We have archived this page on the web

The information was accurate at the time of publishing but may no longer reflect the current state at the Canada Border Services Agency. It is not subject to the Government of Canada web standards.

Archived

We have archived this page on the web.

Ministerial transition 2019: Minister's book
Current issues

Document navigation for Ministerial transition 2019

Opioids

The opioid crisis continues to pose a serious threat to the safety and security of Canadians. The growing number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths is a national public health crisis. The CBSA is a major contributor to the government's efforts to stem the illicit flow of fentanyl, and its related substances, at the border.

In response to the opioid crisis, a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach led by Health Canada is being taken to address the issue. Some of the key steps taken by the CBSA to combat the crisis include:

In , regulatory amendments came into effect to allow certain law enforcement agencies, including the CBSA, to interdict precursor chemicals from being imported into Canada and then used to make fentanyl and amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and ecstasy. Controlling these chemicals will help to reduce the contamination of the illegal drug supply with highly toxic substances, ultimately helping to save lives.

The Agency continues its efforts to combat the smuggling of toxic substances and decrease the risk of harmful opioids going undetected and entering Canada. In 2017 to 2018, there were 386 opioid and opioid-related seizures made by the CBSA at the border.

Firearms and organized crime

Federal, provincial and territorial collaboration is taking place across Canada to support community-level prevention and enforcement efforts; build and leverage unique federal expertise and resources to advance intelligence related to the illegal trafficking of firearms; and invest in border security to interdict illicit goods including guns and drugs.

Firearms and weapons are high-risk commodities and their interdiction is a CBSA enforcement priority. CBSA officers are the first line of defence in protecting Canadians from illegal weapons and other contraband. The CBSA works closely with both its domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure the protection and safety of Canadians.

The CBSA is responsible for enforcing existing firearms laws at the border and protects Canadians by ensuring that import laws are respected. Its officers are responsible for ensuring that travellers and goods entering Canada comply with the various laws that prohibit, control or regulate the importation of goods into Canada.

The CBSA has undertaken a number of key activities to combat gun and gang violence. These activities include enhancing air cargo security, deploying more detector dog teams, increasing detection for illicit guns in international postal centres, automating CBSA's Interpol interface, and designing a national training program for vehicle examination.

The CBSA is also investing in an all-weather detector dog training facility, deploying new dog teams at key highway crossings, expanding x-ray technology at postal centres and air cargo facilities, and providing training on the detection of concealed goods in vehicles crossing our borders.

In 2018 to 2019, the increase in law enforcement support, intelligence-sharing, and interdictions of smuggled firearms led to an increase in firearm seizures, totalling 696 seizures of firearms by the CBSA, an increase of over 22% from the overall number of firearms seizures in 2011 to 2012. In , the Government announced $51.5M over 5 years for investments in an all-weather detector dog training facility, new dog teams at key highway crossings, expanded x-ray technology at postal centers and air cargo facilities, and enhanced training on the detection of concealed goods in vehicles crossing Canada's borders.

Going forward, the CBSA will continue to roll out its key activities to support the Government of Canada's commitment to help reduce gun and gang violence in Canada.

Irregular migration

Border security and integrity is a shared mandate between the CBSA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The CBSA is responsible for enforcement at designated ports of entry (POEs) in Canada, while the RCMP is responsible for enforcement between POEs. Likewise, preserving the integrity of the immigration system is a shared mandate between the CBSA and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Together, the CBSA and IRCC administer the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which governs both the admissibility of people into Canada, and the identification, detention and removal of those deemed to be inadmissible under the Act.

Individuals seeking entry into Canada may make an asylum claim at any designated CBSA POE or inland, at an IRCC office, regardless of whether they entered at a designated POE or not. When individuals enter Canada and make an asylum claim in-land, rather than at the POE, they are considered to have migrated "irregularly".

While Canada is not the only country experiencing a surge in asylum claims over the past few years, its asylum system has faced unprecedented pressures. In 2017, Canada received a historic high of over 50,000 refugee claims, with 55% of claims being made by individuals who crossed into Canada in between POEs. In 2018, this increased to over 55,000 claims, with over 19,000 claimants entering irregularly between ports of entry. While the volumes of irregular migrants remained high in 2018, 60% of all asylum claims were made at POEs. This trend has remained steady in 2019.

Through the Border Enforcement Strategy announced in Budget 2019, a whole-of-government approach is being taken to:

Individuals claiming asylum in Canada have the right to due process under the law, and their claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

African swine fever

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs that is spreading throughout Asia and Europe. Although ASF poses no risk to human health, if introduced to Canada, the disease would have severe consequences on Canada's $24 billion pork industry, which is 70% dependent on exports, as severe strains kill 100% of infected pigs.

Transmission of the virus to pigs can occur through uncooked meat, animal products and by-products, and contact with infected animals on farms with inadequate biosecurity controls. Travellers who have been on a farm abroad may also introduce the disease via contaminated clothing and/or footwear.

The CBSA is responsible for administering and enforcing the relevant acts, regulations and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) policies as they apply at the border, including screening travellers for inadmissible food, plant and animal (FPA) products and ensuring commercial shipments are released, refused, or referred for CFIA inspection.

The CBSA works closely with the CFIA and industry representatives to ensure goods that pose a threat of spreading the disease to Canada are interdicted at the border. The CBSA:

In fall 2018, industry members requested that the government implement measures to prevent ASF from entering Canada, including the implementation of more aggressive border controls on any product from ASF-affected countries. In addition to the Agency's efforts mentioned above, the CBSA is currently in the process of acquiring, training, and deploying 24 new FPA detector dog teams over the next 2 years, which are the Agency's best tool for intercepting undeclared FPA products.

Border crossing issues for Indigenous Peoples

Historically, the creation of Canada's borders physically divided many Indigenous Nations and their traditional lands. As such, Indigenous Peoples in Canada have long expressed concerns regarding their sovereign right and challenges crossing the Canada-United States (U.S.) border, which impact traditional practices, economic opportunities and familial and cultural ties.

The Government of Canada is on a reconciliation journey anchored in the findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Report and its Calls to Action. In Canada, reconciliation encompasses all aspects of accepting our shared past, acknowledging the impacts of that past and focusing on how to address and advance Indigenous interests and perspectives in Canada.

In , a Minister's Special Representative (MSR) was appointed to examine First Nations border crossing issues. The MSR's report on First Nation Border Crossing Issues was presented in and made recommendations under 7 distinct themes, directly implicating the CBSA in 3:

In , near-term measures were announced by the government that included recruitment strategies for Indigenous Border Services Officers (BSOs), enhanced cultural training for CBSA staff, and increased outreach and cooperation by CBSA with First Nations. In 2018, the joint CBSA-Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Design Thinking Initiative was launched to work in partnership on a joint strategy on how to best address the unique and complex border challenges in the Cornwall-Akwesasne area.

The mobility rights of Indigenous Peoples are a complex, multi-faceted domain, with various federal departments responsible for legislative regimes that impact different aspects of Indigenous mobility and the enforcement thereof. Recognizing their unique circumstances, a number of federal partners are working collaboratively with concerned Indigenous Nations and individual communities to identify and advance solutions.

At the CBSA, work to address Indigenous Peoples' border crossing issues is stewarded by an Indigenous Affairs Secretariat (IAS), a dedicated, permanent body formed in 2018 to provide knowledgeable, mindful and effective capacity regarding Indigenous matters, and to guide the CBSA's work on reconciliation. The CBSA has also put in place a framework and strategy to examine, and improve policies, operations and engagement with the Indigenous communities.

The Agency will continue to make operational changes within its purview to improve the border crossing experience for Indigenous Peoples, including enhanced cultural awareness training and expanded efforts to recruit and retain more Indigenous BSOs.

Environmental sustainability

The CBSA is currently updating its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) to align with the environmental goals outlined in the 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). The DSDS will act as a guiding document for the CBSA's sustainability endeavours with respect to energy efficiency, climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, environmental compliance programming, and border enforcement measures to prevent invasive species from entering the country.

A key component of both the FSDS and the DSDS is the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2006 levels by 40% by 2030, and by 80% by 2050.

As reported in the CBSA's 2018 to 2019 Departmental Results Report, the Agency has made some progress overall on its environmental sustainability measures.

The CBSA fleet consists of 1,050 motor vehicles and accounts for 30% of the Agency's total greenhouse gas emissions. The Agency has replaced 43 of its vehicles with hybrid electric models over the past 2 years, which has resulted in an 8.3% reduction in fleet emissions over the same period. It should be noted that the CBSA has replaced all general administration vehicles within the fleet with hybrid electric versions in the past 2 years, surpassing the Treasury Board requirement of 75% fleet replacement for general administration vehicles.

While this reduction has been offset by an overall 12% increase in emissions emanating from CBSA facilities as a result of increased volumes at the border, the CBSA was nonetheless able to concurrently reduce the emissions intensity per square metre at its facilities by 29.9% through energy efficiency measures.

The CBSA is committed to meeting the challenges of the green economy and will continue efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

Document navigation for Ministerial transition 2019

Date modified: