Departmental Plan (2023 to 2024): Core responsibilities and internal services

Core responsibilities: Planned results and resources, and key risks

This section contains information on the CBSA's planned results and resources for each of its core responsibilities, along with information on key risks related to achieving those results.

Border management

Description

The CBSA assesses risk to identify threats, manages the free flow of admissible travellers and commercial goods into, through and out of Canada, and manages non-compliance.

Planning highlights

In fiscal year 2023 to 2024, the CBSA plans to achieve the following results under its core responsibility of border management:

The CBSA will remain vigilant in interdicting the cross-border movement of illicit drugs, including precursor chemicals, through enhanced controls in the postal stream and safety measures in examination areas and regional screening facilities. The Agency will continue to equip officers with risk assessment, detection and enforcement tools in order to strengthen capacity to intercept illegal substances at ports of entry and take appropriate enforcement action. Additionally, the Agency will continue to collaborate with partnering organizations such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Post Corporation by sharing intelligence and information to identify illicit shipments, while also engaging with international partners to prevent illicit shipments from reaching Canada.

The CBSA will continue taking action against gun and gang violence by enhancing its detection capabilities, including the expanded use of x-ray technology for risk assessment of mail items in the postal stream, and the continued use of detector dog teams at ports of entry. Training efforts for detector dogs will be supported by the Canine Centre of Expertise at the CBSA College, Main Campus, which opened in 2022 to 2023. The Agency will also continue the deployment of handheld x-ray devices and specialized examination vehicles at select ports of entry, along with additional procurement efforts for large-scale imaging equipment. Furthermore, the Agency will continue the delivery of training on advanced automobile examination techniques at the land border to hone officer skills at detecting concealment compartments.

To combat the illegal importation of firearms, the CBSA will continue to follow its Firearms Strategy and work together with partners through its Cross-Border Firearms Task Force. The findings of the Joint Border Threat Assessment that was conducted in 2022 to 2023 will be used to guide efforts aimed at the prevention of illicit firearms smuggling and the disruption and prosecution of organized crime. The CBSA's National Firearms Intelligence Desk, along with its National Targeting Centre, will continue to support information sharing across all regions and firearm interdictions at ports of entry. Additionally, in conjunction with the RCMP, the Agency will continue to examine the potential for increased collaboration with Interpol to further support efforts to prevent the illegal importation of firearms.

The CBSA will continue to address the threat of African swine fever by working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to prevent the importation of high-risk food, plant and animal products from overseas. These efforts include an ongoing public awareness campaign aimed at travellers and stakeholders in Canada and abroad, along with the deployment of detector dog teams specializing in food, plant and animal products.

In the context of its Air Passenger Targeting Program, the CBSA will continue co-leading the Canada-U.S. Passenger Name Record (PNR) Working Group in support of the responsible use of PNR data, with a view to building an international consensus on the adoption and implementation of international standards founded on the International Civil Aviation Organization's Standards and Recommended Practices. Additionally, to strengthen the national aviation security program, the Agency is working with Public Safety Canada and Transport Canada on the implementation of an IT-enabled centralized screening, monitoring and reporting solution for the Passenger Protect Program.

In the immigration context, the CBSA will continue to implement processing efficiencies in the national security screening program to identify inadmissible persons seeking entry into Canada, together with federal partners including the RCMP, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In particular, the CBSA will continue efforts under the Security Screening Automation Project to automate security screening processes in order to expedite low-risk cases and better enable screening officers to focus attention on more complex cases involving persons who may pose a national security risk.

The CBSA will continue to enhance intelligence and enforcement capabilities, with a focus on human trafficking and fraudulent immigration consultants, for the purposes of identifying vulnerable persons and leads for criminal investigations. The Agency will also continue to implement intelligence-led operational initiatives, in collaboration with partners in the intelligence community, to identify and interdict national security threat actors, such as those suspected of engaging in espionage, who may be inadmissible to Canada pursuant to section 34 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

The CBSA will continue protecting Canada's financial sector through ongoing efforts to prevent trade-based money laundering. The Agency works closely with domestic and international partners to identify instances of trade-based money laundering and refer them to the appropriate law enforcement entities.

Admissible travellers are processed in an efficient manner

The CBSA is advancing a wide-ranging, multi-year suite of Traveller Modernization initiatives as part of its vision for the border of the future. Through Traveller Modernization, the Agency will invest in infrastructure and processes at Canada's ports of entry, and will introduce digital technology and self-service tools that use biometric verification to expedite the movement of travellers through the border clearance process. The Agency will also ensure that privacy safeguards are in place to protect traveller information. Travellers will be provided with voluntary processing options to streamline their border experience, while the Agency will be better able to identify and address traveller non-compliance by focusing resources on higher risks.

The CBSA is also pursuing a predictive analytics approach through efforts to generate a Traveller Compliance Indicator for travellers entering Canada. The objective is to introduce a risk-based compliance model to support decision-making by frontline officers when determining whether a traveller should be referred for secondary examination, thereby reducing the likelihood of referrals for compliant travellers based on their history of compliance with border requirements.

To further expand its digital service offerings, the CBSA will continue efforts to deploy mobile technology allowing air travellers to transmit their customs and immigration declarations in advance of arrival, thereby reducing processing times upon arrival at Canadian airports. This will involve ongoing work with airport authorities to integrate the enhanced arrival process into Primary Inspection Devices. Furthermore, the Agency will continue the deployment of wireless handheld devices at ports of entry to support streamlined traveller processing, as well as enhanced capabilities for the collection and risk assessment of traveller and conveyance information.

To further support efficient processing at ports of entry, the CBSA is working with IRCC to explore the scope of available immigration services at ports of entry, with a particular focus on 'flagpoling' and the accessibility of in-Canada service channels. Flagpoling is the practice whereby a foreign national in Canada chooses to leave and then re-enter the country for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration services at a port of entry.

Travellers and their goods are compliant with applicable legislation

The CBSA will continue to use its Entry/Exit Program to ensure the systematic collection of exit data on outbound travellers, allowing the Agency to identify persons overstaying their lawful period of stay in Canada, and to focus attention on individuals of higher or unknown risk. The collection of exit data is limited by law to basic biographic information that is already routinely collected from all travellers entering Canada, and privacy protections are in place for information sharing with federal partners and U.S. counterparts.

The CBSA will remain vigilant in detecting signs of drug-impaired driving at land ports of entry through the ongoing use of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test when driver impairment is suspected. The Agency will also proceed with related training plans and the acquisition of additional drug screening equipment.

The CBSA will continue efforts to automate cross-border currency reporting, with the goal of eventually providing travellers with the ability to electronically declare the import or export of currency to the CBSA. This is envisioned to increase the overall efficiency of currency reporting, processing, and data transfer to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), while promoting compliance with cross-border requirements related to currency and monetary instruments.

The CBSA will continue to develop a proof-of-concept for the establishment of Canadian land border operations in a co-located facility in the U.S. This will provide an opportunity to assess the feasibility of traveller preclearance in the U.S., with a view to supporting facilitative border processes for legitimate travellers and preventing the entry of inadmissible persons into Canada as early as possible in the travel continuum.

Admissible commercial goods and conveyances are processed in an efficient manner

To address the exponential rise in e-commerce volumes, the CBSA will continue its E-Commerce Customs Strategy, including automated processing solutions in the courier low-value shipment stream. The Agency will also keep working to strengthen operations at international mail centres by managing postal volumes on a daily basis and during peak periods, while remaining engaged with the Canada Post Corporation on postal modernization efforts.

The CBSA will continue the development of proofs-of-concept in the air and rail modes to inform the potential future expansion of cargo preclearance operations in the U.S. Cargo preclearance remains a priority for the Agency to facilitate the cross-border flow of legitimate cargo as early as possible in the trade chain.

To further streamline commercial processing, the CBSA will continue the e Longroom initiative, which allows clients to submit certain commercial documentation via email and thereby minimizes in-person interactions.

Traders are compliant with applicable legislation and requirements

Under existing authorities, the CBSA will conduct risking and intercept shipments of goods believed to be made with forced labour, based on ESDC reports assessing tips and allegations received from the public.

To further improve commercial examination capacity, the CBSA will continue to advance initiatives to equip Marine Container Examination Facilities in Vancouver with enhanced imaging technology to inspect marine containers and large conveyances targeted for examination.

The CBSA is working with Transport Canada on the Marine Port Modernization Review in an effort to address security threats associated with organized crime, smuggling and internal conspiracies, while supporting efficiency and facilitation priorities at Canada's marine ports through amendments to the Customs Act and the creation of new regulations.

Importers comply with revenue requirements

Under the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project, the Agency is planning to implement Release 2 in 2023 to 2024 to further expand the functionalities of the CARM Client Portal. Once fully implemented, CARM will strengthen the Agency's ability to accurately assess duties and taxes owed on imported goods by automating the processes required to assess, collect, manage and report on revenue, while further enabling importers to self-assess and comply with Canada's trade requirements.

In response to a recent decision by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and in light of significant increases in the importation of e-commerce goods, Budget 2022 amended section 17 of the Customs Act to clarify liability for duties and taxes owing on such goods. This amendment clarified that when commercial entities are identified as the importer of record through accounting documents, they share liability for duties and taxes owing with the importer or owner of those goods. The CBSA will continue consultations with stakeholders and finalize implementation planning in preparation for the amendment to come into force.

Canadian producers are protected from unfairly dumped and subsidized imports

The CBSA will continue to conduct anti-dumping and countervailing investigations through its administration of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) to guard against unfair trade practices, defend domestic producers, and protect Canadian jobs. These investigations are conducted in parallel with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal's investigations into injury to Canadian industry caused by dumping and subsidizing.

To that end, a new CBSA anti-circumvention policy framework is under development to bring greater predictability and efficiency to CBSA investigations of industry complaints that SIMA duties are being unfairly circumvented. In addition, the CBSA will implement an online (web-based) access point in accordance with a legislated requirement under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). In 2023 to 2024, authorities will be sought to enable the design of an online solution in accordance with the CUSMA obligation that will enable industry to submit anti-dumping investigation documents electronically.

Trusted Traveller and Trader programs increase processing efficiency of low-risk, pre-approved travellers and traders

From a trusted traveller perspective, the CBSA will focus on expanding capacity at existing NEXUS enrollment centres, thereby providing new interview opportunities for current and prospective members. The Agency will also continue to advance the necessary program requirements in order to deploy additional NEXUS eGates across the country. Already in place at several land-based locations, NEXUS eGates allow the CBSA to process NEXUS travellers remotely from a command centre located within the port of entry. This will enhance operational flexibility to process increased traveller volumes, while streamlining passage for low-risk travellers.

Under the Secure Corridor and Commercial Lane Enhancement project, the CBSA will continue to expand technology to expedite commercial passage for trusted traders. This will enhance processing efficiency and integrity, while reducing physical interactions at high-volume commercial ports of entry.

Travellers and the business community have access to timely redress mechanisms

The Recourse Program provides travellers and businesses with an accessible mechanism to seek an impartial review of CBSA decisions and to voice any feedback or complaints, in accordance with legislation and policies administered by the Agency. The Agency continues to enhance its Recourse Program through ongoing improvements to business processes and communication with clients through a secure portal, while also pursuing business readiness activities to support the Agency's implementation of the CARM project as well as the Government's pledge to establish an independent review body for the CBSA.

Additional border management initiatives

The CBSA will continue to enhance officer recruitment, training and development as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its workforce. In particular, the Agency will continue the implementation of its 2022 to 2025 National Officer Recruitment and Outreach Strategy and Action Plan to enhance recruitment and retention efforts through an inclusive and diverse environment. Focus is placed on employment equity and equity-deserving groups, along with efforts to better align the placement of recruits with the Agency's operational needs and official languages requirements in order to enhance job satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, the Agency will proceed with a three-year roadmap for the review and modernization of its Force Generation Program, including pathways for career mapping and talent development as part of the broader strategy to ensure program sustainability in meeting operational needs going forward.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its infrastructure, the CBSA will continue working with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project to advance the procurement, fit-up and staffing of the Canadian port of entry, with a view to ensuring a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The Agency will also continue the Land Border Crossing Project, which aims to rebuild 24 land ports of entry over the next several years, with multiple design processes and stakeholder engagement activities underway.

In support of the Government's commitments to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the CBSA will continue to be guided by its Indigenous Framework and Strategy to ensure that Indigenous culture, interests and issues are reflected in CBSA operations. In particular, the Agency will:

• continue supporting the Government's implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
• continue implementing the Many Voices, One Mind: A Pathway to Reconciliation Action Plan and the Policy on the Agency's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples
• continue working collaboratively with Indigenous partners, other government departments and international counterparts to address Indigenous border-crossing issues and mobility concerns with Indigenous rights holders
• continue developing processes, tools and guidance to support respectful and purposeful Nation-to-Nation, Inuit-Crown and Government-to-Government engagement with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, while also conducting Indigenous-focused policy reviews and treaty analysis in furtherance of consultation and engagement obligations
• continue equipping frontline staff with tools and guidance to serve Indigenous clients in an informed and unbiased manner, while providing additional support around exceptional events such as the North American Indigenous Games and cross-border repatriation of Indigenous sacred items and goods
• continue building Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity across the Agency, including the co-development of cultural training with Indigenous communities, the implementation of an Indigenous Learning Portal, and the establishment of an Elder's Room and Indigenous Reflection Spaces to enhance learning practices at the CBSA College, Main Campus
• continue using the Agency's Indigenous Training Program to integrate training support for Indigenous initiatives in order to promote Indigenous foundational knowledge across the Agency and provide cultural support for specialized areas
• continue leading the government-wide Indigenous Training and Development Community of Practice to cultivate partnerships and best practices

Gender-based analysis plus in border management

The CBSA will continue improving its Gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) governance governance and data collection practices; applying the GBA Plus lens to inform policy and program decisions impacting service delivery; and maturing organizational data literacy to facilitate improved GBA Plus data going forward. The Agency will also continue to implement the Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada's Sex and Gender Information Practices to ensure that its services are designed and delivered to be inclusive of all genders.

For more information, please consult the GBA Plus supplementary information table.

United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The CBSA will continue working towards its ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring climate resiliency, and providing a safe and healthy work environment. In line with the 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and in support of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the CBSA's 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy will focus on key economic, social and environmental sustainability indicators. The 2023 to 2027 strategy will be available on the Agency's website by November 2023.

Innovation in border management

The CBSA is pursuing an array of initiatives under its core responsibility of border management. Some examples include:

Advance CBSA Declaration:

The CBSA is using web and mobile apps to allow air travellers at select airports and land ports of entry to submit advance declarations that can be confirmed upon arrival in Canada, thereby streamlining processing and reducing touch-points.

Traveller Compliance Indicator:

The CBSA is pursuing a predictive analytics approach through efforts to generate a compliance indicator for travellers entering Canada. The objective is to introduce a risk-based compliance model to support decision-making by frontline officers when determining whether a traveller should be referred for secondary examination, thereby reducing the likelihood of referrals for compliant travellers based on their history of compliance with border requirements.

Training Simulations:

As part of the Officer Induction Training Program, the CBSA is experimenting with virtual reality technology to conduct border-related simulations for officer recruits at the CBSA College, Main Campus, which could inform scenario-based training in a variety of operational contexts.

Border Technology Networking:

The CBSA is working to enhance connectivity and networking among its detection technology devices in order to improve information flow and centralized access.

Pre-Departure Risk Assessment:

The CBSA's National Targeting Centre is working with liaison officers overseas to push out the border by using data for traveller risk assessment as early as possible.

Digital Platform Modernization:

The CBSA is contributing to the IRCC-led multi-year Digital Platform Modernization initiative, which aims to gradually replace the legacy Global Case Management System with a new platform that will transform business capabilities and service delivery throughout the immigration continuum.

Key risks in border management

Under its core responsibility of border management, the CBSA continues to face a rapidly evolving risk environment. In the wake of the easing and eventual lifting of COVID-19 border measures, travel volumes will continue their resurgence towards pre-pandemic levels, and the Agency will continue to focus on its border modernization initiatives to enhance processing efficiency and operational agility.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the economic landscape for the foreseeable future. For example, trade patterns are shifting significantly due to increased protectionism, which may impact the allocation of resources at ports of entry, while recruitment efforts may be impacted by increased competitiveness in the labour market. The Agency is adapting to this shifting landscape by identifying skillset gaps and adopting new staffing processes, while implementing and improving developmental programs. This is expected to have a positive impact on the Agency's ability to manage increasing volumes and lasting changes across the travel and trade continuum.

Planned results for border management

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border management, this table shows planned results, result indicators, targets and target dates for 2023 to 2024, along with actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Planned budgetary spending for border management

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border management, this table shows budgetary spending for 2023 to 2024, as well as planned spending for that fiscal year and the next two fiscal years.

Planned human resources for border management

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border management, this table shows the human resources (in full time equivalents) needed for 2023 to 2024 and the next two fiscal years.

Financial, human resources and performance information for the CBSA's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Border enforcement

Description

The CBSA contributes to Canada's security by supporting the immigration and refugee system when determining a person's admissibility to Canada, taking the appropriate immigration enforcement actions when necessary, and supporting the prosecution of persons who violate our laws.

Planning highlights

Under its policy agenda, the CBSA will continue to advance initiatives geared towards immigration facilitation and balanced enforcement through legislative and regulatory work in support of public safety, immigration facilitation, and program integrity objectives. These include:

• expanding officer authorities to issue removal orders for straightforward inadmissibility cases
• streamlining the cancellation of certain immigration documents in cases where a removal order has been issued
• strengthening the framework governing applications for Ministerial Relief
• updating the transborder criminal inadmissibility framework
• updating the recovery of removal costs framework
• reviewing the senior official regulations associated with the designation of regimes
• reviewing serious inadmissibility grounds, including security and organized criminality membership provisions

Concurrently, the CBSA will advance efforts on other aspects of border enforcement, including joint work with IRCC to ensure the long-term sustainability of the in-Canada asylum system. The Agency will also continue to uphold commitments under the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking through efforts to review existing legislative and regulatory frameworks, with a view to ensuring that sufficient protections are in place for victims and minimizing the risk of further inadvertent victimization of people who have experienced gender-based violence.

The CBSA will continue supporting the Government's resettlement commitments for refugees from Afghanistan, as well as immigration measures to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The Agency will also continue to partner with the RCMP and Global Affairs Canada to enforce sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and commission of human rights violations.

In support of Canada's No Safe Haven policy, and to project Canadian values on the world stage, the CBSA will continue working to develop a multi-year plan for country reviews, with the aim of renewing and maintaining the designation of regimes framework. This work supports the Minister of Public Safety in exercising the authority to designate a regime as having engaged in international human rights violations, terrorism or war crimes, thereby rendering prescribed senior officials of the regime inadmissible to Canada. For example, the Agency will continue to enforce the Designation of the Iranian Regime pursuant to subparagraph 35(1)(b) of the IRPA in order to identify and interdict senior officials who are inadmissible to Canada.

In addition, the CBSA plans to achieve the following results in 2023 to 2024 under its core responsibility of border enforcement:

Immigration investigations identify persons inadmissible to Canada

The CBSA will continue to focus inland investigative resources on high-risk cases, with criminality and national security being the highest priorities, while conducting investigatory activities and ongoing work with IRCC and the RCMP to improve operational coordination with regard to irregular migration and the in-Canada refugee determination system. The Agency will also keep taking steps to improve the management of immigration warrants in line with the Auditor General's Spring 2020 Report on Immigration Removals, with a focus on supporting administrative removals, while maintaining its warrant management strategy to support immigration enforcement operations.

Persons are placed on alternatives to detention whenever possible, or placed in the most appropriate detention facility according to their risk profile

The CBSA will continue ongoing efforts to improve Canada's immigration detention system in line with the National Immigration Detention Framework, with a focus on ensuring that detention is used as a measure of last resort and that alternatives to detention are always considered. In particular, the Agency will continue using alternatives to detention, founded on consistent, risk-based decisions, enabling individuals whose risk can be appropriately mitigated to be released into the community.

Concurrently, the CBSA will continue enhancing the National Detention Standards for its three Immigration Holding Centres, as well as for the limited use of provincial facilities, while maintaining its contract with the Canadian Red Cross to provide detention monitoring services in order to ensure that detainees are treated in accordance with applicable domestic standards and international obligations. The Agency will also continue reviewing risk assessments under the National Risk Assessment for Detention framework to ensure that risks are being accurately assessed and that persons are being appropriately managed using the most suitable approach, including alternatives to detention.

The Minister's positions are appropriately represented in immigration and refugee decision-making processes

The CBSA will continue improving the management of its hearings-related activities in collaboration with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), including the use of digital hearings prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the implementation of updated guidelines for detention reviews in respect of the IRPA and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Additionally, the Agency will continue to pilot the Integrated Claims Analysis Centre in the Greater Toronto Area to support efficient processing of asylum cases and improved communication channels with IRCC and the IRB.

Inadmissible foreign nationals are prioritized and removed expeditiously from Canada

To ensure the timely departure from Canada of inadmissible persons subject to removal, such as foreign national criminals, failed refugee claimants, and other inadmissible persons, the CBSA will keep taking steps to enhance its removal operations in line with the recommendations of the Auditor General's Spring 2020 Report on Immigration Removals. These efforts include using a national triage model, prioritizing high-priority removals, increasing travel document applications, and operating the Removals Help Line to encourage more voluntary removals. The Agency will also continue working with federal partners to address challenges in obtaining required travel documents from countries that may be uncooperative with removal operations.

People and businesses that are referred to Crown counsel for prosecution are convicted

The CBSA will continue building capacity to investigate and prosecute people and businesses that violate Canada's border-related legislation, with a focus on complex cases of fraud involving individuals and organizations posing a threat to Canada's immigration system, economy, and the safety and security of Canadians. Operational priorities are primarily focused on cases of fraud by organizers and facilitators of serious immigration offences, including human smuggling, employment fraud, and offences involving immigration consultants, as well as serious customs offences, including firearms and weapons smuggling, trade fraud, and trade-based money laundering.

In collaboration with IRCC and the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, the CBSA will continue to strengthen the governance and enforcement framework applicable to those who offer consultant services to persons seeking to enter or remain in Canada. To better protect applicants and newcomers from fraudulent consultants, the Agency is working to augment its criminal investigative capacity, while supporting the implementation of enhanced compliance, enforcement and disciplinary measures within the revised framework.

Gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) in border enforcement

The CBSA will continue improving its GBA Plus governance and data collection practices; applying the GBA Plus lens to inform policy and program decisions impacting service delivery; and maturing organizational data literacy to facilitate improved GBA Plus data going forward. The Agency will also continue to implement the Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada's Sex and Gender Information Practices to ensure that its services are designed and delivered to be inclusive of all genders.

For more information, please consult the GBA Plus supplementary information table.

Innovation in border enforcement

The CBSA is pursuing several initiatives under its core responsibility of border enforcement. Some examples include:

Alternatives to Detention:

The CBSA continues to implement solutions for remote monitoring and reporting to support the release of individuals in cases where detention may be mitigated within the community.

Asylum Modernization:

The CBSA continues to pilot the Integrated Claims Analysis Centre in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as the Integrated Case Tracking and Prioritization Unit, in order to support efficient processing of asylum cases and improved communication channels with IRCC and the IRB.

Client Reporting Mobile Application:

The CBSA continues to develop an application that will allow immigration clients with reporting obligations to communicate with the Agency using a mobile device, thereby reducing in-person touch-points and supporting compliance and monitoring efforts.

Key risks in border enforcement

Under its core responsibility of border enforcement, the CBSA will continue to focus on geopolitical events posing challenges to its operations, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the collapse of the former Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. These events are expected to continue exerting pressure on border operations through increased volumes of refugees, in addition to persisting pressures on the asylum system through increased irregular migration between ports of entry. The CBSA will also continue to enforce the Designation of the Iranian Regime pursuant to subparagraph 35(1)(b) of the IRPA in order to identify and interdict senior officials who are inadmissible to Canada. Concurrently, removal processes for inadmissible persons are increasingly complex due to the lack of cooperation from some foreign governments in the issuance of travel documents to repatriate their foreign nationals in a timely manner.

Planned results for border enforcement

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border enforcement, this table shows planned results, result indicators, targets and target dates for 2023 to 2024, along with actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Planned budgetary spending for border enforcement

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border enforcement, this table shows budgetary spending for 2023 to 2024, as well as planned spending for that fiscal year and the next two fiscal years.

Planned human resources for border enforcement

For the CBSA's core responsibility of border enforcement, this table shows the human resources (in full time equivalents) needed for 2023 to 2024 and the next two fiscal years.

Financial, human resources and performance information for the CBSA's program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Internal services: Planned results

Description

Internal services are the services provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

• Management and Oversight Services
• Communications Services
• Legal Services
• Human Resources (HR) Management Services
• Financial Management Services
• Information Management Services
• Information Technology (IT) Services
• Real Property Management Services
• Materiel Management Services
• Acquisition Management Services

Planning highlights

Supporting a healthy, diverse and inclusive workforce

To steer its transition to new ways of working that will outlast the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA will continue the implementation of its hybrid work model to achieve an effective balance of in-person and off-site work. The Agency will also continue to ensure appropriate safety measures in the workplace in accordance with the latest public health guidelines.

The CBSA will maintain focus on strengthening organizational resilience through various programs and services aimed at building the capability and accountability needed to foster and sustain a healthy culture. This will be done through focused culture efforts with senior leaders and managers, along with enhanced employee engagement efforts to create and embed trusted feedback loops within the organization. The Agency's overall objective is to ensure a well-supported, high-performing workforce that is founded on trust.

The CBSA will keep striving to ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects Canada's population. To that end, the Agency will continue a wide array of initiatives under its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, Official Languages Action Plan, Indigenous Workforce Strategy, Anti-Racism Strategy, and Accessibility Plan to promote the representation of equity-deserving groups at all levels. The results of these efforts will foster a climate of equity and inclusion in which all employees can reach their full potential, alongside ongoing efforts to promote employee wellbeing through the Agency's Wellness Strategy and Respectful Workplace Framework.

To further support a safe and respectful workplace, the Agency will ensure the continued implementation of measures for the prevention and resolution of harassment and discrimination, including measures to address the behaviour of CBSA employees as well as members of the public who interact with CBSA employees in the course of their duties. Moreover, the CBSA will continue its Leadership and Management Induction Program combining both virtual and in-class learning for people managers. This program strives for a national approach in leadership and management, ensuring that managers have clear expectations of leadership behaviours and management accountabilities, while developing leader character across the Agency to reinforce a healthy culture and respectful workplace.

Advancing the CBSA's transformation agenda

The CBSA will continue to advance its transformation agenda to ensure a strong and sustainable foundation, build its vision for the border of the future, and ensure continued operational agility and effectiveness. The forward momentum of the Agency's transformation activities continues to be essential in keeping pace with a rapidly changing operating environment, global trends in travel and trade, and public health requirements coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From an information, science and technology perspective, the CBSA will continue its transition to a digital workplace, including increased bandwidth, robust security, and greater connectivity with partners and stakeholders, along with a variety of tools to enhance collaboration and remote working. The Agency will position itself as a leader in digital transformation, while supporting a modern one-team culture, enhancing business continuity, and attracting and retaining the best and brightest through a strong hybrid work environment. Additionally, the Agency will continue to enhance its information technology through ongoing efforts to optimize systems and applications, strengthen cyber security defence mechanisms, and advance its Cloud Strategy to modernize the handling of information assets and services to Canadians.

The CBSA will continue its Enterprise Data and Analytics Strategy by further integrating analytics within business intelligence functions to promote data fluency and evidence-based decision-making throughout the organization. This will involve the ongoing implementation of the Data Frame to guide the use of data and analytics across the Agency. Additional activities will address the Agency's data debt through the horizontal integration of data and data quality issues, while improving availability and accessibility in the Enterprise Data Warehouse. Standardizing enterprise-wide analytics tools, advancing the use of cloud technology, and developing a modern and adaptive policy suite will collectively enable the Agency to meet its transformation objectives.

Ensuring effective communications to support the CBSA's activities

The CBSA will continue to provide clear, proactive and accessible communications to the public to support Canada's national security and public safety priorities, and to facilitate trade and economic development.

To reach audiences in Canada and abroad, the CBSA will employ a variety of communications tactics, including traditional media relations activities and social media outreach, in order to promote border compliance, counter misinformation, and highlight the exceptional work of CBSA officers.

Innovative and proactive approaches to internal communications will be used to support ongoing information sharing and engagement with the Agency's workforce, comprising around 16,000 employees and representing diverse backgrounds and locations across Canada and around the world.

Planning for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses

The CBSA continues to strengthen its relationship with Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities through the federal procurement process, and is committed to the government-wide requirement to ensure that a minimum of 5% of the total value of contracts is awarded to Indigenous businesses annually. The Agency currently exceeds the 5% target. Moreover, the Agency is developing an Indigenous Procurement Policy and is planning to conduct regional outreach activities to further encourage procurement opportunities with Indigenous suppliers going forward.

Planned budgetary spending for internal services

For the CBSA's internal services, this table shows budgetary spending for 2023 to 2024, as well as planned spending for that fiscal year and the next two fiscal years.

Planned human resources for internal services

For the CBSA's internal services, this table shows the human resources (in full time equivalents) needed for 2023 to 2024 and the next two fiscal years.