Supporting materials: Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities: Reducing Red Tape and Costs on Rural and Urban Canadian Airports (June 16, 2022)

Issue notes

ArriveCan and border management

Proposed response

The Government is committed to protecting Canada’s borders and to helping travellers remain safe, which is paramount in the context of the global pandemic.

Technology, such as the ArriveCAN app, has and will be instrumental in protecting the health and safety of travellers as well as expediting processing at the border.

The ArriveCAN app and website do not collect any geo-location data related to users and only retain the information that is provided by the traveller. This information is used for health screening purposes at the border, including allowing public health officials to determine the need for quarantine or isolation.

ArriveCAN was built using privacy-first principles, and the CBSA will continue to respect the principles of the Privacy Act as it modernizes its processes.

The CBSA will continue to use the ArriveCAN tool to implement traveller modernization initiatives at the border. For example, the Advance CBSA Declaration feature within ArriveCAN Online allows travellers arriving at Vancouver International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport to prepare their customs and immigration declaration before they arrive, saving them time at the border. The feature, currently available on the Web version of ArriveCAN, will be made available on the mobile application soon, and rolled out to international airports across Canada. The Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN is not mandatory.

The CBSA is committed to working with the Privacy Commissioner and other stakeholders to develop rigorous standards and governance that will protect the privacy of Canadians while continuing to modernize the management of Canada’s borders.

The web version of ArriveCAN offers travellers access to a platform that meets the Government of Canada's accessibility requirements. It supports the use of screen readers and magnifiers. The CBSA and PHAC are committed to continue improving the accessibility of the ArriveCAN mobile application on a regular basis towards meeting international guidelines.

Background

In the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has taken measures to close borders and drastically reduce international travel, in addition to many other heightened public safety measures. With the introduction of requirements for travellers to provide contact details and information on their plans for quarantine, the CBSA observed longer border processing times since modern tools were not used to collect and analyze information submitted by stakeholders.

To support the administration and enforcement of the Quarantine Act and Emergency Orders made under it, CBSA and PHAC developed ArriveCAN, an integrated digital solution that enables real-time collection of information prior to arrival at Canadian Ports of Entry (POE) for all incoming travellers. ArriveCAN enables travellers to provide their information digitally as required by law under the Quarantine Act, to support compliance and enforcement, as well as public health measures.

ArriveCAN first launched in April 2020 and is available as a mobile app on the Apple App and Google Play stores or by signing in online at Canada.ca/ArriveCAN.

In November 2020, it became mandatory for air travellers to submit their information digitally in advance (in other words, before boarding the aircraft to Canada) via ArriveCAN. In February 2021, use of ArriveCAN became mandatory in the other modes (for example, land, marine).

Currently, all travellers, with limited exceptions, whether entering Canada by air, land, rail or marine vessel, must use ArriveCAN to submit their information within 72 hours before arrival to Canada, unless exempted from this requirement due to an accessibility need.

Travellers who do not submit their information through ArriveCAN may be denied boarding if arriving by air and may be denied entry into Canada if crossing at a land, rail or marine border crossing (if the person is a foreign national travelling for discretionary purposes).

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act and foreign nationals eligible to enter Canada under another entry exemption will not be denied boarding or entry, but:

• won't be eligible for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption
• may face additional delays at the border for public health questioning
• may be subject to fines or enforcement action

Once in Canada, requirements to quarantine and provide symptom information will differ depending on the traveller’s vaccination status as confirmed at the time of entry to Canada.

Information provided through ArriveCAN is shared with provinces and territories and law enforcement agencies for public health follow-up and to verify compliance with the Quarantine Act. ArriveCAN is part of a broader suite of activities and tools supporting Canada’s evolving border policies through COVID-19.

ArriveCAN has had consistently high ratings in the mobile app stores and as of April 24, 2022, has been downloaded more than 10 million times. ArriveCAN has also been built with accessibility needs in mind.

With the increase of vaccination rates and the opening of the border, the flow of international travel is expected to eventually return to pre-pandemic levels. When that happens, it will be important that the CBSA has processes in place to support passenger flow while minimizing any virus transmission that can occur from routine actions, such as exchanging a travel document.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA and airport authorities identified a need to bolster public confidence in air travel by introducing innovative traveller processing solutions which reduce potential disease transmission points and create efficiencies in the travel continuum.

As a result, the CBSA has developed a new initiative (Advance CBSA Declaration) which leverages the success of the ArriveCAN application and the significant investment made in Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK), which are a key pillar of the Agency’s border processing.

Advance CBSA Declaration was launched at the Vancouver International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport in September 2021 and December 2021, respectively. This feature is available on the ArriveCAN website and allows travellers to prepare their customs and immigration declaration and transmit it to the Agency electronically up to 72 hours in advance of arrival in Canada. Use of the Advance CBSA Declaration is voluntary. Travellers are provided the option of using this service following submission of mandatory public health information through the ArriveCAN website. Should a traveller decline to leverage this new tool, they will be subject to conventional processing.

These pilots have demonstrated time savings benefits for both the CBSA and travellers (up to 50% reduction in processing times at PIKs). The Agency is planning to deploy the functionality to an additional eight (8) airports in the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, as well as integrate Advance CBSA Declaration within the ArriveCAN app.

COVID-19 Regulations as of May 31

The following measures that are in force as of May 31 for travellers entering Canada

All travellers

Mandatory digital submission of Public Health Information prior to entry into Canada via ArriveCAN

Fully vaccinated

• Right of Entry and Foreign National – No pre-arrival test required
• Subject to Mandatory Random Testing:

  4600 tests daily, 3800 air (4 largest airports) and 800 land (large volume POEs only)

• No longer required for fully vaccinated travellers to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• No longer required to isolate if they have travelled with a person who subsequently exhibits signs or symptoms or receives a positive result
• Exempt from providing a quarantine plan as part of their ArriveCAN submission
• Must provide their contact information in ArriveCAN

Unvaccinated travellers

• Foreign nationals - Prohibition from entering with limited exemptions
• Right of Entry – Required to provide pre-arrival test, test on day 1 and day 8 and quarantine for 14 days upon entry
• Must submit a quarantine plan as part of their ArriveCAN submission

Unvaccinated children under 5

• Foreign nationals- less than 18 years of age eligible to enter Canada
  • with a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor, or
  • to be with an immediate or extended family member or
• Exempted from Pre-Arrival test
• Exempted from day 1 and day 8 testing requirement
• Exempted from quarantine
• Exempted from Mandatory Random Testing requirement

Unvaccinated children 5 to 11

• Foreign nationals- less than 18 years of age eligible to enter Canada
  • with a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor, or
  • to be with an immediate or extended family member, or
  • to attend a Designated Learning Institution with a COVID-readiness plan
• Unvaccinated children under to 12 subject to Mandatory Random Testing
• Unvaccinated children under 12 entering with their parents/step-parent/guardian or tutor, are exempt from having a quarantine plan
• Unvaccinated children under 12 when accompanied by fully vaccinated parents/step-parent/guardians or tutor are exempt from a pre-arrival testing
• Unvaccinated children between 5 and 11, entering to be with an Immediate or Extended family member or to attend a Designated learning Institution
  • Must have a pre-arrival test
  • Must quarantine for 14 days
  • Must test on arrival and day 8

Unvaccinated children 12 to 17

• Foreign nationals- less than 18 years of are eligible to enter Canada
  • with a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor, or
  • to be with an immediate or extended family member, or
  • to attend a listed institution (DLI with COVID readiness plan)
• Required to have a pre-arrival testing requirement
• Required to quarantine for 14 days
• Required to test on arrival and day 8

Persons with a medical contraindication

• Foreign nationals – eligible to enter if they have a letter from a medical practitioner indicating their medical contraindication to vaccination
• Right of entry and Foreign National – required to have a pre-arrival test
• Are required to test on arrival and on day 8
• Are exempt from quarantine, with conditions

National Interest Exemptions for land based travellers

• CBP officers who are unvaccinated or who failed to submit ArriveCAN who are transiting Canada to get to their place of employment in the US (renewed May 31)
• Crew members, entering by land, who failed to submit ArriveCAN (renewed May 31)
• Non-discretionary travel between Alaska and mainland US (renewed May 31)
• “Mulligan” NIE to decouple ArriveCAN completion from being fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated travellers can benefit from being considered fully vaccinated despite not completing ArriveCAN the first time they enter after issuance (signed May 24)

NEXUS application backlog

Proposed response

The NEXUS program is jointly administered by Canada and the United States (US). As such, all decisions are taken in a binational manner.

NEXUS enrolment centres reopened in the United States on April 19, 2022. Canadian citizens can now book an interview at the nearest US centre.

Due to the extended closure of the NEXUS enrolment centres, there is a significant backlog to tackle. The CBSA and US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) are working together on a backlog reduction strategy.

The CBSA and the US CBP have extended the NEXUS membership period for all those who have renewed their membership prior to the expiry date on their card.

Canada and the US remain in discussions regarding the reopening of centres located in Canada that were closed as a result of COVID.

Until decisions are finalized regarding the reopening, those in Canada will remain closed.

We will advise the public once a decision to reopen Canadian Enrolment Centres has been rendered.

Background

NEXUS program

NEXUS is a bi-national, Canada-United States program for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada or the United States at designated air, land and marine ports of entry.

The program is jointly operated by the Canada Border Services Agency and United States Customs and Border Protection.

Closure of Canadian enrolment centres

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NEXUS enrolment centres (ECs) in Canada closed in March 19, 2020, and ECs in the US suspended NEXUS interviews at that time as well.

ECs in the US resumed NEXUS interviews on November 29, 2021, but had to suspend them again on December 20, 2021 due to the Omicron variant and the resulting requirement for travellers to be tested for COVID before returning to Canada.

ECs in the US resumed NEXUS interviews again on April 19, 2022.

As the NEXUS program is jointly administered by Canada and the US, there are ongoing discussions about the timing of the reopening of Canadian enrolment centres. Until that time, enrolment centres in Canada will continue to be closed.

The CBSA and CBP have received multiple complaints about Canadian ECs not reopening. This matter has also received media attention.

Due to the extended closure of NEXUS ECs, there is currently a backlog of more than 295,493 NEXUS applicants waiting for an interview.

The CBSA and CBP are currently working on a backlog reduction strategy.

The closure of NEXUS ECs throughout the pandemic has caused a high demand for interviews. As such, interview appointments may only be available months from now. Interview availability depends on interview location, as some ECs have longer wait times than others.

There are currently 12 NEXUS ECs conducting interviews in the US. An additional 11 NEXUS ECs are located in Canada, which remain closed for the moment. Refer to lists below.

Highway enrolment centre

• Blaine / Pacific Highway
• Calais / St. Stephen
• Champlain / Lacolle
• Derby Line / Stanstead
• Detroit / Windsor
• Fort Erie / Buffalo (Canadian location)
• Fort Frances / International Falls
• Lansdowne (Canadian location)
• Niagara Falls
• Pembina / Emerson
• Port Huron / Sarnia
• Sault Ste. Marie
• Sweetgrass / Coutts
• Warroad / Sprague
• Woodstock (Canadian location)

Air enrolment centre

• Calgary International Airport
• Edmonton International Airport
• Halifax International Airport
• Montreal International Airport
• Ottawa International Airport
• Toronto International Airport
• Vancouver International Airport
• Winnipeg International Airport

Cost recovery and tier service

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) provides clearance, control and examination services, on behalf of other government departments and agencies, for travellers, importers and exporters, at close to 1,200 points of entry (POE), including land border offices, international mail processing centres, airports, sufferance warehouses, and a number of other service locations.

On occasion, the CBSA is required to amend the service(s) offered at a POE as a result of a change in traffic and passenger volumes, because of risk or in order to meet operational demands. As a result, the core service request (CSR) process was developed to assist the CBSA in identifying and defining factors to be considered and to be presented for official approval for legal designation under the Customs Act. This process is a responsive approach to address and approve CSRs received from within the CBSA or on behalf of external clients to the extent possible, in a consistent manner, while taking into account regional operational requirements.

While core services are publicly funded, when the CBSA enters into an agreement to provide services on a contractual cost recovery basis, those services are funded by the client. These contractual cost recovery agreements (CRAs) are generally made with port authorities, airport authorities, cruise ship operators, airlines or municipalities. Typically, services offered under cost recovery allow both the CBSA and the client to provide services outside of core locations and core hours of operations.

The CBSA enters into approximately 200 CRAs per fiscal period that is primarily concerns the air and marine modes. For fiscal period 2019 to 2020 (pre COVID-19), the CBSA entered into 36 CRAs at 23 small regional airports for the clearance of unscheduled general aviation flights carrying less than 15 passengers.

The CBSA currently has 14 agreements at 9 small regional airports. However, it is anticipated that this number will increase in the next couple of months as CRAs are being negotiated and reviewed at airports where CBSA services have resumed following the gradual easing and rescindment of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Although services have resumed a select number of AOEs, it should be noted that there are 2 sites (Tillsonburg Airport, ON and Villeneuve Airport, AB) out of the remaining 61 small AOEs that had a CRA in place in fiscal year 2019 to 2020 and that are still affected by a temporary measure (in other words, suspension or reductions).

The Air Services Policy Framework (ASPF) has been used by the CBSA since April 1, 2009 to evaluate core service requests for new or expanded border clearance services at Canada's airports.

Airport authorities and municipalities are asked to perform a self-assessment to determine whether they may be eligible for new or expanded publicly funded border clearance services using the criteria in the ASPF. In some cases, other considerations may be explored in determining eligibility. Should the airport not meet the minimum threshold to obtain core services, then a CRA could be requested and accepted, if it is logistically and operationally feasible for the CBSA to do so.

The levels of CBSA core services at airports are broken down into four tiers. Each tier has been assigned a point range. Points are awarded using a formula-based rating on the following criteria: sustained annual international traveller volumes, access/proximity to the nearest CBSA service location, and frequency of scheduled international flights.

Key statistics

Figure 1 - Text version

Traveller Volume Comparison by Mode (2019 vs. 2022)

	Air (US, International Flights/ TRC)	Land (Truck drivers and others)
Volume of Travellers in 2019 Week of Jun 03 to Jun 09	781,716	1,158,876
Volume of Travellers in 2022 Week of May 30 to Jun 05	520,123	643,819

Figure 2 - Text version

Land Traveller Vaccination Rates May 30 to June 05, 2022

Vaccinated	Unvaccinated	Unknown Vaccination Status
94.18%	2.82%	3.01%

Figure 3 - Text version

Air Traveller Vaccination Rates May 30 to June 05, 2022

Vaccinated	Unvaccinated	Unknown Vaccination Status
88.75%	4.39%	6.86%

Commercial volume stats

Commercial truck drivers

• Commercial truck driver volumes have remained mostly consistent throughout the pandemic when compared to the pre-pandemic monthly average (Table 1)

  Monthly average in 2021 actually saw an increase (0.4%) in commercial truck volumes compared to pre-pandemic.

• Similar to volumes, average processing times for commercial truck drivers have remained stable throughout the pandemic (less than a 3 second increase per conveyance) (Table 2)
• Traveller volumes and processing times, however, have been significantly impacted:
  • Average monthly traveller conveyance volumes in the land mode have decreased between 64% to 89% when compared to the pre-pandemic monthly average (Table 3)
  • Average processing times for traveller conveyances in the land mode have more than doubled compared to the pre-pandemic monthly average (Table 4)

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4

ArriveCAN compliance rates (June 6 to 12, 2022)

• Air: 99.58%
• Land: 91.87%
• Marine: 99.06%

ArriveCAN feature releases

Figure 4 - Text version

Over 70 releases of the APP since April 2020 @ a monthly cadence.

• April 26, 2020: ArriveCAN MVP National Launch
• November 21, 2020: Mandatory Digital (Air)
• February 21, 2021: Mandatory Digital (Land)
• April/May 2021: Travel History – Submission 72 hours prior to arrival. Travel history 14 days prior to entry.
• July 2021: Proof of Vaccine (PVC) – Collection of doses, dates, manufacturer.
• October 2021: Pan-Canadian PT Issued Certificates – Verify PT certificates. Inspect photo uploads of PT certificates.
• November 2021: Saved Traveller – Exempt and non-exempt reusable receipts.
• January 2022: Cohort Exemptions – Changes to cohorts per public health measures.
• April 2022: Cruise Flow – Screens for cruise travellers. Support for US QR codes.
• May 2022: Destination Address – Added for travellers no longer subject to quarantine.
• June 2022: Advance Declaration – Advance CBSA declaration in ArriveCAN. Digitize traveller handouts.