the program will conduct a quantitative analysis of disaggregated data to identify any trends and patterns across the TTPs.
• December 2023 to January 2024: Present results of the impact analysis on gender and diversity to senior management and discuss next steps.
• February to April 2024: Identify any gaps and create an action plan to address them. Establish a process to extract the relevant data from the membership databases in support of regular and ongoing GBA Plus analysis.
• May to June 2024: Report on key program impacts on gender and diversity in the GBA Plus supplementary information table as part of the next Departmental Results Report.