Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023: Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security—Supplementary Estimates (C), 2021 to 2022 and Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 (May 19, 2022)

Overview and key messages

The CBSA is requesting a total of $2,344.1 million through the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023, which represents a $294.6 million increase over the Main Estimates, 2021 to 2022.

Initiative funding 1: Compensation adjustments: $107.5 million (plus+ $98.0 million)

Key messages

The CBSA is requesting $107.5 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 for compensation adjustments related to salary increases generated by the renewal of collective agreements for the Computer Systems (CS) and Border Services (FB) groups.

Initiative funding 2: Program integrity funding to support the CBSA's operations: $95.0 million (plus+ $95.0 million)

Key messages

The CBSA is requesting $95 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 to support its operations.

Overall, program integrity funding will amount to $380 million over 4 years from (2021 to 2022) to (2024 to 2025), with $95 million ongoing starting in 2025 to 2026.

The requested funding will support operations in 2021 to 2022 and beyond by:

• providing a sustainable funding base
• eliminating some key financial pressures going forward
• supporting the cost of existing frontline officers
• supporting increases related to certain unfunded personnel costs stemming from the implementation of new collective agreements, the Shared Services Canada (SSC) fiscal dividend, and incremental costs for guard contracts

Initiative funding 3: Re-profiled funding for various initiatives: $60.2 million (plus+ $60.2 million)

Key messages

The CBSA is requesting $60.2 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 because funding for a number of initiatives has been reprofiled to future fiscal years. These funding changes comprise:

• $38.3 million for the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management Project (CARM) due to scheduling delays and to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
• $11.5 million for the Marine Container Examination Facilities Project (MCEF) due to delays in the procurement of the Fixed Large Scale Imaging equipment
• $5 million for the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB) to align CBSA's authorities to a new opening date of November 2024
• $4.5 million for the Asylum Interoperability Project (AIP) to ensure funding and resources are available once Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada makes changes to the system
• $3.5 million for Asylum Security Screening Automation (SSA) to align with new project dates as a result of planning and development delays
• $2.1 million for Drug-impaired driving (DID) because of the suspension of Standardized Field Sobriety Test training caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
• $1.6 million for Asylum (AIM) to realign authorities to future years based on anticipated requirements
• $1.3 million for Guns and Gangs to reallocate funding to the next year due to delays and pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
• $1.2 million for Opioids to complete the Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) Network and Designated Safe Examination Areas (DSEA), which are critical to the CBSA's commitments in addressing Canada's opioid crisis
• $0.9 million for African Swine Fever to complete the deployment of eight detector dogs teams that was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• $0.7 million for the CBSA's efficiency programs due to new deadlines for the gradual implementation of autonomous systems
• $10.3 million to align rebuilding of traveller operations in Lacolle, Quebec with projects at the Pacific Highway in British Columbia and at St-Armand, Quebec

Initiative funding 4: Modernizing Canada's Border Infrastructure (Land Border Crossing Project): $35.2 million (plus+ $35.2 million)

Key messages

In Budget 2019, the Government announced $765 million over 5 years to support effective border management and enforcement and the modernization of border operations, and to facilitate the safe and timely flow of transactions at the border. Of this amount, $440 million was in support of the Land Border Crossing Project (LBCP).

The CBSA is requesting $35.2 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 for the LBCP.

The funding will be used to support the planning project phase for three full-service ports of entry (POEs) (St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Pacific Highway, St-Armand) and to support the planning and execution project phases for the remaining 20 smaller POEs that are being replaced.

In total, the LBCP will replace 24 land border POEs across Canada that are in poor physical and functional condition. One has already been replaced.

Replacing these POEs will:

• allow the CBSA to modernize its portfolio of custodial ports to meet core operational requirements through updated work environments
• advance sustainability goals and requirements
• improve processing of travellers and commercial goods

Initiative funding 5: Gordie Howe International Bridge Project: $27.7 million (plus+ $25.7 million)

Key messages

The GHIB project is a public-private partnership led by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA).

The GHIB is expected to open in November 2024 and to alleviate pressures within the Windsor-Detroit Gateway, the busiest traffic corridor between Canada and the United States.

The CBSA is responsible for providing integrated border services at the new Canadian port of entry (POE), once it is open. This includes ensuring that sufficient resources and equipment are in place to support national security and public safety priorities, while facilitating the free flow of legitimate persons and goods, including animals and plants.

In 2017, the CBSA received $13.4 million in funding over five years to establish the CBSA GHIB Project Management Office and to define and initiate the Agency's resourcing strategy for the GHIB.

An additional $8.6 million was requested through the Supplementary Estimates (A), 2021 to 2022 for frontline officers, equipment maintenance, and internal services staff to support an increased workforce within the Southern Ontario Region.

The CBSA is requesting $27.7 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 to support this project.

As WDBA is the responsible authority for the delivery of the bridge, the CBSA is subject to their schedule in the planning and delivery of staff and equipment for the GHIB port of entry.

Initiative funding 6: Employee Benefit Plan (Statutory): $212.4 million (plus+ $21.8 million)

Key messages

The Employee Benefit Plan (EPB) include the costs of 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 for all new initiatives in the estimates must be calculated at 27% of salary, based on Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) instructions.

In finalizing the Main Estimates, TBS generates a technical adjustment to bring the final EBP amount in line with the established rate for that year. This year's rate is 15.0% compared to last year's rate of 14.8%.

As a result of this technical adjustment, the CBSA is requesting an additional $21.8 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 compared to the Main Estimates, 2021 to 2022.

Initiative funding 7: 2021 to 2023 Immigration Levels Plan (Permanent Residents): $10.5 million (plus+ $10.5 million)

Key messages

The 2020 Fall Economic Statement announced $48.3 million over five years, starting in 2021 to 2022 and $9.7 million per year on an ongoing basis to support the management and operation of ports of entry functions (including screening of applicants and enforcement of arrests, detentions and removal orders and process permanent resident admission targets.

The CBSA is requesting $10.5 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 to support the Agency's role in administering and enforcing Canada's immigration programs.

This funding request is commensurate to the incremental increase in permanent resident admissions, beyond the volume approved in the 2021 to 2023 Immigration Levels Plan.

Initiative funding 8: Centralization of Government-Wide Information Technology Operations (transfer to SSC): minus− $14.0 million (minus− $14.0 million)

Key messages

Budget 2021 approved contributions from all federal organizations, including the CBSA, for the Shared Services Canada (SSC) Enterprise Service Model (ESM).

Funding for certain enterprise services will facilitate lead to simplified business processes, better and more efficient IT service delivery, and improved financial predictability.

The CBSA is transferring $14 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 as part of this initiative.

Initiative funding 9: National Immigration Detention Framework: $8.7 million (minus− $8.9 million)

Key messages

Immigration detention is governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its regulations. When CBSA officers have reasonable grounds to believe that an individual is inadmissible to Canada and is either a danger to the public, a flight risk, or unable to provide valid and acceptable identification, the officer can arrest and detain them to complete further examination. Detention is used only as a measure of last resort.

Implementation of the 2016 National Immigration Detention Framework improved the system by:

• expanding alternatives to detention
• significantly improving conditions in holding centres
• providing better medical and mental health services
• reducing reliance on provincial facilities
• strengthening partnerships with partners
• strengthening transparency through systemic publication of detention program statistics

In 2018 to 2019, the CBSA reprofiled $26.9 million to future years to complete the construction of new Immigration Holding Centres (IHC) in British Columbia and Quebec.

Funding associated with the British Columbia IHC was reprofiled to 2019 to 2020 to enable closure of the existing IHC once the new facility was ready. The new facility became operational in March 2020.

Funding associated with the Quebec Immigration Holding Centre was reprofiled to 2021 to 2022 for the same reason. Construction was originally forecast to begin in the fall of 2018 with an occupancy date of March 2020.

Construction began in the summer of 2019 and has since finished, with projected occupancy in the winter of 2022. The extended timeline was caused by a delay in securing a final site placement decision in 2016 to 2017, and by the finalization of architectural design.

The CBSA is requesting $8.7 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 in support of the Immigration Detention Program. The decrease of $8.9 million compared to the Main Estimates, 2021 to 2022 is attributable to the updated timelines for implementation of the National Immigration Detention Framework.

Initiative funding 10: Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis: $0 million (minus− $8.4 million)

Key messages

Health Canada led the creation of the Federal Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis.

As part of this initiative, the CBSA increased traveller awareness, introduced a new mandatory question at primary inspection lines, developed a new regulatory contravention related to the cross-border movement of cannabis, and began to provide the necessary scientific analysis of suspected cannabis products.

The CBSA is not requesting any funding in support of this initiative as part of the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023, as the initiative sunset in 2021 to 2022.

Initiative funding 11: Postal Modernization Initiative: $0 million (minus− $8.3 million)

Key messages

The Postal Modernization Initiative (PMI) was undertaken to update and streamline processing of postal imports at the CBSA's Mail Centres in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

Upgrades were made to both infrastructure and IT systems that will allow the Agency to address operational inefficiencies and improve risk management capabilities by interdicting contraband and collecting duties and taxes in the postal mode.

The PMI was implemented in parallel to the Canada Post Corporation's own Postal Transformation Project, which allowed the CBSA to resolve operational deficiencies in the short-term and generate benefits through immediate and sustained savings.

The CBSA is not requesting any funding in support of this initiative as part of the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023, as the initiative is sunsetting.

Initiative funding 12: Reduction in Travel Allotments (Budget 2021): minus− $6.6 million (minus− $6.6 million)

Key messages

Budget 2021 proposed a reduction to organizations' operating budgets for travel, resulting in a combined savings of $1.1 billion over 5 years.

For the CBSA, this means a reduction in authorities of $6.6 million per year, starting in 2021 to 2022.

These travel savings will offset various increased costs and requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those related to upgrading government information technology systems.

Initiative funding 13: Passenger Protect Program: $10.3 million (minus− $5.7 million)

Key messages

To support Canada's national security framework, CBSA is working with Public Safety Canada (PS) and Transport Canada (TC) to enhance the Passenger Protect Program (PPP) by bringing the screening of inbound, outbound, and domestic air travellers against the Secure Air Travel Act (SATA) list (sometimes called the "No Fly List") under government control.

In 2020 to 2021, the Agency made a reprofile request to move unused project funding to later years. This was because of funding efficiencies found during the planning phase of the project and because the delivery of all air carrier compliance information technology (IT) components was delayed to 2021 to 2022.

Overall project expenditure authorities remain sufficient to deliver the project. The funding reprofile request was made to support the delivery of remaining IT components and the development of IT enhancements that would improve the reliability and availability of the Centralized Screening solution. The reprofile request in 2020 to 2021 also supported the extended effort to onboard air carriers who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CBSA is requesting $10.3 million in the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 for this initiative. The decrease of $5.7 million compared to the Main Estimates, 2021 to 2022 is attributable to the expiry of initial project funding and to the fact that most information technology components have been delivered.

Compensation adjustments: $107.5 million

Table note: Numbers may differ due to rounding.

Program integrity funding to support the CBSA's operations: $95 million

Table note: Numbers may differ due to rounding.

Activity 1: BSO funding and collective agreement increases

The funding supports maintaining current BSO numbers for border management and intelligence and enforcement activities at levels that will effectively stabilize the Agency's future fiscal planning. This activity also includes costs from unfunded increases to BSO FB group collective agreements.

A stable baseline of funding is a prerequisite to the Agency's ability to continue employment for our current Border Services Officers (BSOs), to meet border wait time performance, to sustain core operations and achieve efficiency savings, and to continue implementing the functional management model. Funding this on-going liability allows the Agency to stabilize its budgets through more predictable forecasting and inputs to departmental multi-year business plans.

Activity 2: SSC fiscal dividend

Budget 2018 mandated all departments to pay a fiscal dividend to support SSC funding. CBSA is complying with this Central Agency commitment as it recognizes the increasing importance of information technology (IT) infrastructure in delivering border management and enforcement. This incremental funding will offset SSC's additional costs as owner and operator of the Agency's IT mainframe, which is provided to the CBSA on a leased-capacity basis.

Activity 3: Incremental costs for guard contracts

Detention programs are facing growing funding requirements principally tied to a 12% increase in per diem rates for guards employed under existing contracts. Contracted security guards provide day-to-day care and control of immigration detainees, as well as their transportation and confirmation of departure from Canada.

Reprofiled funding (various initiatives): $60.2 million

Funding to modernize Canada's border infrastructure: $35.2 million

Table note: Numbers may differ due to rounding.

Activity 1: CBSA project oversight

Funding for CBSA oversight, project planning, and implementation, including internal services.

Activity 2: Other government department project oversight

Funding for enabling partners (Public Services and Procurement Canada, Shared Services Canada, and Canada Revenue Agency) to support procurement agent and project delivery.

Activity 3: Project delivery

Funding for capital project planning and implementation costs, including design, construction, and contingency costs.

Funding for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project: $27.7 million

Table note: Numbers may differ due to rounding.

Activity 1: Project management and oversight

Funding for CBSA oversight, project planning, and implementation in support of the GHIB project.

Activity 2: Operational readiness

Funding to recruit, train and develop Border Services Officers and staff to operate the POE to forecasted volumes.

Activity 3: Infrastructure management

Funding for fit-up of the POE (furniture, fixtures and equipment, information technology, FS-LSI, and contingency).

Adjustments to the Employee Benefit Plan: $21.8 million

Funding for the 2021 to 2023 Immigration Levels Plan: $10.5 million

Table note: Numbers may differ due to rounding.

Activity 1: Intelligence and enforcement

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the CBSA is responsible for pursuing enforcement action against permanent residents who are inadmissible to Canada. The Agency 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 determine that the person is inadmissible to Canada for failing to comply with residency obligations or for other reasons. In such cases, an officer would take necessary enforcement actions (up to and including effecting removal from Canada).

Activity 2: Port of entry processing

Arrival activities include secondary examination of permanent resident visa-holders, incorporating identity verification, confirming eligibility and admissibility information; systems checks and updates, conferring of permanent resident, and examining and processing of settlers' effects, including goods to follow.

When undertaking a secondary examination while processing a foreign national permanent resident visa-holder at a port of entry, the Border Services Officer (BSO) is responsible for:

• verifying the person's identity, including biometric verification (the latter commenced July 2018)
• confirming that the information on their permanent resident visa is correct
• establishing that the applicant complies with all entry requirements and is admissible to Canada
• confirming that the applicant's marital, common-law, or family status has not changed since their visa was issued
• confirming 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
• completing the Confirmation of Permanent Residence document and ensuring the photo meets the specifications outlined by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• imposing and explaining any appropriate conditions
• welcoming the new permanent resident to Canada
• providing them information about programs and services available to facilitate integration into Canadian society

Activity 3: Enabling costs

Enabling costs include one resource for the Strategic Policy Branch engaged in policy analysis, development, and coordination activities as they relate to the ongoing multi-year immigration levels planning activities. They also include Force Generation costs, which consist of recruitment, in-residence training, in-field probationary development of new Border Services Officers attending the CBSA College, and maintenance of required skills in the field. The CBSA is requesting funding to sustain an incremental increase of BSOs and other Force Generation activities, including:

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

Activity 4: Internal services (corporate cost)

Funding is required for CBSA's corporate support to:

• enable effective operational and program outcomes via human resources, finance, audit and evaluation, communications, and access to information and privacy corporate support
• provide appropriate management oversight, stewardship, and governance
• account for accommodation charges where the CBSA is the owner of buildings where the employees will be working (in other words, a custodial Port of Entry)

Centralization of Government-Wide Information Technology Operations: $14.0 million

Activity 1: IT services and mobile telephony services

IT Services include Internal Credential Management (ICM), conferencing (web and audio), email, bulk print, software and hardware provisioning, fixed telephony, data centre facilities, mainframe, and video conferencing maintenance.

Mobile Telephony Services include device refresh costs for cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and modems, as well as ongoing voice, text, and data plans.

National Immigration Detention Framework: $8.7 million

Table note: Numbers may not balance due to rounding.