COVID-19: Appearance before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health (March 31, 2020)—CBSA opening remarks

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Mr. John Ossowski President, Canada Border Services Agency, before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on March 31, 2020 (2:00 pm to 4:00 pm).

Good afternoon Mr. Chair and members of the committee,

Thank you for the invitation to participate in today's proceedings and to provide me with the opportunity to discuss with you the important work being done by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in the midst of this global health crisis.

Also participating on the call is the CBSA's Vice-President of our Travellers Branch, Mr. Denis Vinette, who has been leading the measures at all ports of entry with respect to the traveller stream.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to begin by saying that I am very proud of the men and women of the CBSA – who are working tirelessly both on the front lines and behind the scenes – to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while keeping essential goods and services flowing to Canadians. The health and safety of our workforce is paramount, and we continue to work closely with Health Canada, the unions and our employees to ensure they are protected.

You are all aware that the situation has evolved rapidly, and we continue to adapt our operational posture to respond.

As the Minister of Public Safety outlined in presentations before the House of Commons and the Senate last week, the CBSA has a dual mandate – to protect the safety and security of Canadians, while facilitating trade and commerce at the border. In the face of COVID-19, I can assure this committee that we are working hard on both fronts.

From a safety and security perspective, the Government of Canada has put in place a number of enhanced border measures to help mitigate and contain the spread of the virus. These measures, which began on January 22 have resulted in a dramatic decrease on the inbound flow of travellers to the country.

As a result of the prohibition of foreign nationals, including United States (U.S.) nationals, from entering Canada by air, land, rail and marine, for non-essential or discretionary purposes, we have seen an overall decline of travellers by 79% in all modes (including air) since the prohibitions came into force, and 94% when compared with this same period last year.

Regardless of how and where they arrive, Mr. Chair, all travellers are being assessed upon their arrival into Canada. Travellers who are deemed to be symptomatic are provided with surgical masks and information on mandatory self-isolation by the CBSA, and required to complete the contract tracing form. They are then directly referred to a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officer for assessment and follow-up.

As Minister Blair mentioned, Transport Canada has also increased the responsibilities of air carriers flying to Canada. Air carriers are required to conduct a health check of every traveller at the gate, prior to boarding and must ask the traveller if they are exhibiting a fever, a cough or difficulty breathing. If a traveller is symptomatic, air carriers must also ask the traveller if they have been denied boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19.

Travellers answering affirmative to either of these questions, or if they refuse to answer the questions, will be denied boarding by the air carrier, who will then advise the CBSA. Travellers who have a medical certificate stating that the symptoms are not related to COVID-19 will be exempted.

The CBSA now informs travellers that it is mandatory to self-isolate for 14 days upon entry into Canada.

The CBSA also has measures in place to assist PHAC in their efforts to monitor and enforce compliance of the mandatory self-isolation orders through contact tracing for all travellers arriving to Canada in land and air mode, and through temporary lookouts.

The contact tracing form captures basic biographical data and contact information for the passenger while in Canada. Once completed, it is provided to PHAC, who determines when and how to share this information with provincial authorities and/or law enforcement.

Mandatory contact tracing applies to all travellers arriving by land or air.

The CBSA has created temporary lookouts in its system to support PHAC efforts to ensure that asymptomatic travellers comply with directions on self-isolation following entry to Canada and that symptomatic travellers, who are issued a quarantine order under the Quarantine Act, comply with those orders. The temporary lookout measures are already in effect.

Lookouts will not be issued on all asymptomatic travellers, but rather on those the CBSA believes may not have respected the requirement to self-isolate and have given indications that they may be unwilling to comply.

The CBSA will notify PHAC every time it encounters an individual that it believes has failed to comply with the order to self-isolate.

The lookout information will be maintained for a period of 14 days, and the CBSA will share it with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Mr. Chair, the CBSA will support compliance with the PHAC Travel and Public Health Order issued under the Quarantine Act, including providing information at the border.

Turning to our facilitation mandate, I also want to assure the committee that the CBSA understands the critical nature of ensuring that essential goods and services, food, medicines, and workers continue to be able to move across the border.

But let me be clear that while we have seen a reduction in truck traffic, overall the supply chains for Canadian industry and businesses remain intact as 114,032 truck drivers have been permitted entry to Canada since the restrictions took effect on March 21.

This is why there are important exemptions to the recent travel restrictions put in place. Whether it be first responders, truck drivers, or workers supporting agricultural and transportation sectors, these are some amongst us who are providing essential services necessary to keep Canada's engine running.

To that end, I wrote to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on March 17 to request his support in encouraging WCO Member States to maintain coordinated action and avoid unduly disrupting international trade supply chains. The Secretary General agreed with the proposal and is taking steps to achieve this objective.

Earlier this month, the U.S. agreed with our proposal to establish a Task Force in order to continue to advance the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and to facilitate efficient trade and the cross-border movement of essential goods, workers and services in North America. Additionally, the Task Force is enabling coordinated border management with the U.S. CBP to contain the spread of COVID-19.

At home, we are providing operational assistance and information sharing to Marine Terminal Operators, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, airlines, couriers, customs brokers and other trade chain partners to help them through this crisis.

We are consulting our industry stakeholder group to capture, and examine possible procedural changes that can be put in place to reduce their administrative burden at this time.

In collaboration with the Department of Finance, the CBSA has been able to waive duties and taxes on imported goods for emergency use in response to COVID-19 effective March 16. This measure facilitates the importation of such goods by or on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial, as well as, municipal entities, such as centres for health care and first responder organizations, including the police and medical teams.

Finally, Mr. Chair, as the Prime Minister announced on March 27, we have been able to respond to requests for relief from importers and businesses by extending the timeframe for importers to pay duties and taxes that are normally collected by the CBSA to June 30.

To conclude, Mr. Chair, I would like Canadians and parliamentarians alike to know that the CBSA is working at home and with international partners to provide maximum support to COVID-19 efforts, whether directly supporting Government of Canada-led repatriation efforts or in screening all travellers, and others who seek to enter Canada.

The situation is fluid, and we continue to adjust our posture as required.

I will end my remarks here, and will be happy to take any questions.

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Date modified:

2020-07-29