2020-21 Departmental Plan
Supplementary Information Tables

Project name

CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)

Description

CARM is a multi-year initiative to modernize and optimize the CBSA’s commercial assessment and revenue collection processes and systems. When fully implemented, CARM will provide:

• New and streamlined ways for commercial trade chain partners to interact with the CBSA
• A modernized financial management regime focused on providing self-serve, client-based services and processes.

The CBSA collects over $30 billion in duties and taxes from importers each year. Ensuring the accurate and efficient assessment, collection and reporting of this revenue is key to ensuring that the CBSA upholds its financial stewardship responsibilities.

By simplifying the processes associated with the assessment and collection of duties and taxes for commercial clients, compliance with trade-related rules and regulations will also improve for commercial clients. Ultimately, doing business in Canada will be easier with the implementation of CARM.

Project outcomes

The transformation of the CBSA’s assessment and revenue management functions through CARM is intended to produce the following business outcomes:

• Reducing administrative burden for Canadian importers and other trade chain partners, streamlining trade, and shifting Canada’s global trade enablement ranking, thereby improving Canadian economic competitiveness and meeting stakeholder expectations
• Increasing the Government’s revenues by enabling improved fairness and consistency in the treatment of all imports, reducing missed opportunities to apply taxes and/or duties, and increasing revenues once complete
• Improving CBSA efficiency by enhancing services and reducing administrative overhead. A reduced internal administrative burden will improve service delivery efficiency while also increasing levels of service and improving CBSA capacity to support open government and improved trade-related reporting

Industrial benefits

The CARM project will benefit commercial trade chain partners and Canadian businesses by:

• Reducing barriers that limit trade and commerce, including reducing the administrative burden on small and medium enterprises:
  • Increasing digitization of processes for submitting and tracking trade information and payments
  • Introducing electronic options for payment of duties and taxes
  • Providing the ability to enroll and register for programs, obtain information, view financial transactions (e.g., assessment and credits), and manage account information online through a secure portal;
  • Harmonizing the collection and dissemination of trade information;
  • Reducing duplication in submission of trade information.
• Establishing new and improved service delivery options and new service performance standards:
  • implementing client-based accounting processes that improve the range and responsiveness of services provided by the CBSA to commercial clients
  • ensuring a level playing field for all trade chain partners by improving the accuracy and timeliness of processes and data, enabling consistent and transparent assessment and collection of revenues for all trade chain partners nationwide
  • ensuring business continuity and availability of systems by replacing outdated systems with modern, integrated applications and platforms.
• Supporting forecasting and decision-making by increasing digitization of processes for submitting and tracking trade information and payments, and enabling more frequent reporting on a greater number of metrics.

Sponsoring department

Canada Border Services Agency

Contracting authority

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Participating departments

Public Services and Procurement Canada
Shared Services Canada
Treasury Board Secretariat
Canada Revenue Agency

Prime contractor

Deloitte Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Major subcontractors

Accenture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Project phase

CARM Phase 1 was completed with the implementation of the Accounts Receivable Ledger (ARL) in January 2016.

CARM Phase 2 – Planning Phase (Design Stage) was completed on schedule within scope and budget on March 31, 2019. The Implementation Stage began on April 1, 2019. CARM is expected to be fully implemented by July 31, 2021.

Major milestones

Accomplished:

• May 2014: CARM Smart Procurement Start (Industry Day)
• January 2015: CARM Phase 1 ARL Contract Award
• January 2016: CARM Phase 1 ARL Implemented
• June 2017: CARM Smart Procurement Proposals Received
• November 2017: Treasury Board Approval for Design Stage of CARM
• February 2018: CARM Smart Procurement End (Contract Award)
• March 2018: CARM Vendor Onboard and Design Stage Start
• March 2019: CARM Design Stage completed
• March 2019: Formal Treasury Board approval and authority to proceed with the remainder of the CARM project

Planned:

• CARM capabilities are being deployed over three releases, balancing risk, change burden and earliest achievement of benefits
• CARM is expected to be fully implemented by July 2021.

Progress report and explanation of variances

CARM is a key priority for the CBSA and is being managed through a dedicated Vice-President and Branch working closely with industry and the system integrator.

In March 2019, CARM received Treasury Board approval to complete the remaining stages of the project, granting the authorities to shift from design to implementation and eventually onto managed services.

CARM is scheduled to be completed by July 2021 within scope and within its approved project authority.