Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: 2020 to 2021 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (B) (November 25, 2020)
2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B)

Enhancing integrity of Canada's borders and asylum system - IT systems interoperability: $6.0 million

Financial highlights

CBSA is receiving $6.0 million in 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B) to support Budget 2019 Measure: Enhancing Integrity of Canada's Borders and Asylum System - IT Systems Interoperability for IT system changes to ensure that CBSA's case management systems reflect recent changes to Canada's immigration laws.

Overview

Given historically high volume of asylum claimants experienced prior to COVID-19, the Government of Canada sought to address the funding deficiencies in the asylum program and invest money in program redesign and modernization. Budget 2019 announced the Border Enforcement Strategy – which identified the need to both fund the asylum system to a capacity of 50,000 claims per year and enhance border security – resulting in a commitment of $1.19 billion over 5 years.

Federal partners,(CBSA, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)), currently operate their own case management tools with limited interoperability, causing program integrity risks, administrative inefficiency and processing delays for asylum claimants. The Asylum Interoperability Project will support asylum reform by improving the interoperability of systems, reporting capabilities and introduce technologies that facilitate faster data capture and decision making. The CBSA, IRCC, and the IRB are expected to deliver the IT project by fiscal year 2022 to 2023.

The Asylum Interoperability Project is expected to deliver the following business outcomes:

• IT systems reflect approved legislative changes
• accelerated and efficient processing of claims
• improved Client Service
• improved information sharing between the participating organizations
• IT systems reflect proposed regulatory amendments

Numbers may differ due to rounding

Explanation of funding for 2020 to 2021

In 2020 to 2021 the CBSA requested $6.0 million of funding through the Supplementary Estimates.

Supplementary Estimates - $6.0 million

• $ 2.8 million under Vote 1 - Salary
• $ 3.2 million under Vote 1 - Operating

Numbers may differ due to rounding

Activity 1: Intelligence Collection & Analysis: $5.6 million

Continued work with IRCC to implement changes to existing Global Case Management System functionality to increase efficiencies.

Updating National Case Management System to automate the Pre Removal Risk Assessment for failed Asylum claimants and to increase interoperability through upgrades to our interfaces with IRCC.

Improving functionality to enable automated creation of removal cases in order to facilitate increased efficiency, workload management, and reporting, benefiting those processing the files from IRCC and CBSA. This work includes implementing the regulatory amendments pertaining to the automatic cancellation of immigration documents and the recovery of removal costs.

Activity 2: Corporate Support: $0.4 million

Funding is required for corporate support to:

• Enable effective operational and programmatic outcomes via human resources, finance, audit and evaluation, communications, privacy and Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) corporate support
• Provide appropriate management, oversight and governance
• Account for accommodation charges for those buildings owned by the CBSA and where the employees will be working (that is, a custodial Port of Entry)

Protecting people from unscrupulous and fraudulent immigration and citizenship consultant: $1.68 million

Financial highlights

CBSA is receiving, $1.68 million in 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B) to increase its capacity for criminal investigations of consultant-related fraud under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Funding will allow the CBSA to hire five new criminal investigators, one regional document examiner and one forensic facial examiner. Funding will also cover costs for specialized and ongoing training for new resources, arming certification, translation services, public prosecution, equipment, and one vehicle.

Overview

Individuals seeking to immigrate to Canada or become citizens often rely on the advice and expertise of immigration consultants to help them navigate Canadian immigration rules. However, these individuals can be the victims of unscrupulous immigration consultants who prey on their lack of knowledge of Canadian laws and regulations.

This IRCC-led initiative focuses on three key areas:

1. improving the regulation and oversight of immigration and citizenship consultants
2. strengthening compliance and enforcement measures
3. supporting public awareness activities to help vulnerable applicants

Under this initiative, the CBSA sought $6.92 million over four years (2020-2021 to 2023-2024) and $1.79 million per year ongoing (excluding EBP, PSPC accommodation costs and SSC costs) to increase its capacity to criminally investigate consultant-related fraud under the IRPA. The CBSA is responsible for strengthened enforcement measures, more specifically, to increase consultant-related criminal investigations by 25% (that is, 13 cases per year).

CBSA is mandated to detect, identify, investigate, and refer for prosecution immigration consultant related fraud committed by unauthorized representatives ("ghost consultants") and authorized consultants who commit fraud through their consulting services.

Numbers may differ due to rounding

Explanation of funding for 2020 to 2021

In 2020 to 2021 the CBSA requested $1.68 million of funding through the Supplementary Estimates (B).

Supplementary Estimates - $1.68 million

• $ 0.89 million under Vote 1 - Salary
• $ 0.76 million under Vote 1 - Operating
• $ 0.03 million under Vote 5 - Capital

Numbers may differ due to rounding

Adjustments to the employee benefit plan: $1 million

Financial highlights

For planning purposes, beginning April 1, 2019, the employee benefit plans (EBPs) for all new initiatives must be calculated at 27% of salary based on Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) instructions.

CBSA is receiving a total of $1 million for 3 new funding requests through the 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B).

Overview

The statutory item "Employee Benefit Plans" includes costs to the government for the employer's matching contributions and payments to the Public Service Superannuation Plan, the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plans, Death Benefits and the Employment Insurance accounts.

EBP must be calculated at 27% of the Personnel and/or Personnel-Capital for all new initiatives included in the Estimates. However, in finalizing the ARLU/Main Estimates, TBS generates a technical adjustment to bring the final EBP amount in line with the established rate for the current exercise.

Funding to support the 2020 to 2022 Immigration levels plan: $0.03 million

Financial highlights

CBSA is receiving $0.03 million in the 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B) to support Canada's immigration levels.

Overview

Funding sought for 2020 to 2021 will support the CBSA's role in administering and enforcing Canada's immigration program, specifically for the incremental increase in CBSA activities as a result of the planned permanent resident admissions for 2020 to 2021, as outlined in the 2020 to 2022 multi-year immigration levels plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on immigration to Canada this year, including a slow-down in the CBSA's activities related to the processing of permanent residents. Current projections suggest that 2020 permanent resident admissions will fall within a range of 175,000 to 210,000 instead of the 320,000 to 370,000 projected, and with borders still closed, impacts are anticipated to continue through to 2021. However, when global travel recovers and growth resumes, permanent resident admissions are also expected to return to previous levels. Current funding levels will ensure the CBSA's operations are positioned to respond to the demand.

Numbers may differ due to rounding

Explanation of funding for 2020 to 2021

In 2020 to 2021 the CBSA requested $0.03 million of funding through the Supplementary Estimates (B).

Supplementary Estimates - $0.03 million

• $ 0.02 million under Vote 1 - Salary
• $ 0.01 million under Vote 1 - Operating

Activity 1: Intelligence and Enforcement - Pre-arrival and Post-arrival: $3,000

The CBSA is responsible for pursuing enforcement action against permanent residents under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) who are inadmissible for: security, war crimes, serious criminality (inside and outside Canada), organized criminality, misrepresentation, and non-compliance with terms and conditions imposed when granted permanent residence and for non-compliance with meeting residency obligations. The CBSA is also responsible for investigating and charging persons who have committed offences under IRPA.

When examining a permanent resident or a foreign national who is seeking landing as a permanent resident at a port of entry, the CBSA may decide to write an admissibility report and ultimately determine that the person is inadmissible to Canada for failing to comply with residency obligations or for other reasons under the IRPA. In such cases, an officer would have to take necessary enforcement actions (up to and including effecting their removal from Canada).

Activity 2: Point of Entry - Arrival: $19,000

Arrival activities include: secondary examination of permanent resident visa-holders, incorporating identity verification, confirmation of eligibility and admissibility information, systems checks and updates, conferring of permanent resident status (or denying admission and reporting, if inadmissible), and the examination and processing of settlers' effects, including goods to follow.

When processing a foreign national permanent resident visa-holder at a port of entry, the role of the Border Services Officer (BSO) in the context of the secondary examination is to:

• verify the person's identity, including biometric verification (the latter commenced July 2018)
• confirm that the information on their permanent resident visa is correct
• establish that the applicant complies with all requirements of the legislation and regulations and is admissible to Canada
• confirm that the applicant's marital, common-law, or family status has not changed since the issuance of their visa
• confirm that the applicant and their family members (whether accompanying or not) still meet the requirements of the class of permanent residents under which the visa was issued
• complete the Confirmation of Permanent Residence document and ensure the photo meets the specifications as outlined by IRCC
• impose and explain any appropriate conditions
• welcome the new permanent resident to Canada and provide information about programs and services available to facilitate integration into Canadian society

Activity 3: Enabling Costs - Force Generation: $11,000

Force Generation consists of recruitment, in-residence training, and in field probationary development of new BSO coming through the CBSA College and maintenance of required skills in the field. Other Force Generation enabling activities, include:

• residence-based training at the CBSA College Rigaud Campus (OITP – Officer Induction Training Program)
• on the job development program (OIDP– Officer Induction Development Program) which includes FB02 officer trainee relocation costs
• recertification (Arming & First Aid) and National Training Standards

Activity 4: Corporate Support - Force Generation: $1,000

Funding is sought in order to:

• Enable effective operational and programmatic outcomes via human resources, finance, audit and evaluation, communications, privacy and Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) corporate support
• Provide appropriate management and oversight stewardship and governance
• Account for accommodation charges where the CBSA is the owner of buildings where the employees will be working (that is, a custodial Port of Entry)

Transfers to and from other organizations: $1.2 million

Financial highlights

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) transfers funds to and from other organizations for the administration of joint responsibilities or initiatives and cost sharing agreements.

CBSA is transferring in a net amount of $1.2 million from other organizations through the 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B):

• $0.1 million under Vote 1 - Salary
• $0.9 million under Vote 1 - Operating
• $0.2 million under Vote 5 - Capital

Overview

CBSA has a total of four transfers to and from other organizations through the Supplementary Estimates related to the administration of joint responsibilities and cost sharing agreements.

Organizations include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

Explanation of funding for 2020 to 2021

In 2020 to 2021 the CBSA requested a net transfer of $1.2 million (excluding EBP, PSPC accommodation and SSC costs) for transfers to and from other organizations.

Supplementary Estimates - $1.2 million

• $0.1 million under Vote 1 - Salary
• $0.9 million under Vote 1 - Operating
• $0.2 million under Vote 5 - Capital

Breakdown of funding for 2020 to 2021

Transfers from Other Government Departments – $2.3 million:

$1.7 million from the RCMP to CBSA to administer the import requirements of the Firearms Act. The Agency administers border-related provisions of the Firearms Act on behalf of the RCMP. Border Services Officers are responsible for determining the eligibility of importers to import firearms by ensuring they meet all relevant provisions of the Firearms Act.

$0.4 million from the DFATD to CBSA to adjust funding previously provided for departmental staff located at missions abroad. This budget return is due to the change in the methodology of costs related to common services.

$0.2 million from the DND to Canadian Food Inspection Agency, RCMP, Department of Health, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, CBSA, National Research Council of Canada, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to support the Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP). The CSSP aims to strengthen Canada's ability to anticipate, prevent/mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, crime, natural disasters, and serious accidents through the convergence of Science and Technology (S&T) with policy, operations and intelligence. The transfer will allow CBSA to acquire the neutron detectors to evaluate their potential use for CBSA's Radiation Portal Monitors.

Transfers to Other Government Departments – ($1.1) million:

($1.1) million to the TBS for the Financial Management Transformation (FMT) initiative. The contributions will be used towards furthering the FMT initiative and invested in the development of the Government of Canada Financial and Materiel (GCFM) solution, the financial management system based on SAP's next-generation S4/HANA ERP platform.

CBSA Internal reallocation from Vote 1 to Vote 5: $18.2 million

Financial highlights

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is transferring a net amount of $18.2 million from Vote 1 to Vote 5 through the 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B):

• ($18.2) million under Vote 1 - Operating
• $18.2 million under Vote 5 - Capital

The transfers will support environmental operations, the integrity of Canada's border and asylum system, and the border crossing in North Portal, Saskatchewan.

Overview

$8.0 million from Vote 1 - Operating to Vote 5 - Capital is required for environmental operations, in particular to meet Agency Vote 5 funding requirements for Rigaud College for the replacement of lead piping in the residential block; and Energy Performance Contracts; Saskatchewan Water Treatment Facilities; and the Calgary Office – Harry Hayes Building office refurbishment project.

$5.2 million from Vote 1 - Operating to Vote 5 – Capital is required to Enhance the Integrity of Canada's Borders and Asylum System to support irregular migration in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (QC) and Vancouver (BC).

$5.0 million from Vote 1 - Operating to Vote 5 – Capital is required to support the redevelopment of the North Portal border crossing, the principal land crossing in Saskatchewan, connecting Canada's Highway 39 and the U.S.' Highway 52.

Explanation of Funding for 2020 to 2021

In 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B), the CBSA requested a net transfer of $18.2 million (excluding EBP, PSPC accommodation and SSC costs) from Vote 1 to Vote 5.

Supplementary Estimates

• $(18.2) million under Vote 1 - Operating
• $18.2 million under Vote 5 - Capital

Breakdown of funding for 2020 to 2021

$8.0 million transfer from Vote 1 - Operating to Vote 5 - Capital for infrastructure investments:

The CBSA has a limited Capital (Vote 5) A-Base Budget for 2020 to 2021. This relatively small envelope is creating challenges as the Agency has custodial responsibility of assets with an estimated replacement value of $3 billion.

To support the Vote 5 funding requirements, the CBSA is seeking a one time internal reallocation of resources from operating expenditures (Vote 1) to capital expenditures (Vote 5). The funding will enable the CBSA to complete infrastructure investments for real property and environmental operations. Through these capital investments, the CBSA will take action to ensure safe drinking water ($5.7 million), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ($1.2 million) and to ensure occupational health and safety for staff ($1.1 million).

$5.2 million, Enhancing the Integrity of Canada's Borders and Asylum System:

The CBSA received funding in Budget 2019, as part of an IRCC-led TB submission, to support implementation of the Border Enforcement Strategy and to respond to pressures facing the in-Canada asylum system, including processing capacity. The purpose of this Supplementary Estimates submission is to request the conversion of $5.2 million from operating expenditures (Vote 1) - capital funds (Vote 5) as part of the Agency's Infrastructure Normalization Strategy (INS) related to irregular migration in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (QC) and Vancouver (BC).

$5.0 million transfer from Vote 1 - Operating to Vote 5 - Capital for North Portal project led by National Real Property and Accommodations Directorate (NRPAD):

The CBSA is seeking to convert $5.0 million of its 2020 to 2021 Operating Vote (Vote 1) to its 2020 to 2021 Capital Vote (Vote 5). This is supporting a prioritized Agency investment to complete the redevelopment of the North Portal border crossing.

The North Portal Port of Entry (POE) is the principal land border crossing in Saskatchewan, connecting Canada's Highway 39 with the U.S. Highway 52. The corridor is central to the economic prosperity of Saskatchewan and Alberta's natural resources sector.

In response to the POE's continuously growing trade volumes, a redevelopment project got underway in Fall 2017 with the following key objectives:

• expand the primary inspection's commercial capacity (for over-sized vehicle processing)
• realign traffic lanes for an efficient flow of traffic
• Add a commercial inspection facility for enhanced commercial secondary examination capacity and warehousing

Project delays have been experienced, principally due to unforeseen underground site conditions and the associated site remediation actions. An extension of the project's timelines is translating into a need to extend the period of capital investments. The $5.0 million internal allocation will bring this significant project to completion, delivering on a key Agency priority with respect to its custodial facilities and supporting the Prairie Region's flow of trade with the U.S.

Increased vote netted revenue (VNR) of $3.0 million

Financial highlights

CBSA has requested an increase to its vote netted revenue (VNR) authority of $3.0 million through the 2020 to 2021 Supplementary Estimates (B). The increase in VNR is due to an expected increase in volumes of existing user fees.

In 2019 to 2020, the Agency collected 125% of its VNR authorities and a review indicated that this was attributed to the NEXUS program. The VNR is expected to be near the 125% benchmark in 2020 to 2021 from the number of renewal applications and the fact that associated fees are collected in U.S. dollars.

Overview

The CBSA collected $24.1 million of revenues on behalf of the Government of Canada in 2018 to 2019, which exceeded the benchmark limit. In 2019 to 2020 CBSA collected 125% of its VNR authorities, or the benchmark limit.

A Vote Netted Revenue (VNR) is the authority to apply revenues earned by an organization to cover the costs incurred for specific activities by that organization. This authority allows the CBSA to use revenue from the sale of products or services to finance directly related expenditures. Types of VNR include services of a regulatory nature, for example NEXUS and food inspection fees, as well as non-regulatory services such as the collection of taxes on behalf of the provinces.

Explanation of funding for 2020 to 2021

The adjustment to VNR is due to an increase in volumes from existing user service fees from the NEXUS program.

Supplementary Estimates - $3.0 million

• $3.0 million under Vote 1 - Operating
• ($3.0) million under Vote Netted Revenue