Departmental Plan (2025 to 2026): Supplementary Information Table for Gender-based Analysis Plus

Program goals: The program supports Canadian producers from unfair foreign competition in the domestic marketplace, including the dumping and subsidizing of imported goods. A survey was developed to enable data collection for instrumental impact analysis, to facilitate inclusive service delivery, and to promote effective integration of GBA Plus considerations throughout our program and policies.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Directorate (TAPD) implemented a GBA Plus data collection strategy in the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year to enable TAPD to identify and address gaps related to gender and diversity (e.g., improve education and promotion in specific demographics such as gender, ethnicity, culture, age, language, and geographical areas where gaps have been identified). In November 2023, TAPD reviewed available data on various companies and industry sectors. The reviews led to the conclusion that data from external data sources could not be adequately substantiated to the enterprises that are served by TAPD programs. Accordingly, the external data is not sufficient evidence on which to effectively measure program impacts on gender and diversity.

The data collection plan detailed below is based largely on the implementation of a customized survey developed for the TAPD target population to provide feedback on TAPD programs associated to direct and indirect interactions. The survey was implemented in October 2024. The TAPD invited 100% of regular users of the anti-dumping program to participate, such as steel producers, represented by the Canadian Steel Producers Association, and members of other industry-based producers. While participation is voluntary, the TAPD aims to base the analysis on a response rate of 56% (a recommended sample size by statistics and market research) to be relevant. Once the data has been received and analyzed, it will be used to measure how CBSA trade programs and services communicate and interact with members of the trade community, and to identify service areas that require improvements. In turn, these efforts will contribute to the development of policies that will ensure consistency across all CBSA trade services.

The TAPD data collection plan was developed with the initial focus on the Trade Facilitation and Compliance program, which also falls under the TAPD. To optimize efficiency, the TAPD data collection tasks that are applicable to the Anti-dumping and Countervailing program will be implemented in parallel, where possible.

The TAPD plan and updates incorporating both programs are as follows:

2024-2025 - Data Collection - Notable actions taken

1. Investigate how a survey is transmitted through the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) Client Portal (CCP) and if the software can facilitate a data collection process in a future CARM release

• Status: Completed – October 2023
• Note: Another method/survey platform to distribute the survey will be investigated (see item 2)

2. Consult with CBSA Communications Branch

• Status: Completed – November 2023, partnership established where the Communications Branch identified resources to support the development of a survey to be hosted on the branch web platform

3. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service

• Status: Completed – December 2023

4. Develop survey data collection framework

• Status: Completed – December 2023

5. Submit a request to update language in the CARM CCP to align with GBA Plus considerations that will be implemented in a future CARM release

• Status: Completed – January 2024, including testing with GBA Plus Accessibility Checklist

6. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation Compliance Program and data collection framework

• Status: Completed – February 2024

7. Survey review, consultations and approval – February 2024 to September 2024

• Status: Completed – September 2024

8. Survey implementation – initially planned for May 2024, delayed to October 2024

• Status: Completed – October 2024
  Electronic dissemination (i.e. support/accompany email correspondence)

9. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement for the Departmental Results Report Supplementary Information Table – planned for June 2024, delayed, but will leverage a future opportunity to share initial results when available in FY 2024 to 2025

2025-2026 - Data Collection Plan - Actions to be taken:

10. Survey data collection – planned for June 2024 to June 2025; delayed to October 2024 to October 2025

11. TAPD will monitor results and develop program GBA Plus indicators – quarterly basis beginning in Q4 2024 to 2025 as initial indicator development will be based on results received and best practices from other Government of Canada programs collecting GBA Plus data.

12. Conduct survey analysis and produce a report with a recommended action plan – planned for November 2025

13. TAPD senior management to review and approve the GBA Plus TAPD action plan – planned for January 2026

The data collection plan will be led by two TAPD resources from the Planning, Development and Performance Unit. Additional resources will augment the effort as required by available TAPD staff.

Program goals: Evaluate how well the Buildings and Equipment program meets current standards for accessibility and inclusivity. This will ensure CBSA infrastructure barriers are identified following custodial infrastructure portfolio assessments against current accessibility standards. The program aims to impact the development of specific and measurable indicators to track program impacts on accessibility and inclusivity. This evidence-based information will guide future investments, making spaces more accessible and building an inclusive and barrier-free agency.

GBA Plus data collection plan: GBA Plus will be applied in alignment with the collection of data on accessible infrastructure as part of the Agency's multi-year Accessibility Plan. The first step as part of the Accessibility Plan is to coordinate audits of CBSA-owned infrastructure to find areas where buildings can be improved to promote accessibility and inclusivity.

The 2025 to 2026 fiscal year will be the third year of coordinating accessibility audits. Data will include measures for disability , gender and geolocation. The Buildings and Equipment program has a target of completing five to ten audits by the end of the fiscal year, pending available funding.

The Buildings and Equipment program will also be working closely with the GBA Plus CoE in the development of specific and measurable indicators that will track program impacts on accessibility.

Program goals: The program contributes to overall border management and risks associated with the free flow of commercial goods into, through, and out of Canada, ensuring consistent application of compliance methods, leveraging data analytics, and using education and industry cooperation as a means to promote fairness and facilitation. We are committed to ensuring GBA Plus principles and considerations are applied into common work practices, policies, programs, and operations through consultations with internal and external stakeholders. The program will ensure ongoing monitoring of progress to highlight successes, best practices, and to identify gaps and new priorities.

GBA Plus data collection plan: As stated in the 2023-24 Departmental Results Report GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table, program clients have indicated that the most challenging aspects of their experience with the CBSA were understanding the policies, the availability of information in both official languages, and the ability to speak to someone over the phone or in person. The goal of the program is to ensure policies are adapted using plain language and to explore potential new ways of communicating with stakeholders through audio-visual technology.

Valuable progress has been made to date. The program appointed a full-time employee to work collaboratively with the CBSA Communications and Accessibility offices, as well as the Border Information Service (BIS) team, to revise existing documents using plain language and to develop a communication strategy to include GBA Plus considerations encompassing the wide range of stakeholder demographics.

In September 2024, the program consulted with BIS colleagues in Winnipeg and Montreal who provided a list of numerous D-memoranda, web links, customs notices, and information within the Customs Tariff that can be difficult to understand or require review and revision to ensure inclusivity of GBA Plus intersecting demographics. The program will work to determine ways to address issues presented. A joint collaboration is currently underway between the program and the Policy Management Division.

The program also engaged with the Communication Services Division to discuss the creation of different ways of communicating with all CBSA stakeholders such as the development of step-by-step instruction tools. The first meeting occurred in October 2024. It is expected that by December 2024, the program will have determined the feasibility of the proposal.

To address the concerns raised by surveyed members located in rural areas, who indicated that their location negatively affects their access to services due to the current requirement to submit paper requests in person, the program confirms that 103 CBSA offices nationwide have voluntarily allowed electronic submission of requests. This represents an increase of one CBSA office since June 2024. While we do not anticipate a significant rise in this number as the tool is offered voluntarily to regions, the CBSA remains committed to supporting the expansion and deployment of Electronic Longroom services across Canada.

Planned actions include:

October - December 2024:

• Meet with the Communication Services Division to collaborate on communication strategies from a GBA Plus lens;
  • Review the program's policies and look how we can reduce issues of understanding
  • Conduct an analysis to determine the feasibility of the proposal
• Pursue engagement with the Accessibility Office to establish a plan that aligns with the CBSA Accessibility Plan

January - April 2025:

• Consult with the BIS team on creating scripts and scenarios for the BIS to ensure their ability to provide clear, accurate and consistent responses for frequent issues that are encountered
• Commercial information identified by BIS to be reviewed and revised accordingly
• Engage with CBSA rural offices to see if they encounter or observe language challenges

May 2025:

• Present completed analysis results in terms of key impact on gender and diversity to senior management for discussion;

• I. This will include briefing senior management on our updates related to the following three identity factors:
  • i. Geography
  • ii. Business size
  • iii. Language
• II. Provide a progress report on the Electronic Longroom implementation.

June 2025 - September 2025:

• Create an action plan to ensure that program policies, D-Memos, operational bulletins, and standard operating procedures are adapted using plain language for inclusivity of internal and external clients of various demographics identified in GBA Plus, including age, socio-economic status, and educational levels; and to explore potential new ways of communicating with stakeholders through audio-visual technology.

Program goals: Field Technology Support program (FTSP) supports scientists who use laboratory instruments, field technicians who repair and maintain the deployed equipment in the field, and the border services officers (BSOs) who operate the detection technology equipment at various locations across Canada. GBA Plus will be applied to ensure the usability and inclusivity of this equipment.

GBA Plus data collection plan: At this time, the FTSP does not have sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. An initial survey of laboratory scientists and frontline officers was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 and the full analysis of that data is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025.

This analysis will position the FTSP to either report on GBA Plus going forward or to make adjustments to the survey tools for FY 2025 to 2026. The plan would be to submit a follow-up survey in Q2 of FY 2025 to 2026 and to include any additional questions should the analysis of the initial survey identify gaps in the program or the survey.

Program goals: The Force Generation program has been working to increase its capacity to monitor gender and diversity impacts through increased data collection beyond what is available via voluntary self-declaration and is eager to adapt the modernized self-declaration process during recruitment.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The Force Generation program collects sufficient data to enable monitoring and reporting of the program's impacts by gender and diversity.

The Force Generation program is reliant on collecting employment equity data via the CBSA Officer Trainee – Developmental Program selection process through self-declaration from candidates, which is a voluntary process. This data is used to understand the diversity of candidates as per the Employment Equity Act, in addition to implementing the multi-year National Officer Recruitment and Outreach Strategy and Action Plan, which strives to strengthen the diversity of the CBSA's frontline workforce by reducing and eliminating barriers for recruitment and retention of qualified individuals within five demographic groups (Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, bilingual candidates, and 2SLGBTQI+ people), while considering intersectional impacts.

While it is not currently possible to collect data for the 2SLGBTQI+ group via self-declaration, the program is laying the foundation to begin collecting and using this data by increasing knowledge of challenges and barriers faced by individuals belonging to this demographic and raising awareness within the Agency of the future plan.

The CBSA is taking steps to increase its capacity to collect sufficient data and conduct analysis to monitor and report on the program's impact on gender and diversity. To ensure the program can continue to meet its objectives as outlined below, additional resources and/or adjusting timelines will be used to support continued efforts toward this work.

1. Collect employment equity data from self-declaration

In the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year (Q1), the National Officer Recruitment Program (NORP) launched a new national CBSA Officer Trainee – Developmental Program selection process (009) to meet organizational priorities and operational needs. This selection process is an inventory and will be open and accepting applications until the end of June 2025. A four-pronged approach was developed to prioritize candidates, one of which being applicants who self-declare as belonging to one or more employment equity groups. Data on program impacts will be collected, analyzed and reported on a quarterly basis until the selection process closes and will continue throughout the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year.

2. Analysis of candidates’ attrition data

An analysis of attrition data of candidates continues to be done on a quarterly basis to identify selection process stages where certain groups experienced higher levels of attrition than others, and to implement steps to better support candidates where possible.

As the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) is no longer included as an assessment step in the Officer Trainee selection process (009), attrition data at the additional requirements stage will be compared between the 008 process, which included the PARE, and the 009 process, which excludes the PARE, to determine whether there is a change in the overall candidate success at this stage. Given that the elimination of the PARE only came into effect in June 2024, time is required to collect sufficient data to complete an analysis. Data will be collected for Q2-Q4 2024 to 2025 and data analysis will begin toward the end of Q1 2025 to 2026.

3. Analyze experience from candidates and recruits who withdraw from the selection process

The CBSA is analyzing experience from candidates and recruits who withdraw from the selection process. This includes reviewing and updating the candidate questionnaire with an inclusive lens and developing questions to better understand the impacts of the selection process on the candidates’ experience and success (i.e., were they able to reasonably access a testing location; were they unable to complete an assessment step due to cost of the assessment and/or cost to travel to the assessment; etc.). In fiscal year 2025 to 2026, the program will look to assess the effectiveness of the new questionnaire and the impacts of the feedback received.

In fiscal year 2022-23 (Q4), the program began sending the Indigenous feedback form bi-monthly to all self-declared Indigenous candidates who previously became inactive in the selection process (either by failure or withdrawal) to start collecting data to better understand where Indigenous candidates may have experienced barriers or challenges leading to their exit from the selection process.

To assess the form's effectiveness, an assessment was done in fiscal year 2024 to 2025 to identify what is going well and where there are areas for improvement, and to identify notable trends and potential solutions to improve data collection and the candidate experience, in addition to assessing the future of the form and more viable options into fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

Finally, the development of an exit survey for Student Border Services Officers (SBSOs) was explored in fiscal year 2024 to 2025 with a goal of understanding more about their recruitment and employment experience, and to understand determining factors in a student's desire to pursue or not pursue further career options at the CBSA. In fiscal year 2025 to 2026, results of the survey will be analyzed to better understand SBSO intent beyond summer employment.

4. Produce regular employment equity reports

The Force Generation program provides weekly resourcing progress updates to the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Management Office. These updates report on gender parity in the upcoming planned cohort composition, based on employment equity self-declaration data provided by candidates upon application through the Public Service Resourcing System. Additionally, the report contains information about intersectional composition and permits the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Management Office to forecast upcoming cohort composition to reduce demographic gaps. The Force Generation program has targets for each employment equity group (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities) to be represented in upcoming cohorts in an effort to create a diverse front line that is representative of the Canadian public and to close existing demographic gaps.

In addition, the program produces ad-hoc and other quarterly reports and dashboards for senior management that provide different snapshots of candidate progress and representation in the assessment process which are often more specific (i.e., Indigenous candidates and participants in Indigenous Candidate Mentorship, Student Border Services Officers, etc.). Ad-hoc and quarterly reporting is planned to continue and evolve in fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

5. Launch the modernized self-identification process

The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer was expected to launch a new self-identification centralized portal for public service employees to self-identify in October 2023. The Self-Identification Modernization Project aims to increase the accuracy, depth and breadth of this data across the Government of Canada and will enable more timely and reliable data, improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, allow for easier updating, and eliminate the need for employees to self-identify when they change departments. Most importantly, it will offer an expanded set of identity options (i.e., 2SLGBTQI+) that will enable all employees to see themselves represented within the public service. According to the Human Resources Council update from October 2024, the specific release date for the questionnaire is still pending. Once launched, the program will look to integrate the new form into its data collection plan for self-declaration during the CBSA Officer Recruitment Program and broaden its data analysis (i.e., quarterly attrition rates) and regular reporting (i.e., active candidate summaries).

Program goals: The Intelligence Collection and Analysis program collects, analyzes and produces border-related intelligence on people, goods and/or conveyances that may pose a threat to the security of Canada. Information is collected from many sources, including Confidential Human Sources (CHS). The program continues to apply a GBA Plus lens to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Collecting information from CHS is a key activity associated with intelligence production and can potentially help to better understand, shape and influence the program's impacts on gender and diversity. The intelligence community can trace the history of using confidential informants in some fashion all the way back to the creation of the Department of Customs in 1867. As such, the Intelligence Collection and Analysis program has established a plan to apply GBA Plus to its CHS program. The program will look to identify factors included in the GBA Plus framework.

Building on efforts from the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year, the program will continue to analyze another year of data to see whether patterns can start to be established. Note that all results are classified and cannot be shared publicly.

Although the Recourse program does collect data that could be considered as intersectional or relevant to key performance indicators, this data is not a reflection of the performance or reporting of Recourse as a program. The data collected is primarily reflective of the performance of other programs or initiatives in the Agency (e.g., ‘X’ amount of complaints related to official languages is not ‘X’ amount of complaints on official languages concerning the Recourse program, but rather concerning other programs, individuals, etc.).

Program goals: Under various federal legislation and international free trade agreements , individuals (e.g., travellers) and the import/export community (e.g., businesses and casual importers) – referred to as ‘clients’ – have the right to request review of CBSA decisions related to enforcement actions (e.g., seizures, penalties) or commercial and trade decisions (e.g., anti-dumping and countervailing subjectivity, tariff classification, origin, value for duty, marking).

The Recourse program is responsible for providing clients with access to a redress mechanism and a fair and impartial review of decisions and actions taken by the CBSA, under applicable acts, regulations and policies. The program also instructs the Department of Justice and represents the CBSA in civil matters before various courts and tribunals, and provides a harmonized national litigation management function. On behalf of the Agency, the Recourse program also manages public feedback on service/program-related issues and employee conduct.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The program does not collect relevant program data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts (GBA Plus) on the population who has chosen to file an objection, nor would it be relevant as complaints are not against the Recourse program. The program conducts reviews on a case-by-case basis taking into account any information provided and identity elements are not considered when determining the outcome. This information is collected on behalf of the Agency and not in relation to Recourse program performance. The information that is collected may be insightful for other program reporting or building of key performance indicators in an operational context.

Recourse's impact on GBA Plus Data Collection Plan: Recourse has the potential to provide a series of insights related to GBA Plus and intersectionality in partnership with other programs and to help develop key performance indicators. Their role is much stronger as a partner to GBA Plus in understanding areas of intersection at the Agency rather then as a program required to report. Recourse plays a role of data holdings for the Agency.

Program goals: The Centre for Immigration National Security Screening (CINSS) conducts comprehensive security screening when foreign nationals are referred by immigration visa officers, as part of their immigration application, seeking temporary or permanent resident status in Canada. In addition, the program performs security screening of all adult asylum claimants in Canada. Temporary resident and permanent resident applications are referred by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on a discretionary basis using tools such as thematic indicator packages (including gender, demographic and geopolitical factors) which are jointly developed by the CBSA and Public Safety partners. CINSS, alongside public safety partners, provides training to immigration visa officers on the use of thematic indicators to assist in assessing admissibility of foreign nationals. The program intends to apply a GBA Plus lens to internal activities over which the CBSA has control to ensure that internal policies, processes and procedures are free of individual bias with respect to GBA Plus.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The GBA Plus data collection plan focuses on elements of the program that are within the CBSA's control. The program has identified various opportunities for key internal activities to influence its impacts on gender and diversity, including:

• The development of thematic indicator packages, which are jointly developed by the CBSA and security partners as a tool to assist IRCC in assessing admissibility of applicants and referring to security partners for comprehensive security screening when appropriate.
• The training delivered by the CBSA and security partners to immigration visa officers on the use of thematic indicator packages.

The program is implementing the following plan to apply a GBA Plus lens to assess internal activities. The findings from this data collection will inform targeted improvements in program processes, ensuring that key internal activities influencing program impacts on gender and diversity are aligned with GBA Plus principles.

Program goals: The CBSA receives advance information from commercial air carriers to identify people for pre-arrival risk assessment purposes. The data is screened through Scenario-Based Targeting (SBT) rules known as scenarios, enabling the CBSA to identify travellers who may pose a risk to national security or be involved in illicit migration or the smuggling of contraband. The program is dedicated to applying a GBA Plus lens on these activities to ensure that controls are being respected and that biases toward all GBA Plus identity factors are not included in scenario development.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The program will continue to collect data related to SBT development on an annual basis. Scenarios are created based on current intelligence, emerging threats, and comparative enforcement analyses; however, the CBSA would like to ensure that GBA Plus identity factors (e.g., gender and age) that could be included in the criteria of a scenario are indeed required and that GBA Plus is being considered as often as possible.

Program goals: The program ensures that importers comply with revenue requirements, and that duties and taxes owed to the Government of Canada are collected. A survey was developed to enable data collection for instrumental impact analysis, to facilitate inclusive service delivery, and for effective integration of GBA Plus considerations throughout our program and policies.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Directorate (TAPD) implemented a GBA Plus data collection strategy in the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year to enable TAPD to identify and address gaps related to gender and diversity (e.g., improve education and promotion in specific demographics such as gender, ethnicity, culture, age, language and geographical areas where gaps have been identified). In November 2023, TAPD reviewed available data on various companies and industry sectors. The reviews led to the conclusion that data from external data sources could not be adequately substantiated to the enterprises that are served by TAPD programs. Accordingly, the external data is not sufficient evidence on which to effectively measure program impacts on gender and diversity.

The data collection plan detailed below is based largely on the implementation of a customized survey developed for the TAPD target population to provide feedback on TAPD programs associated to direct and indirect interactions. The TAPD will invite 100% of regular users of the Trade Facilitation and Compliance program to participate (more specifically, the commercial importers and enterprises that must comply with trade rules). While participation is voluntary, the TAPD aims to base the analysis on a response rate of 56% (a recommended sample size by statistics and market research) to be relevant. The survey was implemented in October 2024. Once data has been received and analyzed, it will be used to measure how CBSA trade programs and services communicate and interact with members of the trade community, and to identify service areas that require enhancement and improvements. In turn, these efforts will contribute to the development of policies that will ensure consistency across all CBSA trade services.

The TAPD data collection plan was developed with the initial focus on the Trade Facilitation and Compliance program. To optimize efficiency, data collection tasks that are applicable to the Anti-dumping and Countervailing program will be implemented in parallel because the program also falls under the TAPD. In summary, the TAPD plan and updates incorporating both programs are as follows:

2024-2025 - Data Collection - Notable Actions taken:

1. Investigate how a survey is transmitted through the CARM CCP and if the software can facilitate a data collection process in a future CARM release

• Status: Completed – October 2023
• Note: Another method/survey platform to distribute the survey will be investigated (see item 2)

2. Consult with CBSA Communications Branch

• Status: Completed – November 2023, partnership established where the Communications Branch identified resources to support the development of a survey to be hosted on the branch web platform

3. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service

• Status: Completed – December 2023

4. Develop survey data collection framework

• Status: Completed – December 2023

5. Submit a request to update language in the CARM CCP to align with GBA Plus considerations that will be implemented in a future CARM release

• Status: Completed – January 2024, including testing with GBA Plus Accessibility Checklist

6. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation Compliance program and data collection framework

• Status: Completed – February 2024

7. Survey review, consultations and approval – February 2024 - September 2024

• Status: Completed – September 2024

8. Survey Implementation – initially planned for May 2024, delayed to October 2024

• Status: Completed – October 2024
  Electronic dissemination (i.e. support/accompany email correspondence)

9. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement for the Departmental Results Report Supplementary Information Table – planned for June 2024, delayed, but will leverage a future opportunity to share initial results when available in FY 2024 to 2025

2025-2026 - Data Collection - Actions to be taken:

10. Survey data collection – planned for June 2024 to June 2025; delayed to October 2024 to October 2025

11. TAPD will monitor results and develop program GBA Plus indicators – quarterly basis beginning in Q4 2024 to 2025 as initial indicator development will be based on results received and best practices from other Government of Canada programs collecting GBA Plus data.

12. Conduct survey analysis and produce a report with a recommended action plan – planned for November 2025

13. TAPD senior management to review and approve the GBA Plus TAPD action plan – planned for January 2026

The data collection plan will be led by two TAPD resources from the Planning, Development and Performance Unit. Additional resources will augment the effort as required by available TAPD staff.

Program goals: The Traveller Facilitation and Compliance program administers and enforces program requirements, including customs and immigration laws, to support the flow of legitimate travellers and their goods crossing the border. Building on existing data, the program will leverage pilot initiatives to enhance GBA Plus data collection and better understand gender and diversity impacts.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Processing at the border involves the mandatory collection of traveller information that is strictly necessary for the administration of CBSA program legislation, including customs and immigration law. Expanding data collection beyond the legally required information can only be done on a voluntary basis, in a manner that is clearly differentiated from the traveller's legal obligations. Data collection would also need to be conducted in a manner that ensures that processing times and service standards for travellers are not compromised.

While there are constraints on what GBA Plus data elements can be collected, the program has existing data that would enable monitoring and reporting on impacts by gender and diversity. The CBSA is working on an enterprise solution that will improve the availability of aggregate GBA Plus data elements either through analytical tools or updates to existing CBSA systems. Until a long-term solution is implemented, the Agency can continue to draw on existing data collected through the traveller border clearance process to assess impacts related to gender, age and, in some processing contexts, language.

The program will analyze this data to identify trends or differential impacts of GBA Plus identity factors related to gender, age, language, citizenship and, where information is available, income and persons with a disability. These analysis activities align closely with the logic model around traveller information and intelligence collection, risk assessments prior to entry in Canada, and primary and secondary inspections. These activities will ultimately help the program achieve the outcome of facilitating travellers and goods as well as protecting Canada's population from border-related risks with the enhanced understanding of potential differential impacts related to GBA Plus identity factors. It will also provide a baseline against which future impacts of the Traveller Modernization suite of new processes and technology can be assessed. Planned activities for this fiscal year include:

• April 2025: Determine feasibility of integrating external data sources with CBSA baseline analyses to further enhance the Agency's ability to monitor and assess impacts to CBSA services and programs.
• June 2025: Collaborate with partner departments and agencies to develop a whole-of-government approach for increasing understanding of data collection practices to support GBA Plus.
• October 2025: Present findings to CBSA senior management of potential for future enhancement of data collection plan approach and anticipated GBA Plus reporting.
• January 2026: Report on key program impacts on gender and diversity in the next GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table, incorporating results from the Université Laval study detailed below, qualitative feedback from direct consultation with accessibility communities and forward plans for future analysis.

To expand upon existing baseline data collection efforts and enhance the Agency's ability to frame traveller program requirements through a GBA Plus lens, the Agency has been participating in a three-year Inclusive Airports research project with Université Laval under the umbrella of the Accessibility Canada Act, regulations and standards. The project, which began in 2023, employed a “walking interviews” methodology that took participants on a predetermined path through the traveller processing continuum at three Canadian airports to identify any barriers they encountered, including with use of CBSA Primary Inspection Kiosks and e-gate technology. Findings and recommendations for this study will be released in September 2025. Through these findings, the CBSA will incorporate evidence-based recommendations to identify barriers and find solutions to improve policies and programs and implement actions and tools using an accessibility lens. It will also improve the ability of CBSA frontline officers to deliver inclusive services.

Program goals: For the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, the Trusted Trader program will focus on implementing insights gained from interviews conducted in 2024 so that the program can better understand and respond to the needs of applicants and members.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The Agency's public resources on the Trusted Trader program requirements and application process are not written in accessible language. To address this, the program plans to produce plain language guides for members and applicants explaining the program requirements (September 2025). These will be edited to a level that is clear to a broader range of readers, such as those for whom English or French is their second language.

Trusted Trader programs will carry out more qualitative research to better understand the experiences of women in ownership and/or operator roles who belong to the program. The program will interview at least one stakeholder to learn about her experience and help identify possible barriers women face accessing the program (January 2025). The results may be shared in the program's newsletter (distributed to all program members) to highlight a woman-owned business in our program and/or member of a trade association representing trusted members, raising awareness of their experience (July 2025).

Trusted Trader programs will interview Senior Trusted Trader Officers who have been working in the role for less than one year to determine whether the training they receive today includes information on navigating language and cultural barriers with members (January 2025). The program will analyze the results and present the findings to management (April 2025). If the training does not include this information now and the officers feel it would be beneficial to them and to members, we will recommend that such an addition be made.

The program will also look into an integrated way for applicants and members to self-identify features of their business to the CBSA. This could include their geographical setting, size, and whether it is woman-, immigrant-, or Indigenous-owned, ideally using the existing Trusted Trader web portal (July 2026).

NEXUS

Program goals: The NEXUS program seeks to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada and the United States. Any changes to the membership distribution across the GBA Plus elements assessed could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected and available to assess the NEXUS program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the NEXUS program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

FAST

Program goals: The FAST program seeks to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk commercial trucks entering Canada and the United States. Any changes to the demographic distribution could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the FAST program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts. The FAST program operates in a critical sector. Should a need arise to increase membership, the program has the data points to inform a decision.

Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC)

Program goals: The Agency's Trusted Traveller programs seek to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada. Any changes to the demographic distribution could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the RABC program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The RABC program is undergoing review with the upcoming Traveller Modernization initiative. The data collected will serve as a basis to ensure that the characteristics of the program membership are taken into consideration. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

Pilot Project for Travellers in Remote Areas - Quebec (PPTRA-Q)

Program goals: The Agency's Trusted Traveller programs seek to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers and commercial trucks entering Canada and the United States.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the PPTRA-Q program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

CANPASS Private Aircraft Program

Program goals: The Agency's Trusted Traveller programs seek to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada. Any changes to the demographic distribution could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the CANPASS program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

CANPASS Corporate Aircraft Program

Program goals: The Agency's Trusted Traveller programs seek to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada. Any changes to the demographic distribution could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the CANPASS program was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP)

Program goals: The Agency's Trusted Traveller programs seek to simplify and expedite the border clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk commercial trucks entering Canada. Any changes to the demographic distribution could result in recommendations for changes to the program.

GBA Plus data collection plan: Sufficient data is collected for this program. The CDRP is undergoing review with the upcoming Traveller Modernisation initiative. A complete GBA Plus assessment of the CDRP was conducted in FY 2024 to 2025 which did not result in any recommended changes to the program. The CBSA will undertake the same review exercise annually beginning in FY 2025 to 2026, using an updated data sample, to assess any changes to the membership population and corresponding GBA Plus impacts.

Program goals: The Criminal Investigations program (CIP) conducts criminal investigations into those who commit serious criminal offences against Canada's border legislation, including against the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). One of its enforcement priority areas pertains to immigration fraud, including in relation to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The targets of these investigations under IRPA are not the workers themselves, but rather the organizers and employers who commit fraud using the TFWP. As such, the impacts of the program's criminal investigations on victims, suspects, employees, and witnesses will be the subject of the GBA Plus analysis in order to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

GBA Plus data collection plan: In 2023, the CIP conducted a preliminary review of TFWP-related data holdings in the Criminal Investigations Information Management System (CIIMS), which is the primary information management system used by CBSA Criminal Investigators to ensure accurate and up-to-date recordkeeping of activities and events pertaining to criminal investigations, including the entities (individuals or organizations) that are the subject of investigations, as well as those who are a witness to and/or a victim of border-related offences. Criminal Investigators routinely input entity details, when possible, to both mandatory and non-mandatory fields to identify entities within an investigation. Gender and citizenship (which both include the option of “unknown”) and the identification of the entities’ role (suspect, victim, witness, etc.) are mandatory disaggregated data fields for entity entry in CIIMS. Other non-mandatory data fields available in CIIMS of interest to a substantial GBA Plus analysis that allow for a more intersectional analysis are available, such as date of birth (age), immigration status, and distinctive features such as eye colour, height, etc.

While the program collects a sufficient amount of data to complete a meaningful analysis of the program's impacts on gender and diversity, some data gaps exist. Notably, while citizenship data is important to the advancement of CBSA criminal investigations, including those that are TFWP-related, there is a lack of clarity regarding whether Criminal Investigators have the legislative authority to collect race-based or other diversity-related data while advancing a criminal investigation, particularly where it is not relevant to the investigation of offences. Regardless, the program seeks to expand its capacity to report on impacts on gender and diversity by encouraging more fulsome recordkeeping of the current non-mandatory authorized identity factors within CIIMS, where appropriate. This will be beneficial toward a more fulsome analysis of the ways in which TFWs in particular are impacted by the process of a criminal investigation. To this end, the program is in the early stages of a process to procure and develop a modern case management system to replace CIIMS in the coming years. Early discussions pertaining to the integration of functions to support future GBA Plus analysis within this replacement system are underway.

The CIP's efforts toward the completion of its first GBA Plus analysis is presently underway from the previous fiscal year. This analysis follows a significant investment of resources toward the implementation of the preceding data collection plan. The CIP meticulously collated and analyzed a substantial amount of data after the manual extraction of thousands of entity and case-specific data points for recordkeeping. This process involved numerous steps, including manual data entry, organization, and rigorous scrutiny in order to sanitize the data for the analysis. As of November 2024, the analysis is in its final draft form, and will soon be provided to senior management for approval.

Once this stage is complete, work toward the second GBA Plus analysis for FY 2025 to 2026 will begin, which will be supported by the same data set that was utilized in the program's first GBA Plus analysis. The program will continue to analyze the existing data to determine trends and patterns based on intersectional factors. The following plan was developed to support the second iteration of the CIP's GBA Plus analysis:

Program goals: The program manages the care and control of immigration detainees, and administers an Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program, particularly the Community Case Management and Supervision (CCMS) program that provides culturally appropriate community release options in parallel with appropriate GBA Plus considerations that enable the Agency to achieve balanced enforcement outcomes while effectively managing the needs of individuals released into the community.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The GBA Plus analysis and plan found here is designed to help inform decisions on the procurement and distribution of resources that will improve the needs of diverse groups of immigration detainees, as well as individuals released into the community, with the goal of reducing time spent in detention and improving outcomes while in the community. The program is continuing to determine whether the CCMS program effectively offers diverse communities adequate access and use of the program as an alternative to detention.

Currently, the CBSA collects data on the sex of individuals who are subject to immigration enforcement, including detention. It also collects data on the length of time in detention, and whether or not individuals have been referred for CCMS programming. The CBSA stores biographical information in the National Case Management System (NCMS) and the Global Case Management System (GCMS). The data is collected from GCMS fields when individuals are placed under arrest or detention. Regionally, Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) manually collect data on individuals who are assessed for release onto CCMS, and the decisions and reasons for referral or lack of referral. Data collecting enhancements through systems are intended to be implemented late in fiscal year 2025 to 2026. These changes are expected to eliminate the need for manual data tracking with respect to the key decision points in the CCMS process noted above. With improved data capturing, the program hopes to better identify and address potential barriers that may impact groups.

While waiting for system updates to close the gap, manual reporting methods were created and implemented in Q4 2022-23 in order to better assess the impact the CCMS program has on diverse groups, and data regarding the referral process. These manual reports are collected on a monthly basis.

Using existing systems and newly-added, manually-captured data, the program will analyze the following identity factors as they relate to CCMS business processes:

(1) Sex (Male, Female and ‘X’)

(2) Citizenship organized by region

(3) Age

The following describes the details and timelines for the data collection plan and analysis:

Program goals: The program represents immigration enforcement interests before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to maintain safety, security and program integrity. Its activities are aimed to detain and/or remove or deny access to Canada for those who are believed to be inadmissible or otherwise in non-compliance with IRPA. The program applies a GBA Plus lens to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The program's data collection plan collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and report on program impacts by gender and diversity.

The program is interested in learning whether those seeking refugee protection in Canada experience differential treatment by the program due to systemic bias, unfair assumptions, or barriers due to a person's intersectional identity factors.

Building on the results from the analysis of the data arising from the FY 2023-24 data collection plan, the program will review a sample of the decisions rendered by the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) where the program's success rate was below 70% for unsuppressed results that had a variance from the total population of greater than 20%. The goal of this review is to identify the reasonableness of the intervention, particularly looking to see whether the intervention suggests the presence of a systemic bias, unfair assumption, or barriers due to a person's intersectional identity factors.

In addition, the program has expanded the scope of activities to be analyzed in FY 2024 to 2025 to determine whether there has been an unjustified disproportionate representation for any particular group in the Minister's applications for vacation before the RPD.

The activities to be analyzed in FY 2024 to 2025 include:

(1) Triages of Refugee Claims: Referrals for further Ministerial consideration are made by CBSA triage agents either to a CBSA Hearings office or an IRCC Reviews and Interventions office. Refugee triage is an activity wherein a preliminary screening of all refugee claimant files is completed to find one or more triggers that warrant further Ministerial consideration.

(2) Reviews of Refugee Claims: Recommendations/referrals are made by Hearings Advisors (HAs) or Hearings Officers (HOs) reviewing the file for further Ministerial consideration into possible intervention at the RPD.

(3) Interventions at the RPD: Interventions are made by HAs or HOs in claims before the RPD (HAs are limited to interventions by documents only, hence no in-person representation by HAs).

(4) Vacations at the RPD: Applications are made by HOs to vacate protected person status at the RPD.

The program will be looking at disaggregated data (available within our case tracking systems) on the following identity factors (and some intersectionality of these factors) for the above four activities:

(1) Sex: This information is collected as a ternary element (female, male, X). Any other forms of gender expression are not currently captured in the data.

(2) Age: This information can be calculated based on the client's date of birth. Age ranges will be used to simplify these results.

(3) Country of birth: This information can be an indicator of racial or ethnic background.

Proceedings before the RPD become adversarial when the program participates on behalf of one or both Ministers (‘Citizenship and Immigration Canada’ or ‘Public Safety’). Given the presence of an interest by one or both of the Ministers and the requirement that the Minister present credible and trustworthy evidence and make legally sound arguments, there is an expectation that at least 70% of interventions at the RPD and applications to vacate refugee status will result in a decision by the RPD that is consistent with the position submitted by the Minister's representative (HA or HO, as the case may be).

The four activities to be analyzed are designed to ensure that refugee claimants who are undeserving of refugee protection are not granted such status by the RPD and that protected persons to whom the vacation provisions of IRPA apply have that status revoked by the RPD.

Data will be collected from GCMS or NCMS. Data will be pulled for fiscal years 2018-19 to present.

Program goals: The program investigates and reports, arrests and/or detains non-citizens in Canada who are or may be inadmissible to Canada as defined by IRPA. In this way, the program contributes to the Agency's mandate to ensure Canada's safety and security and protect the integrity of the immigration and refugee system. The program applies a GBA lens to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

GBA Plus data collection plan: The scope of the GBA Plus data collection plan will continue to focus on a key program activity: A44 inadmissibility reports. In the last Departmental Results Report, the program looked at the total number of A44 reports written against Foreign Nationals in Canada from 2018 to 2023; however, no pattern or trends were identified. The program now intends to deepen this analysis by looking at the types of cases/persons found to be inadmissible from an intersectional lens. The available data will be pulled for the following program measurements:

(1) Total number of A44 reports written against foreign nationals in Canada between the 2019 to 2024 fiscal years

(2) Breakdown of A44 reports over that period by inadmissibility categories (A34-A42)

Along with the following GBA Plus data sets:

(1) Age: percentage of minors under 18; 18-64 years of age; 65 years of age or older

(2) Sex: percentage of Male / Female / Unknown / Another Gender

(3) Citizenship

The following steps detail the continuation of this data analysis.

Program goals: As part of the enforcement of IRPA, the CBSA has a statutory obligation to remove foreign nationals who are subject to enforceable removal orders. The enforcement of the removal order is the last step in the enforcement continuum. The Removals program applies a GBA Plus lens in order to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

GBA Plus data collection plan: As a continuation of the data analysis reported in the 2023-24 Departmental Results Report, the program will deepen its analysis on how age, sex and geography factor into the management of the program's removal inventory. Data will be obtained through IBM Cognos Analytics that provide statistics pulled from the GCMS and NCMS electronic databases. GCMS and NCMS are systems that are in place to capture information that pertains to foreign nationals in relation to immigration and enforcement-related purposes that fall under IRPA.

While GCMS and NCMS capture significant details concerning a foreign national, they were not designed with a GBA Plus lens. For example, there is no identification for quantification of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, income or ability. Sex and gender is limited to male, female and other gender. Despite these challenges, the Removals program will collect and assess various identity factors in order to detect potential disproportionate outcomes.

As part of this examination, data will be extracted to capture cases that appeared before an officer at a port of entry in FY 2024 to 2025 to have their departure from Canada confirmed by a CBSA official. The following GBA Plus indicators will be extracted:

(1) Age: percentage of minors (17 years and under) and adults (18 and over) removed during this period.

(2) Sex: percentage of male, female, and other gender removed during this period

(3) Citizenship organized by region

In addition to the aforementioned data sets, the CBSA will extract the number of foreign nationals in the removals working inventory at the beginning of this period in order to examine and compare enforced removals against the removal working inventory. Of note, while the CBSA can capture the number of foreign nationals subject to enforcement action at the beginning of FY 2024 to 2025, the comparison of this cohort against removals that have been enforced is challenging due to the following factors:

• The enforcement continuum is not linear as individuals subject to enforceable removal orders have access to a number of avenues of recourse during the removals process that may temporarily stay their removal from Canada. As such, cases will move in and out of the inventory throughout the year.
• The inventory is extracted from a real-time database that is refreshed on a daily basis. In other words, it is a snapshot of the inventory the day the statistics are extracted. Cases that enter the working inventory after the selected date of extraction will not be included in this analysis even if they were removed from Canada during this period.
• Case-specific factors may prevent the CBSA from enforcing a removal order. The most common impediment to removal is the lack of a travel document. Without a travel document, the CBSA is unable to return the individual to their home country. Other impediments may include but are not limited to: being a family member of a convention refugee, having a family member with a stay of removal, or having medical issues that prevent the foreign national from travelling.

Despite these challenges, the program is able to assess the above-noted identity factors available to detect potentially disproportionate outcomes within these cohorts. The program intends to study the removal inventory against these identity factors for a second year in order to have a multi-year view with the goal of understanding how age, sex and world region may impact how the removal inventory is managed. Where potential statistical variances are found, a deeper look at the cases and the impediments to removal may be examined.