Fact sheets: Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: Supplementary Estimates (C) 2025-2026 (March 24, 2026)

CBSA stats and facts

2025 Stats and Figures January 1 to December 31, 2025

Budget – A and B base (source of info: 2026–2027 Main Estimates)

2026–2027 CBSA budget:

• A-Base (Ongoing) funding: $1,951.6 million
• B-Base (Temporary) funding: $779.9 million
• Statutory (Employee Benefit Plan) $338.4 million
• Total Budget: $3,069.9 million

FTEs – uniformed, operational and support

Approximately 17,000 employees
over 8,500 front line
1,200 ports of entry and in 36 countries.

Ports of entry – air, land, marine

• 117 land-border crossings – 61 on a 24/7 basis
• 13 international airports – 10 on a 24/7 basis
• 27 rail sites
• 3 Major Ports (Halifax, Montréal and Vancouver) numerous marinas and reporting stations

IT Contracts – number and amount and decrease over past years (source of info: Q1 report to TBS)

36 IT consultants as of August 15, 2025, compared to 250 in June 2023.

The reduction in consultants reflects the CBSA's steady decline in overall contract use. The amount of active contracts has reduced by 55% between April 1st 2023 and April 1st 2025 from 2275 to 1027.

Executives

• 44% of VPs/RDGs have served on the frontline (8 out of 18)
• 35.7% of the Executive cadre (at all levels) worked on the frontline directly supporting the CBSA mandate at some point in their career (91 out of 255)
• 48.2% of the Executive cadre (at all levels) have either worked directly on the frontline and/or occupied a role that required supervision of frontline employees (123 out of 255)
• 66% of VPs and RDGs are women (12 out of 18)

Travellers in 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

• 82,300,378 travellers:
  • Air: 36,678,160
  • Highway: 42,019,470
    • including 5,536,892 truck drivers
  • Marine: 3,357,015
  • Rail: 245,701
• 34,227,852 travellers used Primary inspection kiosks
• 4,115,070 travellers used Advanced Declaration
• 17 additional primary inspection kiosks across Canada
• 2.1 million NEXUS members

Commercial goods imports in 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

• 30.7 million releases of goods into the commerce of Canada
• 149 million courier shipments
• $265.8 billion Trusted Trader value for duty imported
• $47.5 billion total duties and taxes assessed (customs duties, Special Import Measures Act [SIMA] duties, surtaxes, GST and excise taxes)
• Commercial by the numbers:
  • Highway: 5,038,595 trucks
  • Air: 3,817,803 shipments
  • Marine: 2,012,946 containers
  • Rail: 1,815,786 cars

Food, plant and animal 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

A total of 3,668 Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties (AAAMP) issued for food, plant and animal import violations totaling $2,830,200 in penalties.

Enforcement in 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

A total of 52,238 seizures, coming in to Canada (from US and other countries), including:

• 659 seizures for a total of 833 firearms seized
• 8,263 seizures for a total of 17,771 weapons seized
• 31,688 illegal drugs seizures
  • Cocaine (including coca leaves, coca paste, cocaine and cocaine crack): 4,725 kilograms
  • Heroin: 128 kilograms
  • Fentanyl: 2.8 kilograms
  • Methamphetamines: 2,397 kilograms
  • Other opioids (including opium, methadone, morphine and morphine base): 1,144 kilograms
  • Other drugs, narcotics and chemicals: 28,206 kilograms (this number excludes cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, other opioids and cannabis)
• 16,029 cannabis seizures totaling 46,608 kilograms
• 3,457 tobacco seizures totaling 803,652 kilograms
• 99 child pornography seizures

Firearm seizures in 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

• Total firearms seized: 833
• Total firearms seizures: 659

Weapons seizures in 2025 (to December 31, 2025)

• Total weapons seized: 17,771
• Total weapon seizures: 8,263

Breakdown of LO-Intervened off-boards (to December 31, 2025)

Alternatives to Detention (ATDs) Statistics

Allowed to Leaves issued at POEs

• If an officer at a port of entry examines a foreign national and the person is believed to be inadmissible, the officer may in some circumstances allow the person to voluntarily withdraw their application to enter Canada and allow them to depart
• Each case will be assessed individually and a decision will be based on the specific facts of the case and whether the objectives of the IRPA would be best achieved without seeking a formal removal order

Inadmissibility (A44) Reports (serious inadmissibility grounds)

• The above represents A44 reports for the following IRPA inadmissibility grounds: security, human rights violations, serious criminality, criminality, organized crime, sanctions and transborder criminality
• A finding of inadmissibility begins with the officer making an allegation by preparing an inadmissibility (A44) report which is supported by evidence
• A44 is then reviewed by another official (Minister's Delegate) who may issue a prescribed removal order if the inadmissibility allegation is within their jurisdiction or refer the A44 report to the Immigration and Refugee Board for an admissibility hearing

Stolen vehicles

Anti-dumping (As of December 31, 2025)

As of December 31, 2025, the CBSA has conducted 33 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations across nine product groups, spanning the mineral oil, paper, plastic, and predominantly steel industries, involving 15 countries, primarily China. Of the 33 investigations, 24 are ongoing.

Active Investigations:

1. Thermoformed Molded Fibre Tableware
   • Plates, bowls, and take-out containers made from recycled paper pulp. They're pressed into shape (molded) and often used as eco-friendly disposable tableware
2. Oil Country Tubular Goods
   • Steel pipes used in the oil and gas industry to drill wells and bring resources to the surface. This includes casing, tubing, and drill pipe that must withstand extreme underground pressure
3. Cast Iron Soil Pipe
   • Heavy, durable iron pipes used to carry waste and water in buildings and underground systems. They're common in older plumbing and commercial construction because they reduce noise and last a long time
4. Thermal Paper Rolls
   • Paper used in cash register receipts and credit card machines that darkens when heated by the printer head
5. Steel Strapping
   • Strong, flat steel bands used to bundle and secure heavy products—like lumber, steel coils, or bricks—during shipping or storage
6. Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire
   • Long, thin strands of steel made by drawing carbon or alloy steel through dies. Used for making nails, fencing, springs, cables, and many industrial products
7. Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin
   • A type of plastic resin used to make clear beverage bottles, food containers, and synthetic fibres like polyester clothing. It's lightweight and recyclable
8. Renewable Diesel
   • A fuel made from animal fats, vegetable oils, or other organic materials. It's chemically similar to regular diesel and can be used in diesel engines without blending, but it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions
9. Truck Bodies
   • Rigid structures mounted onto truck chassis that are designed to contain or support goods during on-road transportation. These include box-type truck bodies (insulated or non-insulated), refrigerated bodies, and truck body kits or assemblies

Enforcement statistics

Drugs

Key Takeaways (Overall Quantities in grams)

• The 2025 seizure total (83,210,800g) exceeds the total reported for all of 2024 (52,056,505g). This represents a 60% increase
• Compared with 2023 (79,352,888g), seizure numbers in 2024 (52,056,505g) were lower, reflecting a downward trend. This is a decrease of about 34%
• 2020 recorded the lowest amount of seizures (30,150,272g). This is likely due to low traveller volumes during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• In 2022, 55,618,092g of seizures were recorded. This then surged to 79,352,888g seized in 2023. This represents approximately a 43% increase

Key Takeaways (Overall - Count of Seizure Actions)

• 2023 recorded the highest amount of seizure actions (39,057)
• Seizure activity decreased in 2024 (28,339), compared to the 2023 count (39,057). This is a decrease of about 27%
• 2024 recoded 28,339 seizure actions. This number then increased to 31,680 in 2025, representing a 12% increase

The most drug seizures were made in X Region, the least in X Region

• From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025. GTAR recorded the highest amount of drug seizures (154,752,088g)
• From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025, NOR recorded the least amount of seizures (744,502g)

Specific commodities where import seizures are up are/Specific commodities where import seizures are down:

Specific commodities where export seizures are up/ Specific commodities where export seizures are down:

The five year trend for drug seizures is:

The five year trend for precursor seizures is:

Firearms

CBSA Criminal Investigation Prosecution Outcomes:

Charge/Prosecution Acceptance Rate:

From April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, over 95% of the charge recommendations made by the CSBA to the Crown following firearms and weapons investigations undertaken by the CBSA, have resulted in charges approved.

Results of CBSA search warrants away from the border (as part of criminal investigations):

Stolen vehicles

Stolen vehicle trend

Undeclared currency

Currency and Suspected Proceeds of Crime Seizures

Total value of currency and suspected of proceeds of crime seizures from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025

Asylum Statistics

Number of recommended offboards by CBSA ILOs

The number of asylum claims in the last 10 years are:

Percentage increase 2016–2025: The percentage difference for both agencies combined between 2016 and 2025 is an increase of 380%)

Percentage increase 2022–2025: The percentage difference for both agencies combined between 2022 and 2025 is an increase of 24%)

The number of asylum claims at Lacolle are:

Number of IRB asylum hearings with CBSA representation

CBSA's annual removals:

CBSA's removal inventory (defined as removals in progress and wanted) is:

Projected removal inventory (including wanted and in progress) assuming at least 25,000 removals per year

Assumptions:

1. IRB maintains calendar year 2024 decision volume (approximately 73,000 decisions) and acceptance rate (63%). Although the new Asylum target for RPD is 80,000 to 85,000
2. The CBSA enforces 25,000 removals per year (Note that the CBSA is currently funded for 20,000 in fiscal year 2026–2027, and 16,000 for future years)
3. Impact of other inadmissibility cases (e.g., overstays) is not included
4. The CBSA will enforce 20,000 removals in 2025
5. Bill C-12 impact on inventory is not included

Current top 5 recalcitrant countries:

CBSA's security screening inventory vs completed screens per year:

Intake:

Results:

• For a program like security screening there is always a tension between timely decisions and the time needed to conduct a comprehensive security assessment
• We will always take the time necessary to ensure security and public safety
• Inventory is 185,000 cases up from 51,000 three years ago at the end of fiscal year 2022-2023
• Processing times vary on a case-by-case basis and are affected by general factors such as rising immigration levels and the CBSA case inventory, as well as case-specific factors such as complexity, requirements for additional research, an applicant's personal history, the availability of relevant information, and the level of detail provided in the application. Given volumes it is taking us longer to get to cases so average processing time has gone from 61 to 291 days over the last three years
• As I said, we will always take the time necessary to ensure security, but are also always looking at ways to improve efficiency

  What steps is CBSA taking to reduce these delays without compromising security? Any improvements made to the security screening process to tackle inefficiencies?

  • The CBSA has recently implemented new processes to improve the efficiency of the asylum security screening process and these new processes are beginning to demonstrate results. This process proactively identifies and triages low risk and low complexity asylum claims to facilitate more rapid security screening. Since last fall, for the first time since we came out of the pandemic, the size of the security screening inventory has begun to decrease
    1. Note: Since CINSS began rolling out risk-based asylum screening last fall, the size of the asylum inventory has decreased by over 13,000 cases while the inflow of new cases remained relatively static. These numbers will only get better in 2026-2027

CBSA's Detention Capacity is:

CBSA's detention rates:

CBSA's detention rate as a percentage of asylum claims

Immigration Holding Centre Capacity and Detainee Volume:

• Budget 2024 provided the CBSA with funding to enhance its immigration holding centres in Toronto, Ontario and Laval, Quebec to various risk levels, including high risk detainees who had been previously housed in provincial correctional facilities, as well as establish a designated immigrant station at the Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec
• The CBSA manages all immigration detainees within its immigration holding centres to the extent possible
• If an individual requires a higher degree of supervision and control than can be provided in an immigration holding centre, the CBSA may transfer that individual to the designated immigrant station in Saint-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec in accordance with section 142 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• This approach reinforces the CBSA's commitment to public safety by ensuring that high-risk detainees are managed in facilities that provide the necessary level of supervision and control
• As of December 29, 2025, the detainee volumes were (Total: 155):
  • Greater Toronto Area Immigration Holding Centre: 47
  • Laval Immigration Holding Centre: 45
  • British Columbia Immigration Holding Centre: 55
  • Designated Immigrant Station (Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines): 8

Trade Statistics

Anti dumping and subsidy investigations – opened and concluded

Sanctions Implementation – number of sanctions in place being enforced by CBSA

There are currently 12 countries against which there are import sanctions and 22 countries against which there are export sanctions. In recent years, the Government of Canada has increased its use of sanctions, currently imposing sanctions on 355 Harmonized System (HS) codes, as well as all goods being imported from North Korea and Syria. The CBSA's responsibility for exports is broader and requires ensuring compliance for all exports to North Korea, a wide range of industrial goods to Iran, and all exports to specific entities (people and businesses) in 19 other countries (e.g., Myanmar, Sudan, Iraq). The current sanctions against Russia are the most extensive with 935 different HS codes covering industrial and luxury goods.

Duties and Taxes Compliance Statistics

Duties and taxes collected

Number of Compliance Verification Audits Concluded(?) and Amounts Assessed

Additional Information:

Number of Compliance Interventions and Amount Assessed:

Strategic Export Enforcement - Sanctions and Counter-Proliferation Referrals for Enforcement by Counter-Proliferation Operations Section (CPOS), CBSA

Asylum seekers

How many asylum seekers have come to Canada through ports of entry in 2025?

• Asylum claims in air: 11,734
• Asylum claims in land: 21,441
• Asylum claims between the ports of entry (based on people brought to CBSA by PoJ): 1,839
• This represents a 43% decrease in overall claims since last year
• The most claims were at the Lacolle port of entry with 15,369 claimants (an increase of 89% over last year)

All data is as of January 28, 2026

CBSA land border refugee claims: 2020-2026

• In 2020-2021, land border refugee claims were low due to the effects of the Covid Pandemic
• In 2022 and the early part of 2023, as Covid restrictions eased the number of land border claimsincreased sharply
  • A significant number of these claims were irregular between the Port of Entry claims
• The implementation of the STCA-AP on March 25, 2023 caused the number of irregular claims to be greatly reduced
  • However regular claims started to show an increase after the STCA-AP implementation
• Regular Claims has been around the 15,000 mark since the implementation
  • However in 2025, the number increased to almost 20,000
    • This was mostly due to two periods of increased claims due to an influx of Haitian Nationals specifically at the Saint-Bernard-de Lacolle POE
      • The influx was mostly due to the expiration of the Cuba Haiti Nicaragua Venezuela Parole program in the United States

Removals

Removals expenditures by region and branch (in dollars $)

Removals by region

The CBSA collects removal data for all of Canada and organizes the data according to 7 regions.

Removals inventory by year

• The Removal in Progress inventory has grown by 51% over the last five years; due to efforts to increase removal volumes under the Border Plan, the inventory decreased by 5% from February 2025 to 2026
• Over five years, the Wanted inventory has fluctuated year to year, and has grown 7% overall; it grew by 2,135 cases since 2021, while during the same period, the CBSA removed over 75,800 inadmissible foreign nationals from Canada
• Of the total 27,560 individuals in the Removal Not Possible inventory, 14,071 are subject to ADR/TSR stay (see table 6)
• CBSA removal efforts may be hindered and delayed by impediments such as uncooperative foreign nationals who do not provide necessary information or documentation to allow for their removal, or foreign governments that refuse the return of their nationals, or fail to promptly issue timely travel documents. The CBSA works closely with foreign governments, Canadian officials abroad, and other departments to resolve these challenges, and participates in international forums to identify joint strategies and best practices to achieve timely removals of inadmissible persons

Definitions

• Not Yet Actionable inventory includes individuals that fall outside of the enforcement stream including those pending refugee determination, a percentage of which will eventually enter Removals In Progress inventory, and convention refugees
• Removal Not Possible inventory includes individuals that cannot currently be removed, including those pending Federal Court appeals, criminal charges, or Pre-Removal Risk Assessments, or serving a sentence of imprisonment
• Wanted inventory includes individuals who failed to appear for removal proceedings and the CBSA is working to locate
• Removal In Progress inventory includes individuals who can be processed for removal; at this stage, CBSA works with the individual and foreign countries to overcome challenges to removal, including the issuance of travel documents

Removals inventory by month

• The Removal in Progress inventory has remained relatively stable, fluctuating by up to 5% per month and decreasing overall by 5% over the last 12 months due to increased efforts on removals since December 2024
• The CBSA prioritizes removals based on a risk management regime that assigns the highest priority to cases involving security, organized crime, crimes against humanity, and criminality. These are followed by failed refugee claimants as second tier, and all other inadmissible persons as the lowest priority
• In 2025, the CBSA removed an average of 443 individuals per week, including administrative removals, while over 600 new cases entered the inventory per week

Removals caseload with serious inadmissibility by year

• Since 2024, the total number of cases involving a serious inadmissibility has increased by 9.4% for the Wanted inventory, although the rate of serious inadmissibilities has remained steady at 3% of the Wanted caseload
• The number of serious inadmissibility cases increased by 23% for Removal in Progress inventory, but the rate dropped from 6.0% to 5.6%
• The overall rate of serious inadmissibilities within the entire removal inventory has slightly decreased from 1.7% in 2024 to 1.2% in 2026
• Serious inadmissibilities include:
  • s. 34 – national security; terrorism; espionage
  • s. 35 – human and international rights violations
  • s. 36 – criminality, including in-Canada or outside-Canada serious and non-serious criminality
  • s. 37 – organised crime

Removals inventory with serious inadmissibility by month

• About 3% of the Wanted inventory cases involved a serious inadmissibility consistently over the last 12 months
• For the Removal in Progress, the percentage of cases involving a serious inadmissibility has slowly risen over the past year, reaching 12.2% in February 2026
• Foreign nationals still serving a criminal sentence or with pending criminal charges cannot be removed until the criminal matters are resolved. These cases are subject to a legislated stay of removal and are found in the Removal Not Possible inventory, leading to its significantly higher proportion of cases with criminality. CBSA may issue a warrant for arrest to ensure that CBSA is notified following the completion of their criminal custody

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Administrative deferrals of removal and temporary suspensions of removal

• An Administrative Deferral of Removal is a temporary measure imposed by the CBSA to defer removals when country conditions exist that could seriously endanger the lives or safety of the entire civilian population. It is not meant to address persistent and systemic human rights problems which constitute individual risk. CBSA monitors global events and provides assessments and recommendations to the delegated decision maker, the Director General of Inland Enforcement, on where and when, to impose or lift ADRs
  • There is currently an active ADR in place for certain regions in Somalia (Middle Shabelle, Afgoye, and Mogadishu), the Gaza Strip, Ukraine, Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Venezuela, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Israel, and Lebanon
• A Temporary suspension of Removals is imposed by the Minister of Public Safety and interrupts removals to a country, when country conditions exist that could seriously endanger the lives or safety of the entire civilian population. It is not meant to address persistent and systemic human rights problems which constitute individual risk
  • There are active TSR for in place for Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq
• Individuals who benefit from an ADR or a TSR are located in the Removal Not Possible inventory. Individuals who have failed to comply with a reporting condition may be captured in the wanted inventory until they are located. Individuals inadmissible for safety or security concerns do not benefit from the ADR or TSR and will be located in the removal in progress inventory or wanted inventory depending on the specific details of their case
• Individuals with serious inadmissibility such as national security and criminality do not benefit from a stay of removals under these provisions
• There are just over 14,000 ADR/TSR cases in the inventory, 98% of which are for the top ten countries

Removals enforced

• In 2025, CBSA removed over 23,000 inadmissible foreign nationals, of which 1,181 (or 5%) involved a serious inadmissibility
• The Border Plan provided $55.5 million to support immigration and asylum processing and to increase CBSA's capacity to reach 20,000 removals for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027
• The CBSA is on pace to exceed the target for fiscal years 2025-2026

• The 23,047 removals completed in 2025 are higher than any of the past five years
• Of these, approximately 5% involved a serious inadmissibility

Escorted removals

• CBSA officers assess the risk of each case being removed and, for higher risk cases, recommend that escort officers accompany the foreign national to their destination to ensure the safety and security of the public, aircraft, and the foreign national themselves. Escort officers may also be deemed necessary by the airline, or to accompany a medical professional for foreign nationals with complex medical needs
• In 2025, CBSA conducted over 1,600 escorted removals, representing approximately 7% of the total removals, and the highest volume in six years
• On average, an unescorted removal costs $3,700, while an escorted removal costs around $12,500. In fiscal year 2024–25, the CBSA spent over $17.5 million on removal-related travel costs

• The U.S. accounted for 55% of the total escorts in 2025; over 90% of these occurred at land POEs.
• The top ten destination countries account for approximately 80% of total escorted removals.

Iranian Regime

On November 12, 2022, the Minister of Public Safety first designated the Iranian regime under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the IRPA from November 15, 2019 onwards. In September 2024, the Minister of Public Safety amended the start date of the designation from November 15, 2029 to June 23, 2003. The designation makes any foreign national or permanent resident who were or are prescribed senior officials in the regime inadmissible to Canada.

As of March 5, 2026, under the designation of the Iranian regime:

• Approximately 17,800 applications were reviewed for potential inadmissibility
• 239 visas have been cancelled by IRCC
• 174 investigations have been opened by the CBSA
  • Additional investigations will be opened as new information becomes available
• 79 investigations have been concluded by the CBSA, meaning the individuals in question were either not in Canada, or determined not to be a senior official in the Iranian regime and not inadmissible for this reason
  • The remaining cases are subject to ongoing investigations or enforcement action
• 32 persons have been reported inadmissible by the CBSA for being a senior official in the Iranian regime
• 23 cases involving individuals in Canada have been or will be sent to the Immigration Division (ID) of the IRB for an admissibility hearing
  • [Redacted] referrals were withdrawn by the CBSA before the case proceeded any further - A case may be withdrawn for several reasons, including the foreign national departing Canada prior to a scheduled hearing
• The CBSA has requested the scheduling of 17 of these cases, while the rest continue to undergo preparations prior to being sent for scheduling. Of these:
  • 8 admissibility hearings have been concluded, resulting in decisions by the ID:
    • [Redacted] individuals were found inadmissible for being prescribed senior officials and issued deportation orders; [Redacted] has been removed from Canada
    • [Redacted] individuals were found not inadmissible by the ID; CBSA filed appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in [Redacted] cases
    • The CBSA has filed an application for leave and judicial review for the [Redacted] appeals that were dismissed by the IAD
  • CBSA subsequently withdrew [Redacted] case
  • 8 cases are ongoing

Extortion

1,000 officers

[Redacted]

What is the CBSA's plan to hire 1,000 officers

• Every day, 8,500 CBSA frontline personnel play a crucial role in protecting our communities
• Budget 2025 and the Border Plan puts Canada's safety at the forefront by hiring 1,000 new CBSA officers
• These new officers will be deployed at ports of entry, at international locations to stop threats before they reach or border and at specialized sites in Canada where targeting, trade investigations, intelligence gathering and criminal investigations take place
• Already, 90 border services officers trainees are at the CBSA college undergoing training, with more officers to be hired over the next three years

Additional background

The more than 8,500 frontline personnel include both employees and middle managers in the FB classification and Student Border Services Officers (SBSO) that actively serve on the frontline.

Through the Agency's Force Generation program, the Agency resources the frontline personnel required to carry out its mandate. The primary part of the program is the Officer Induction Model (OIM) which is comprised of three phases: Recruitment, the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP) and the Officer Induction Development Program (OIDP).

During the recruitment phase, prospective candidates go through very rigorous pre-screening that can take between 9 to 12 months, before they are invited to attend the CBSA College through the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP). The OITP is an 18 week program inclusive of 4 weeks of online training and 14 weeks of in class training at the CBSA College in Rigaud Quebec. Upon graduation from training, BSO Trainees are deployed to border operations across the country, and supervised by experienced officers through the Officer Induction Development Program (OIDP) for up to 12 to 18 months before being permanently appointed to the rank of a Border Services Officer.

Through ongoing recruiting efforts, there is always a pool of approximately 300 vetted and qualified candidates that can be invited to begin training in the next unfilled cohort.

Through this initiative, the CBSA will hire approximately 80% of the new officer complement as border services officers, trained at the CBSA College and deployed to ports of entry across Canada.

Complementary to the OIM, training is delivered to experienced CBSA officers in other operational roles, in alignment with established National Training Standards for their position. The Standards outline the training expectations for various job communities such as inland enforcement officers and criminal investigators, enabling the development of officers into specialized functions, through skill enhancements beyond the scope of the OIM program.

The CBSA College, through its many satellite campuses delivers most of the training to support frontline and operational communities, alongside on the job training specific to certain roles (e.g international liaison officers will receive specific training from Global Affairs Canada before their deployment).

Through this initiative, the CBSA will hire approximately 20% of the officer complement across other operational roles including trade officers, targeting officers, inland enforcement officers, criminal investigators, intelligence officers, chemists, engineers and international liaison officers.

The comprehensive training and development programs ensure individuals have the skills and experience to do the jobs being asked of them. The Agency does not compromise qualification standards in the hiring process as many of these officers will continue their careers within the Agency, taking on many other operational roles.

The Agency continues to hire students, 400 new and returning students per year. They are a complementary component of the workforce and an essential feeder group to the indeterminate officer cadres core with upwards of 20% of Student Border Services Officers moving into the OITP through prioritized placement annually. They provide necessary temporary relief to manage fluctuations in seasonal traveler and commercial volumes.

There are currently 90 border services officer trainees at the CBSA College undergoing training at various stages:

• 28 border services officer recruits who started their training in October graduated on February 27
• 14 border services officer recruits started their training in November, and 3 detector dog teams specialized in fentanyl detection, are expected to graduate on April 2
• 34 border services officer recruits started their training in January are expected to graduate on May 8
• 33 border services officer recruits started their training in February are expected to graduate on June 12

The CBSA will run up to 10 cohorts per year beginning every five weeks, to deliver on commitments in the 2025 Budget and the Border Plan by 2028-2029.

Update on hiring

Background

This is a monthly update on the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) plan to recruit, train and hire 1,000 new CBSA officers funded through Budget 2025 and the Border Plan announced in the December 2024 Fall Economic Statement.

Current Status

Border Services Officers (BSO)

The CBSA College continues the intake of new Officer trainees to support this initiative:

• 36 border services officer recruits started training in October 2025, of which 28 graduated on February 27, 2026. The regional distribution is as follows:

  Region	Planned BSO allocations	February 2026	Remaining
  Atlantic	62	0	62
  Quebec	166	4	162
  Northern Ontario	35	3	32
  Southern Ontario	91	8	83
  Greater Toronto Area	69	4	65
  Prairies	78	1	77
  Pacific	224	8	216
  Total planned BSO trainee graduates	725	28	697

• The CBSA College will run up to 10 cohorts per year beginning every five weeks, to deliver on its commitments from the 2025 Budget by 2028-2029. The current cohorts in progress with their target dates and expected number of graduates are as follows:

  Cohort start date	BSO recruits started training / in training	Expected to graduate	Graduation date
  November 2025	18	14	April 2, 2026
  November 2025 *Detector Dog Teams	3	3	April 2, 2026
  January 2026	36	34	May 8, 2026
  February 2026	33	33	June 12, 2026
  Total expected BSO graduates by June 2026	90	84

• Combined with the 28 February graduates and 84 expected to graduate between April and June 2026, the College expects to deliver approximately 112 new BSOs towards the target

Superintendent & Chief Roles

• A new superintendent training curriculum is being developed and will be piloted in April 2026. This program will help support the development of the next generation of management under this initiative
• No staffing for these roles has occurred as of yet

  Region	Planned Superintendent and Chief allocations	February 2026	Remaining
  Atlantic	4	0	4
  Quebec	16	0	16
  Northern Ontario	4	0	4
  Southern Ontario	7	0	7
  Greater Toronto Area	5	0	5
  Prairies	7	0	7
  Pacific	25	0	25
  Total planned BSO trainee graduates	68	0	68

Other Operational Roles

• In February 2026, 5 trade remedy investigators, 5 market watch officers, and 5 Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) compliance officers were hired internally as part of the Budget 2025 funding:

  Business function	Planned hires	February 2026	Remaining
  Trade Operations	84	15	69
  Intelligence and Enforcement Operations	90	0	90
  International Operations	3	0	3
  Recourse Program	11	0	11
  Science and Engineering	19	6	13
  Total hires to date	207	21	186

• Staffing plans for all trade operations positions have been submitted and creation of position numbers are in flight
• Various staffing processes for trade operations have launched (temporary pause during WFA period) and a joint process for trade and recourse programs is planned to launch by late April
• A dedicated staffing operations team has being established to support staffing associated with this initiative and necessary backfill as required
• Discussions with implicated DGs are planned over the coming months to finalize staffing and plans and advance the creation of positions for all operational positions outside of the CBSA College
• Stipend increase to $525/week was implemented on February 5, 2026 for all BSO recruits currently at the College retroactive to January 26, 2026

On the Horizon

• Final approvals for the regional distribution and allocation of new officers will be sought at Agency Operations Committee (AOC) on March 4, 2026
• Financial allocations were tabled and notionally approved at the Finance sub-committee on February 12, 2026. Minor changes to funding distribution to the travellers PI is required due to realignment of officers to commercial. Small adjustments against the baseline TB submission are required for expected timeline delays with procurement of new firearms (ie: moving funding from 2026-27 to 2027-28)
• Communications products & plan are being developed with communications around returning to a regional officer position for affected employees to be the first message
• An FB hub at the CBSA College is expected to implemented by fiscal year end
• A Power BI dashboard for reporting on the recruitment, hiring and deployment of the 1,000 officers has been developed and is in testing phase. Mock product to be presented to AOC March 4, 2026 with final product expected for new fiscal year reporting
• The next Cohort (26C) of 40 officers will begin training on March 16, 2026 with an expected graduation date of July 17, 2026

Overview of BSO training

1. Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE)

The candidate must pass an online exam that assesses their reasoning skills, writing skills, analytical thinking and client orientation. They will have 135 minutes to complete 117 multiple-choice questions where 60% correct in each competency is required to be successful. If they have passed the OTEE in a previous selection process, they do not need to retake the exam.

2. Interview

If successful at the OTEE, the candidate will attend an MS Teams video interview that consists of situational questions and role-playing scenarios. Previous knowledge of the CBSA is not required. Proof of a valid full driver's license without restrictions will be requested and verified prior to the interview.

• Candidates are assessed on the competencies below and must demonstrate each of these to the level required in the assessment to be considered successful
  • dealing with difficult situations
  • decisiveness
  • effective interactive communication
  • judgment
  • personal integrity
  • values and ethics

3. Validation of Prerequisites

If successful at the interview, the candidate will be required to provide proof of the following before they can complete the psychological assessment (MMPI):

• Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• High school diploma or employer-approved alternative (note: the CBSA does not consider an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience as an alternative. The NORP is currently using the GCT2 as the PSC approved testing equivalent)

4. Psychological Assessment (MMPI)

A psychologist will evaluate the candidate's ability to handle stress and suitability to carry a duty firearm.

• The MMPI will consist of two parts on separate days
  • First, a written exam (2-4 hours total)
  • followed by an in-person interview

If deemed unsuitable, the candidate is removed from the selection process. Only a determination of "suitable" or "not suitable" will be provided. A signed consent form before the assessment explains that beyond this result, no feedback, test scores, or other information can be provided.

5. Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The PAT replaces the PARE from previous selection processes and is performed during the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP) in-residence training.
Candidates will be invited to a mandatory PAT information session once they have been found suitable at the psychological assessment.

6. Firearms Safety Courses

To ensure candidates can safely handle a firearm during training and on the job, they must complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC).

Once the candidate reaches this step in the selection process, they are given 3 months to complete both courses. Failure to do so may result in their removal from the selection process.
Although a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) is not required, it is accepted as proof that both courses have been completed.

7. Medical Exam (Category III)

Candidates will receive an invitation from CBSA with a form to complete which will be provided to Health Canada (HC). HC will then contact the candidate directly to schedule the appointment to determine if the candidate is medically fit to train and work as a Border Services Officer (BSO) through the completion of a confidential health questionnaire and medical exam by a doctor.

8. Second Language Evaluations (SLE)

If the candidate applied for a bilingual position (English and French only), they must complete the SLEs and achieve the intermediate level (BBB).
The CBSA only accepts results for SLEs administered by the PSC.

9. Security Clearance

Candidates need an Enhanced Reliability Status plus Secret Clearance to train and work as a BSO. CBSA Security relies on external partners to complete the security screening.
The CBSA will email the candidate results after they complete the telephone integrity interview.
All candidates must go through this process, even if they have security clearance from another government department or law enforcement agency.

If the candidate is successful at the CBSA Officer trainee selection process, they placed in our pre-qualified pool of OITP ready candidates and can be invited om the next unfilled cohort.

10. OITP

10.1 OITP Stipend

Recruits are not paid a salary during OITP, but will receive a weekly allowance and paid accommodations and meals during Phase 2 of OITP.

10.2 OITP Phase 1 – Online Training

When candidates are selected for OITP, they will receive an invitation and will be assigned to their work location/ports of entry (PoE). While the CBSA does their best to post candidates in their preferred region, they may be posted elsewhere based on PoE staffing vacancies and the Agency's needs.
Note: when candidates apply to become a BSO, they agree to accept a posting anywhere in Canada, including small, remote, and rural PoE as a condition of employment.

• The 3 to 9 month waiting  period to be invited to participate at OITP is dependent on cohort availability and seat allocation
• Invitations are sent:
  • approximately 3 to 9 months after they complete all the required assessments; and
  • about 5 weeks before Phase 1 starts

They will complete four weeks of online training at home. Which is a mix of self-learning and instructor-led video sessions. It includes quizzes, activities, assignments, collaborative discussions, and forum postings.

10.3 OITP Phase 2 – Canada Border Services College

The recruit will then complete 14 weeks of training at the Canada Border Services College in Rigaud, Quebec.

They will learn about:

• the primary inspection process
• the secondary inspection process
• customs
• immigration
• food, plant and animal
• policies, procedures and laws that we administer and enforce
• seizures, detentions, personal searches and arrests
• how to determine the admissibility of persons and goods
• defensive tactics
• duty firearms

If recruits are successful in the OITP, they will proceed to the Officer Induction Developmental (OID) Program.

11. OID Program

On the day prior to the CBSA Induction Ceremony, recruits will receive a letter of offer for the FB-02 CBSA Officer Trainee (developmental) position. The letter of offer will include their start date at their assigned Port of Entry (PoE). They will start working at their assigned PoE approximately two (2) weeks after they graduate.

During the OID Program, they will work as CBSA Officer Trainees (FB-02) and will be paid a starting salary of $80,344. The duration of the OID Program is a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 cumulative months. The OID Program is a performance and competency-based program which includes a standardized framework of learning, coaching, constructive feedback and practical on-the-job application; which provides a clear developmental and career progression path for participants. If they successfully complete the OID Program, Officer Trainees will be recommended for an indeterminate FB-03 Border Services Officer (BSO) position which has a starting salary of $86,915.

Overview of BSO recruitment process

Figure 1 - Text version

Journey to the frontline

Here's what the Officer Trainee Development Program selection process looks like, including wait times for receiving assessment results
The order of some assessments arranged by the CBSA may slightly vary.
Selection process duration approx. 12 to 18 months (Stages 1 to 9)

Stages:

1. Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE)
2. Interview
3. Validation of Prerequisites
4. Psychological Assessment (MMPI)
5. Physical Abilities Test (PAT) information Session
6. Firearms Safety Courses Results: vary by provider
7. Medical Exam (Category III)
8. Second Language Evaluations (SLE)
9. Security Clearance
10. Officer Induction Training Program (OTIP)
    • Recruit – No salary, weekly allowance plus paid accommodations and meals
      • Online Training – 4 weeks
      • Canada Border Service College – 14 weeks
11. Officer Induction Development Program (OID Program)
    1. Unpaid - OITP graduation to OID Program – 2 weeks
    2. FB-02 Officer Trainee Salary - Development at port of entry – Approx. 12 to 18 months
12. Graduate - FB-03 BSO Salary

Border Plan

What is the status of implementation of the border plan?

• We have hired 30 Enforcement Case Officers to support removals
• The Border Action Plan includes 75 frontline resources:
  • 33 frontline Border Services Officers (BSOs)
  • 3 Detector Dog Services teams
  • 12 regional laboratory chemists
  • 7 Intelligence Officers
  • 7 Criminal Investigators
  • 6 Targeting Officers
  • 7 engineers
• 33 Border Services Officers began their in-house training at the CBSA College in Rigaud on November 6, 2025. They are expected to graduate February 27, 2026. The 3 dog handlers are currently in training at the CBSA College and are expected to graduate on April 3, 2026
• 2 engineers were hired this fiscal year and are currently supporting operations. The other 3 engineers, for a total of 5, will be hired in 2026–2027
• There are also 2 engineering support personnel (1 for electronics and 1 for engineering and scientific support) that will be hired in 2026–2027
• 4 chemists were hired this fiscal year and are currently supporting operations. The other 8 chemists, for a total of 12, will be hired in 2026–2027
• The remaining frontline resources will be deployed in future years as follows:
  • 2026–2027:
    • 7 intelligence officers
    • 7 criminal investigators
    • 6 targeting officers
  • 2027–2028:
    • 3 detector dog handlers
  • 2028–2029:
    • 3 detector dog handlers

Investment Plan

The investment plan has five pillars for specific action

All Border Action Plan commitments with respect to CTB

• In 2025–2026, the CBSA is deploying:
  • 15 Raman devices
  • 3 Mobile Large-Scale Imaging devices
  • 2 Pallet Large-Scale Imaging device
  • 1 Fixed Large-Scale Imaging device
  • 1 Small-Scale Imaging X-ray
  • 33 Border Services Officers
• In 2026–2027, the CBSA plans to deploy:
  • 30 Raman devices
  • 3 Regional Satellite Laboratories
  • 25 Ion Mobility Spectrometers
  • 6 Mobile Large-Scale Imaging devices
  • 2 Pallet Large-Scale Imaging devices
  • Up to 6 Mobile Backscatter Imaging devices
  • 10 Small-Scale Imaging X-rays
  • 3 Detector Dog Services teams
  • 12 Chemists
  • 14 Intelligence resources
  • 6 Targeting Officers
• In fiscal year 2027–2028, the CBSA plans to deploy:
  • 30 Raman devices
  • 25 Ion Mobility Spectrometers
  • 2 Pallet Large-Scale Imaging devices
  • 3 Detector Dog Services teams
• In fiscal year 2028–2029, the CBSA plans to deploy:
  • 25 Raman devices
  • 3 Detector Dog Services teams

Planned Detection Technology deployments (all sources of funds) – multi-year table

Implementation dashboard

[Redacted]

Deployment timeline

[Redacted]

Comprehensive Expenditures Review

[Redacted]

IT outages

• Beginning on September 28, 2025, the CBSA experienced multiple outages to major IT systems that resulted in delays in travellers and commercial processing
• We recognize the impacts felt by travellers and traders when IT systems are down, which is why the CBSA has been working hard on a plan to better address outages when they occur and to prevent them from happening in the first place
• Since the major outage last fall, a joint report by the CBSA and SSC has identified key causes and measures to better-prevent and mitigate outages. CBSA has been engaging air travel and commercial and trade stakeholders throughout the fall and winter to keep them updated on progress, and this will continue going forward
• Budget 2025 has committed to reducing the cost of using and maintaining CBSA equipment and IT assets by decommissioning legacy software applications
• In the event of an outage, the CBSA makes every effort to ensure an adequate number of primary inspection lines are open, while at the same time maintaining normal operations such as customs and immigration services, secondary examinations, enforcement activities, and commercial processing
• Throughout an outage, the CBSA collaborates closely with airport and bridge authorities to facilitate the flow of travellers and commercial goods
• Safety and security standards are upheld at all times, with border services officers working to verify travellers' identities, receive their declarations, and conduct any additional screening warranted by each traveller's individual circumstances. The CBSA works closely with airport and airline management to expedite traveller processing, minimize delays, and complete verifications as required
• The CBSA has a System Outage Contingency Plan for Commercial processes that was developed in partnership with industry. The plan outlines requirements for reporting commercial transactions during an outage. It also provides guidance on the electronic submission of data once the system is back online. The CBSA accepts paper documentation during an outage and waives Administrative Monetary Penalties for Advance Commercial Information related infractions resulting from the outage
• In the event of an outage of airport Primary Inspection Kiosks, travellers are re-directed to the primary inspection lines for manual processing. Outage protocols have been reviewed and re-iterated with CBSA operations and air industry partners to support business continuity at the border
• As requested by the Minister of Public Safety, the CBSA and SSC provided a report on the September/October outages to their respective Ministers on October 31, 2025. The CBSA and SSC closely examined the key causes of the outages and have developed a plan to prevent and mitigate future outages. The report was posted on the CBSA website on December 19, 2025
• CBSA/SSC Plan includes:
  • quality controls related to key IT changes
  • collaboration between CBSA, SSC and air industry and trade chain partners in planning IT changes
  • communications with industry partners
  • awareness of real world business impacts resulting from an outage of CBSA systems
  • integration of IT change and incident management among government and industry partners
  • revised outage protocols and business continuity plans to better prepare for digital disruption Progress to-date on the communication front includes strengthening the quality of existing messages to industry partners and expanding live communications to ensure operational effectiveness during incidents
  • SSC and the CBSA have integrated IT change and incident management processes and are continuing to collaboratively work together to execute the action plan
• On January 28, 2026, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, joined by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) President, Erin O'Gorman, and Shared Services Canada (SSC) President, Scott Jones, hosted a virtual roundtable with industry partners to discuss recent CBSA information technology (IT) system outages
  • During the meeting, Minister Anandasangaree and our President expressed their personal commitment in working with partners to find solutions to disruptive system outages
  • During the open forum, partners voiced strong engagement and a willingness to continue working jointly with the Agency and SSC to address issues

10 point plan (System outage)

1. Complete root cause analyses of all three incidents and apply recommendations and lessons learned
   • SSC and the CBSA have completed a joint investigation
2. Establish joint IT change management committee with CBSA, SSC and air industry partners
   • Launch weekly change planning meetings with industry partners, starting the week of Oct. 20 with all airport authority CIO teams. Expand subsequently to domestic airlines, and then establish same with trade chain partners
   • Publish weekly forward schedule of changes to our industry partners
   • Strengthen existing CIO-level engagement with air industry partners
   • Establish CIO-level engagement with commercial and trade partners
3. Improve CBSA and SSC change and incident management
   • Integrate incident change and management processes between the CBSA and SSC (immediately)
   • Establish CIO approval of all changes impacting the CBSA (immediately) and inform CBSA President and Shared Services Canada Deputy Head in advance of all changes
   • Ensure that all CBSA services, systems and applications, and their infrastructure dependencies are well-documented and understood (including certificate expiry dates)
4. Conduct joint audit of IT Change Management and Incident Management by CBSA and SSC Chief Audit Executives, to evaluate effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement
5. Improve industry partner communications and engagement channels and protocols
   • Document and enhance all industry partner communication processes and protocols regarding IT changes and incidents within the CBSA and between the CBSA and its industry partners
   • Review and strengthen the quality of messages to industry partners
   • Review and adjust active (live) communications tools such as MS Teams to ensure operational effectiveness during incidents
6. Review and bolster the CBSA's IT systems and IT infrastructure hosted by SSC
   • SSC with CBSA to review the IT infrastructure that supports the CBSA's systems and applications and develop a plan to strengthen it, improve resiliency to changes and incidents
   • SSC and CBSA to improve automated monitoring of key systems and alerting of issues
   • CBSA and SSC to thoroughly review the CBSA's IT systems and applications that underpin key services and inter-operations with industry partners to determine ways to improve resiliency to changes and incidents
7. Adjust the Agency's Investment Plan to prioritise technical debt reduction
   • Ensure that areas of aging systems and technologies are clearly identified for renewal in the CBSA's IT Investment Plan
8. Adjust the Agency's crisis/emergency management plan and procedures based on recent events
   • Review CBSA and IT branch crisis management plans and procedures to ensure that experiences and lessons from these incidents are incorporated
   • Conduct table-top exercises to test the Agency's readiness for future major IT outages
9. Improve the Agency's outage protocols and business continuity plans to better prepare for digital disruption
   • Review Travellers program outage protocols to:
     • Reinforce best practices for CBSA operations and airports to manage during PIK outages and ensure consistency across regions, airlines to manage during Interactive Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Protect Program outages.
     • Revisit and update outage protocols procedures to continue traveller processing during IT outages
     • Revisit and update airport/airline procedures for to ensure alignment with CBSA processes/requirements
     • Ensure that all BCP documentation is up-to-date and available
   • Review Commercial program outage protocols and business continuity plans to incorporate best practices and innovations found during these incidents and harmonise across regions
   • Review intelligence business continuity plans and adjust for any gaps found related to IT system outages, if required
10. Review federal government stakeholder communication protocols to increase broad awareness
    • Building on recent updates to the communication protocols, examine means of engaging and updating GC partners regarding significant CBSA incidents, outages and events, and revise or strengthen where required

10 point plan – Joint progress report

Annexe A

*3.3 This will be achieved with information from the latest Application Portfolio Management (APM) review exercise and the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) exercise as part of the Business Continuity Management Program. Both of these exercises were completed with business owners so their input will drive the technical mapping. Early indication is this will require more time but priority will be given to critical business applications that support PIK, IAPI, PPP, and ACROSS.

The scope of this sub-item will encompass the CBSA Critical Business Applications and Services (CBAS) that enable CBSA critical services, and which are operationally supported by the SSC. More specifically, business applications owned by the CBSA, business applications owned by 3rd parties that support CBSA critical services and the SSC infrastructure services that CBAS depend on to deliver a critical service.

For this sub-item, IT infrastructure dependencies will be mapped in alignment with the Application to Server Mapping Initiative launched by SSC for a sub-set of partner departments. This first-level mapping will be defined as the infrastructure CIs including the network and transport layers, including Windows, Linux and mainframe. The first-level of mapping will encompass:

• Application to server
• Application to application dependencies

For this sub-item, certificate management improvement will be achieved with the development of an integrated list of certificates that CBSA has visibility on and processes to maintain the data and integrate as part of broader change management practices.

**4.1 Developed through collaboration between the CBSA and SSC teams:

Audit Objective:
The audit's objective is to provide assurance that the CBSA and SSC have governance, coordination mechanisms, and key control activities in place to manage changes to IT systems supporting CBSA operations.

Audit Scope:
The period under review will span January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. The scope of work will include an examination of IT change management governance, communications and collaboration mechanisms, and key control activities affecting CBSA systems and services.

Scope exclusions

• IT change management activities performed within CBSA that do not relate to SSC's activities
• IT change management activities performed by SSC that do not relate to CBSA's activities
• Assessments of operational processes related to IT change management, such as, IT project management, IT asset management, configuration management, business continuity management, access management, data and information management, and IT security
• A root-cause analysis of the incidents from September 2025

Traveller Modernization – Progress to date

Background

Traveller Modernization is a set of projects to implement new tools, processes and technology to allow more efficient processing of low-risk travellers.

Budget 2021 provided the CBSA with $337.6 million and $26.6 million ongoing for this initiative.

It is composed the following components.

Completed

• Legislative Changes: Will allow for greater use of digital reporting tools earlier in the travel continuum once regulatory amendments are in place – Delivered June 2023
• Advance Declaration: Allows travellers arriving at 10 international airports the ability to submit their declaration in advance – Delivered December 2023
• Traveller Compliance Indicator: Provides officers data-analytics driven information to help them make decisions – Delivered March 2024

In progress

• Free Flow International to International Transit: Will enable travellers transiting through Canada to another country to do so without reporting to the CBSA – By June 2026
• Biometrics Program and Framework: Will deliver a framework to guide the use of biometrics at the CBSA; will deliver a technical environment to conduct facial recognition research and evaluation – By March 2027
• Digital Traveller Experience: Will deliver an app that allows travellers to submit their biometric identity information in advance(i.e. passport photo), declaration and select forms – By March 2029
• Officer Experience: Will deliver a new system for officers that has all the information they need to process travellers in one place, replacing five 20+ old systems – By March 2029

Project benefits

• Increase in overall efficiency in traveller processing
• Increase overall effectiveness of traveller processing
• Reduced transactional cost associated to traveller processing will result in cost avoidance
• Improved business intelligence for effective and efficient program monitoring and delivery
• Reduce fraud

Progress to date and near-term deliverables

What have we delivered thus far?

• Legislative changes to allow greater use of digital reporting tools – June 2023
• Implemented Advanced Declaration in ArriveCAN at 10 airports that allows travellers to submit their customs declaration electronically – December 2023
• Developed a data-analytics driven "Compliance Indicator" that will help officers process compliant travellers more quickly – March 2024
• Drafted a biometric program framework to guide the use of biometrics at the CBSA – September 2025

What are the near-term deliverables?

• Regulatory and technical changes to allow international travellers transiting through Canada to another international destination to do so without reporting to the CBSA, a long-standing request from the air industry – June 2026
• Soft launch of the new "Traveller Processing System" for officers – beginning in July 2026 with national implementation occurring through to 2027
• A framework and lab to conduct biometric research, testing and evaluation on facial recognition technologies – March 2027

Officer Experience

What will new system give officers?

• All the information they need to process travellers in one place vs. toggling between 5 systems
• Ability to view Advance Declarations submitted by travellers through the border app
• Access to additional, AI-driven information to help them make release or refer decisions
• Ability to digitally refer travellers, allowing primary officers to provide additional details to officers in secondary electronically

When will officers see these changes?

There are two phases of this project:

Phase 1 – Highway and Ferry:

• Delivers 80% of the functionality required in the new officer system
• Where? 117 highway and 9 ferry ports of entry
• When? Execution has been underway since March 2025
• Implementation is on track to begin in Summer 2026

Phase 2 – Commercial Air, Remote, Cruise and Rail:

• Enhances the new officer system for use in remaining modes
• Where? 54 airports, 12 cruise ship sites, 4 passenger rail sites
• When? Execution is expected to begin in Fall 2027
• Implementation is expected to begin in Early 2028

Roll-out of the new system is low risk.

• It has been developed through extensive engagement of frontline officers and will be supported through extensive change management
• It will begin with a few lanes at a few ports for a few months before national roll-out
• If glitches arise during implementation, officers will be able to revert back to using the old systems

Digital Traveller Experience

What will the border app give travellers?

• Ability to store their Digital Travel Credential, a digital version of a passport that contains their photo, and submit an advanced customs declaration using it
• Ability to fill out select forms (e.g. to declare currency)
• Ability to estimate duties and taxes
• Ability to access border crossing information

When will travellers see these changes?

This project has two phases, aligned to the Officer Experience project:

Phase 1 – Highway and Ferry:

• Allows travellers to submit Advance Declaration, including biometrics (i.e. photo in their passport in advance of arrival)
• Digitizes the Cross Border Currency Reporting form
• Where? 117 highway, 9 ferry ports of entry, 10 airports that have AD
• When? Execution is expected to begin in Fall 2026
• Implementation is expected to begin in Early 2028

Phase 2 – Commercial Air, Remote, Cruise and Rail:

• Allows travellers to submit Advance Declarations and biometrics in all modes
• Enables integration with industry applications (e.g. Air Canada app) for maximum uptake
• Where? 33 airports, 12 cruise ship sites, 4 passenger rail sites
• When? Execution is expected to begin in Fall 2027
• Implementation is expected to begin in Early 2028

The CBSA has been in the planning stages for Phase 1 since February 2024. Given the CBSA's history with mobile applications, it is important that this project is planned carefully. As a result, the Agency has taken longer than expected to complete detailed planning.

Planning for Phase 1 is near completion. Phase 2 planning will begin in spring 2026, once new Treasury Board authorities are in place.

Strategic benefits

Enhance border security: By having travellers submit their Digital Travel Credential in advance of arrival, it allows for systematic document verification. Once travellers arrive, officers can focus their time on interviews and examinations rather than scanning passports. Officers will be able to review pre-arrival information for travellers who completed Advance Declaration in land mode, where no such information is available currently – unlike in air where advanced passenger information is run through the National Targeting Centre, officers currently have no visibility on who will be presenting themselves at the land border.

Meet air industry and traveller needs: Travellers who submit their declaration in advance are seeing up to 50% faster processing at customs on arrival. This will allow CBSA to manage expected travel volumes without requiring additional officers.

Keep pace with international partners: Canada's B5 and G7 partners have already deployed biometric and digital entry systems to streamline checks.

• United States: Biometric border automation is resulting in a 25% reduction in wait times
• Asia-Pacific hubs: End-to-end biometric journeys have resulted in a 30% reduction in wait times
• United Kingdom: Biometric facial recognition eGates process travellers 27% faster than traditional eGates

Enable Indigenous mobility: In line with Canada's efforts to facilitate cross border mobility for Indigenous peoples, remote areas that are critical to Indigenous mobility will also benefit from digitally reporting to the CBSA, particularly in geographical areas that cannot easily access full-service ports of entry for clearance.

Create efficiencies: Officers are currently required to use multiple, segmented systems to process travellers. This creates inefficiencies at the border as officers need to login and out of multiple systems to access and input the required data throughout their shift.

Improve business intelligence: The multitude of data sources makes program reporting challenging since there are different systems in place in land and air, for conventional travellers and for trusted travellers, for primary inspection and for secondary examination.

Overview and funding

• Traveller Modernization (TM) is a multi-year initiative that will result in reduced manual transactions, the retirement of legacy IT infrastructure, and improvements to the border experience, not only for frontline officers, but also for Canadians and visitors to Canada
• Budget 2021 included $337.6 million one-time funding and $26.6 million in ongoing funds for TM
• TM is composed of 4 projects and 4 enabling components as described below

  Projects

  Traveller Compliance Indicator

  • A data analytics-driven Compliance Indicator that provides BSOs a traveller's history, assisting them in determining whether to release or refer the traveller based on passage and enforcement data
  • Delivered: March 2024

  Digital Traveller Experience

  • A single application that enables travellers to voluntarily submit digital identity information (incl. biometrics), their declaration and other information (e.g. forms) in all modes.
  • By March 2029

  Officer Experience

  • A new centralized processing platform that consolidates all the information and processes required to process a traveller regardless of mode while leveraging biometrics and data analytics to allow for a more efficient processing.
  • By March 2029

  NEXUS eGate Highway

  • Equipping 18 NEXUS highway lanes with special gates, cameras and an intercom so that travellers can be processed from a command centre within the port
  • Cancelled due to audio issues and increased costs with limited benefits to be realized

  Advance Declaration

  • A feature in ArriveCAN that allows air travellers at large international airports the option to submit their customs and immigration declaration electronically, up to 72 hours before they arrive in Canada
  • Delivered: December 2023

  Free Flow International to International Transit

  • Put in place infrastructure and system adjustments in targeted airports to enable free flow transit for international air travellers who are not entering Canada
  • By March 2026

  Biometrics Program and Framework

  • A program framework, standards, processes and tools to guide the use of biometrics at the CBSA; A technical environment to conduct research, testing and evaluation.
  • By October 2026

  Legislative and Regulatory Change

  • Modernizing CBSA's legislative and regulatory framework to enable greater use of digital tools earlier in the traveller continuum to support a right-touch experience at the border.
  • Legislation: June 2023
    Regulations: By March 2027
• Officer Experience: CBSA officers are currently required to use multiple, segmented systems to process travellers. This creates inefficiencies at the border as officers need to login and out of multiple systems to access and input the required data. The multitude of data sources makes program reporting challenging. The systems currently used to process travellers are 20+ years old. The CBSA would have difficulties delivering timely and effective border services if these systems were to fail
  • TM will deliver a new system that will be used to process travellers in all modes that leverages data-analytics and displays comprehensive traveller information to officers in a single interface
• Digital Traveller Experience: Travellers expect a digital, user-centric experience when interacting with commercial airlines and border services. The CBSA only receives pre-arrival information for travellers arriving via commercial airlines, limiting CBSA's ability to complete risk assessments in advance of arrival. Paper-based forms are susceptible to errors and take longer to process, impacting the CBSA and Government of Canada (GOC)'s timely access to information to deliver their mandate (e.g. the Cross Border Currency Reporting form will be digitized to strengthen the Canada's commitment to the Anti-Money Laundering/Anti-Terrorist Financing regime)
  • TM will deliver a mobile application that enables travellers to voluntarily submit digital identity information (including biometrics) and their customs declaration in all modes in advance of arrival to enable officers to focus on high value tasks instead of administrative data collection. It will also provide the ability for travellers to electronically submit select paper-based forms in advance of their arrival to Canada, enabling timely access to information for the CBSA and GOC partners

Current status and timelines

• Development of the Officer Experience Solution (OES) is well underway. A limited, "Early Access Deployment" to 4 highway ports of entry is planned for summer 2026 while the national deployment to all 117 highway and ferry sites will begin in early 2027
• CBSA is finalizing its plans for the Digital Traveller Experience (DTE) project and plans to begin execution of the redesigned mobile solution for travellers in Fall 2026

Funding History of the Traveller Modernization Initiative

Following approval of the Submission for Digital Traveller Experience in March 2026, there will be $93.8 million in one-time project funding and $19.3 million ongoing left to draw down from the fiscal framework. This submission will also serve to bring the scope of the Cross Border Currency Reporting (CBCR) project into the DTE project.

History

Iranian regime designation

Question Period Note – CBSA – March 20, 2026

Key messages

• Let me be clear, CBSA officers are investigating Iranian nationals who are in Canada and who served in the IRGC or were senior members of the regime
• Once evidence is gathered, they are referring the cases to the Immigration and Refugee Board and seeking a removal order

If pressed

Q1 – On the 700 put forward by StopIRGC:

• This number cannot be validated
• A couple years ago, a group of lawyers made this claim and CBSA followed up directly with them
• Only a few names were provided and the CBSA has followed up on all of them
• We encourage the public to send any tips to the CBSA Border Watch Line

Background

Information to support key messages

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works in an operating environment that changes on a daily basis and we are ready to respond and adapt as needed. Our strong response to suspected senior officials in the Iranian regime remains in place and the CBSA continues to take action to stop them from seeking or finding safe haven in Canada.

The CBSA takes its border protection responsibilities very seriously and works closely with domestic and international partners by regularly sharing relevant information on border and national security issues. This includes our support to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which makes decisions on citizenship and immigration applications, including visas. Iranian nationals must apply for a visa to come to Canada and visa applicants are carefully assessed by IRCC. For more information on visa issuance please contact IRCC directly.

In November 2022, Canada designated the leadership of the Iranian government – including senior officials of the government, security, and intelligence agencies – as inadmissible to Canada for their engagement in terrorism and systemic and gross human rights violations. This designation, which was expanded in September 2024, is pursued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). It is a broadly applied mechanism aimed at ensuring that senior government officials who served from June 23, 2003 onward do not benefit from access to Canada. Additionally, it enables the CBSA to take immigration enforcement action against any regime member who may have already been in Canada prior to or since the designation. Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are also inadmissible to Canada under an additional provision of the IRPA. Following the regime designation and IRGC listing, visas have been cancelled, investigations launched, and admissibility hearings completed.

Additionally, Canada has taken domestic legislative action to criminalize support to terrorist entities, including those who are supported by Iran. In 2024, Canada listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, in response to its terrorist acts both on its own and in knowing association with listed terrorist entities, such as Hizballah and Hamas. Canada remains gravely concerned by the Islamic Republic of Iran's actions and condemns their efforts to further destabilize peace and security across the Middle East. The Criminal Code terrorist listing regime is an important tool for countering terrorism in Canada and globally, and listing the IRGC reflects the government's commitment to keep people in Canada safe.

When the CBSA becomes aware of cases where a temporary or permanent resident inside Canada may be inadmissible as a senior official of the Iranian regime, the CBSA completes a thorough investigation. If after investigation the concern is well-founded, the CBSA will report the individual and refer the case to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) as the decision-maker in these types of cases. If the IRB determines at the end of a hearing that the person is inadmissible, they will issue a removal order against them and the CBSA will then work to enforce their removal from Canada.

There are a number of factors that affect the ability to remove a person from Canada, including availability of subsequent applications that they can make, such as pre-removal risk assessment applications, and all persons are afforded due process against any decision made against them which can include seeking judicial review of those decisions. The CBSA only actions a removal order once a person has waived or exhausted all legal avenues of recourse that can stay the removal.

As of March 5, 2026, under the designation of the Iranian regime:

• approximately 17,800 applications were reviewed for potential inadmissibility
• 239 visas have been cancelled by IRCC
• 174 investigations have been opened by the CBSA
  • Additional investigations will be opened as new information becomes available
• 79 investigations have been concluded by the CBSA, which means that the individuals in question were either not in Canada or determined not to be a senior official in the Iranian regime and therefore not inadmissible for this reason
  • The remaining cases are subject to ongoing investigations or enforcement action
• 32 persons have been reported inadmissible by the CBSA for being a senior official in the Iranian regime
  • 23 cases involving individuals in Canada have been or will be sent to the Immigration Division (ID) of the IRB for an admissibility hearing
    • 3 referrals were withdrawn by the CBSA before the case proceeded any further
  • The CBSA has requested the scheduling of 17 of these cases, while the rest continue to undergo preparations prior to being sent for scheduling. Of these 17 cases:
    • 8 admissibility hearings have been concluded, resulting in decisions by the ID:
      • 3 individuals were found inadmissible for being prescribed senior officials and issued deportation orders. 1 has been removed from Canada
      • 5 individuals were found not inadmissible by the ID; CBSA has filed their appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in 4 of these cases
    • In 2 of these cases, the appeal was dismissed by the IAD which the CBSA has filed for judicial review of the decision
    • 1 case has been subsequently withdrawn by the CBSA
    • 8 cases are ongoing

CARM accounts for small businesses

Why are you making small businesses get a CARM account?

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) is a new system for importers, designed to facilitate the collection of duties and taxes for commercial goods imported into Canada, which successfully came on line last year. With its launch, CARM became the official system of record for the collection of duties and taxes for commercial goods imported into Canada.

Those who seek to import goods into Canada need to register in CARM. When they do, they are able to use an online self-service tool to see their account, register for various CBSA programs, receive notifications, provide the CBSA with supporting documents, view account statements, make payments, and perform other activities.

Importers are also provided the opportunity to either pay their duties and taxes at the time of release when their goods enter the country or enroll in the release prior to payment (RPP) program and post financial security, which allows them to defer payment of duties and taxes.

When CARM was launched, the CBSA also implemented regulatory amendments to require all importers (regardless of size) to post financial security rather than the broker posting security on their behalf, which was the previous practice. Once importers are enrolled in CARM, they can delegate day-to-day business to their customs broker. Small businesses still have the option to pay duties and taxes upon entry into Canada, but if they want the privilege to defer payment of duties and taxes, they are required to enroll in the release prior to payment program and post financial security.

The rationale for this is simple. With the broker-based security model, the CBSA had difficulty collecting on delinquent accounts and as such, had to write off debts for duties owing and in many cases, had limited to no recourse to collect on broker bonds. The regulatory changes to the Release Prior to Payment model that were introduced with CARM are designed to clarify and strengthen the accountability for the payment of duties and taxes owing. The intent is to reduce bad debt write-off by holding the importer and not the third party agent or customs broker responsible for any outstanding debt.

Currently (as of end of January 2026), over 219,430 businesses have enrolled in the CARM client portal. Volume of RPP enrolment for importer accounts is covering over 99% of historical release volumes.

Infrequent importers, who import only a few times per year, represent a slower enrollment rate as these importers may be seasonal or may never import again and will have no need to register in CARM or release prior to payment. A portion of these infrequent importers are also non resident importers, based in other countries, and may be less aware of CARM and the release prior to payment program, which is why we are amplifying our outreach to spread awareness. Nonetheless, the CBSA continues to see a trend of small businesses enrollment increasing daily.

We understand that for some small businesses that import a few times a year, it may be more challenging to transition to CARM and post financial security. As such, we have worked with them to provide flexibility:

• Provided a 210-day transition period that gave importers the time to post their financial security
• Offered specific transition measures for a one year period, which were extended until December 31, 2025 or longer, to allow for the use of a broker's financial security for first time and one time importers and those who are in the process of registering in CARM and for release prior to payment
• Offered contingency measures that allowed brokers to use their financial security for time-sensitive and perishable products, as well as goods that contribute to an individual's health and well being
• Increased engagement efforts with a focus on small importers
• Offered help-desk services by phone and by webform to help clients enroll in CARM and a dedicated line for brokers who are helping their client register in CARM

CARM has been adopted by the importing community, with over 219,430 businesses using CARM to manage their imports to Canada, as of January 30, 2026.

CARM frequent user feedback

CARM challenges for importers

Frequent feedback received from the trade community on CARM falls into the following categories. A number of steps have been taken to improve where possible.

Monthly statistics for previous 6 months

Importer and release prior to payment enrolment – February 6 status update

Fentanyl

Over a year ago, I appointed a senior operational executive charged with coordinating our activities relating to opioids – from targeting to information sharing to collaboration with allies and Canadian police forces.

The CBSA is participating in the Joint Operations Intelligence Centre (JOIC) led by the RCMP, in response to the PM's Directive to establish a JOIC to increase intelligence production and enhance information sharing and cooperation among security intelligence and law enforcement. The JOIC provides a consolidated all-source intelligence threat picture and increase intelligence production that can be shared with domestic and ally partners, with a view to reduce and disrupt transnational criminal activities in North America, especially in relations to drugs and precursors.

We continue this work in force, through focused efforts, such as Operation Blizzard, where we dedicated resources over a four (4) week period and looked at 691,000 packages in air, postal, marine and land modes.

The results were: 67.5% of all seizures made were of illegal narcotics coming to Canada from the United States, while 17.5% were of narcotics going to the United States. These included:

• 116 fentanyl seizures (1.73 kg), intercepted in British Columbia, Québec and Alberta. Of these seizures, 1.44 kg were on route to the United States and 0.26 kg were destined to other countries
• 17 meth seizures (5.38 kg and 89 pills)
• 24 cocaine seizures (13 kg)
• 26 heroin seizures (0.19 kg)
• 17 opium seizures (38.84 kg and 11 bottles)
• 48 MDMA seizures (2.32 kg and 82 pills)
• 249 cannabis and cannabis related product seizures

The United States was the country of destination or origin for over 85% of all seizures made during the Operation.

Operations on fentanyl, narcotics and precursor chemicals are still planned and will take place throughout the year. As such, an Enforcement Operations Council was established to improve coordination and oversight of enforcement operations. The Council focuses on current and future enforcement operations, examine results and trends stemming from significant seizures, customs related enforcement activities, and update enforcement and interdiction priorities. It functions as a national forum to set enforcement priorities, direct enforcement efforts, and ensure a cohesive enforcement approach across intelligence, enforcement, and operational domains.

Duty to accommodate

What is CBSA's duty to accommodate?

In 2016, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) completed arming its workforce at ports of entry and in intelligence and enforcement functions. CBSA officers perform a range of duties in support of the safety and security of Canada, and in most modes, carrying a duty firearm is a condition of their employment.

As a member of the core public administration, the CBSA addresses workplace issues in adherence to the Public Service Employment Act, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act, and other relevant legislation. It develops related policies in alignment with collective agreements, jurisprudence, and Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada directives that apply across departments.

The Agency takes its responsibilities and obligations stemming from the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) and the Employment Equity Act. When someone can no longer be fully armed or meet the requirements of related job functions, the CBSA follows the same principals and requirements that govern the duty to accommodate as other federal government departments to accommodate them. The Agency also has a duty to spend taxpayer money wisely and to ensure that employees meet the essential requirements for positions which are classified, allocated, and funded on the assumption that they will be occupied by an armed officer supporting enforcement activities.

The duty to accommodate is a legal obligation to prevent or remove discriminatory impacts on employees based on protected grounds such as disability. It requires the CBSA to provide reasonable accommodations, which might include employment in a non-armed position.

The employer's obligation to accommodate stops when it becomes undue hardship, a threshold determined by factors including health, safety, and cost. The CBSA is not required to permanently exempt an employee from doing the essential duties of their position or create work that is not necessary. Additionally, accommodation measures are subject to periodic review.

An employee must cooperate with their employer's attempt to accommodate their needs, and rejecting a reasonable accommodation offer can bring employment to an end.

We are committed to working with employees requiring accommodations. The Accommodation page on Canada.ca provides additional information.

Please note that injury-on-duty leave is granted to border services officers in accordance with Article 37 of the Border Services (FB) Collective Agreement and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's Injury-on-duty Leave Policy.

DTA statistics

Current status on reasonable accommodation process

Current to February 17, 2025

Valleyfield

Will CBSA put officers at Valleyfield

Decisions relating to port infrastructure and supply chain fluidity are broader than CBSA – and rightly so. To that end, we work with Transport Canada, International Trade and others in the federal and provincial systems to determine how best to support trade goals.

In terms of ports, they provide data on their business modeling, source of their cargo and ability to make necessary investments in infrastructure for CBSA.

The Port of Valleyfield does not have a permanent CBSA officer presence. However, CBSA officers do currently travel to Valleyfield to provide services in line with the licenses that the port holds currently.

The Port of Valleyfield currently has a Commercial Vessel designation, which allows them to import bulk goods and receive commercial vessels, not including international marine containers.

In addition, the Port of Valleyfield has a valid sufferance warehouse license, which allows for the importation of non-containerized cargo include: steel coils/plates, general cargo (project/industrial machinery/transformers), general cargo – bulk (bauxite) and pipes. CBSA officers to conduct examinations of commercial goods in their warehouse as needed.

On first port of arrival (FPOA)

The Canada Border Services Agency's resources are strategically allocated to respond to the threats and service needs at ports of entry, including shipping ports and rail yards.

Dedicated facilities for the examination of sea containers are already in operation in the country's five major seaports. These facilities have state-of-the-art tools and trained officers to enable the examination of imported goods and ensure that all requirements of program legislation are met, in order to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians.

Ensuring control of a commercial container port requires new infrastructure, Border Services Officers resources, detection technology/equipment and training to ensure the integrity of the program.

This includes radiation portals to screen all containers entering Canada. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Canada and the United States signed the Container Security Initiative, which aims to detect and interdict terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, radiation threats, narcotics and other contraband arriving in marine containers as early as possible in the supply chain. U.S. Safe Ports Act mandates 100 percent screening by imaging and radiation detection for U.S.-bound marine containers.

As a result of this agreement, the CBSA screens all containers for radiation at its five marine ports, which represent 99% of all international container traffic into Canada.

Should Valleyfield seek to become a first port of arrival that can receive international marine containers, they would need to submit an application to the CBSA that includes a clear business case and meet all Government of Canada requirements, such as providing the CBSA with a Container Examination Facility.

Will CBSA Designate the Port of Valleyfield

The CBSA is committed to working with industry and key Government of Canada stakeholders to consider proposals for the expansion of services to support trade diversification. We recognize that reliable and efficient supply chains are an essential part of trade diversification and economic success; however, the emergence of new health, safety and security risks pose a serious threat to Canada and the world and have economic impacts as well.

Budget 2025 funding is complementary to the $1.3 billion Border Plan announced in December 2024, which together will allow the CBSA to hire up to 1,000 new officers, to be deployed across the country. However, officers are not all that is required to open a new port.

Regardless of volume, ports directly receiving international containers, the basic requirements remain, and include Examination Infrastructure, Personnel, and Detection Technology, to help in intercept contraband like guns, drugs, and stolen vehicles.

There is investment required from both the owner/operator of the ports as well as the Government of Canada. Ports pay for a container examination facility and a warehouse from which to release containerized goods, while CBSA pays for its equipment, including detection technology, as well as border services officers.

Due to the complexity of placement of ports and their impact on trade diversification, a Government of Canada-wide decision (including Public Safety, Global Affairs Canada, Transport Canada, and CBSA) is required to identify and prioritize additional ports for container import and export designation, to help catalyze private investment at ports and diversify our trade, but also ensure that ports are properly equipped to detect and intercept illegal goods and contraband.

Screening rail

What does CBSA do to screen rail

CBSA risk assesses all goods, including plants and animals, and persons coming into the country. We take this responsibility very seriously.

In rail mode, like in other modes, carriers submit commercial information on their shipments crossing the border. Targeting officers refer high risk targets for examination by Border Services Officers. Frontline officers can conduct manual inspections or use available detection technology, such as x-ray imaging, to non-intrusively inspect high risk containers.

Background

Commercial rail serves as the cornerstone of Canada's transportation infrastructure, facilitating one-third of U.S. exports to Canada and generating over $31.5 billion in cross-border trade value, including substantial flows from Mexico via the United States.

From January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, 1.82 million rail cars entered Canada, were processed through the CBSA's 26 commercial designated Railway Depots and 104 inland warehouses.

Cargo process flow:

• Prior to the freight train arriving in Canada, the carrier submits Advance Commercial Information to the CBSA. The NTC has the ability to conduct a preliminary risk assessment of goods being imported and exported by rail. The NTC is currently running a pilot, risk assessing goods being imported into Canada in the rail mode to be examined in the Prairie Region and Montreal First Point of Operational Intervention (FPOI) locations. The NTC has been at the forefront of closing the existing gap in the rail mode
• At the land border, which is Rail's first point of arrival, the carrier reports its arrival, fulfilling its reporting requirements under Section 12 of the Customs Act. This triggers the commercial release of goods as long as commercial accounting declarations have been submitted and goods are not referred for examination or other government department review
• Train cars and cargo requiring examination for health, safety and security risks that cannot be examined at First Point of Arrival will move onwards to what's called the First Point of Operational Intervention—this is where the referred rail car is examined by BSOs
• Rail cargo that has not been commercially released at the first point of arrival will move onwards to the port of final destination. Once the cargo arrives at the destination location, the warehouse operator transmits a warehouse arrival notification to the CBSA, triggering the commercial release or referral of the goods. Border Services Officers conduct commercial release processing and/or goods examination, including coordination with other government departments to ensure import requirements are met. Once complete, the goods are released to the importer
• Rail cargo referred for examination by the NTCs rail pilot program, are examined at the FPOI locations in Montreal the Prairie Regions (Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary). Most examinations are being tailgated, with some fully offloaded
• The NTC has recently also developed a rail export targeting team who risk assesses rail shipments destined for marine export
• The NTC also screens rail passengers prior to their arrival to Canada; this is yet another pilot program that's run by the travellers unit in the SOR and Quebec regions

It is important to note that the regions have yet to develop and administer comprehensive training to examine rail cars and does not have the ability to x-ray at the POEs (FPOAs) or FPOIs.

VP McCrorie regarding rail from the September 25 transcript

Caputo: what percentage of export containers are scanned at the border?

McCrorie: I couldn't give a breakdown of import vs. export, but I'd suggest around 1% to 2% of containers are examined. Need to distinguish between physically examined or scanned with x-rays, it's an important distinction; we use advance commercial information, whether inbound or outbound, and use a new targeting tool developed specifically in response to auto thefts which allows us to identify which containers should be subject to physical exam.

"The CBSA undertook additional work following the Summit thanks to special funding received, including the deployment of scanning technology in the Greater Toronto Area, or GTA, to improve our capacity to examine export-bound freight containers at intermodal facilities. …in the Toronto area rail yards, we deployed two scanners to look randomly for vehicles. We did 6,500 scans so far this year and have not found any stolen vehicles as a result of these."

"Not all cars that are stolen in Canada are bound for the export market… but we're seeing a decline in the number of vehicles we've intercepted at the border."

DeBellefeuille: In the National Action Plan to Combat Vehicle Theft, it says that new border services officers are to be hired to be deployed at ports, rail terminals, and intermodal facilities. The plan is one year old and will mark its first anniversary in November 2025. Mr. McCrorie, can you tell us exactly how many new officers have been deployed under the National Action Plan?

McCrorie: Very quickly, probably around 30 FTs have been hired, but the ones that really the 25 FTs that are operational. We had 10 new intelligence and targeting officers hired, and then 15 additional commercial exam officers hired to deploy to Montreal at the port, in the Toronto area rail yards, Port of Halifax and in the Port of Vancouver as well. They're in place…. We probably have on average 40 people working at the marine and rail examination centre at the Port of Montreal. With the additional resources another 6 were added.

Stolen vehicles

What has the Canada Border Services Agency been doing about stolen vehicles

The Canada Border Services Agency works very closely with police of jurisdiction to identify and recover stolen vehicles.

• The Canada Border Services Agency is an essential source of information for local law enforcement and the Canada Border Services Agency responds to 100% of the requests for information received
  • The Canada Border Services Agency centralized the process of requests for information and provided a single point of contact for Police of Jurisdiction to respond to an increased volume of requests of information from law enforcement partners
  • The Canada Border Services Agency processed 2,758 requests for information from the various Police of Jurisdiction in 2024. In 2025, 3,884 have been processed, marking an increase of 40% from 2024. Requests for information were received from police of jurisdiction as well as insurance agencies investigating fraud theft claims for vehicles reported exported from Canada
• Over the past year, the Canada Border Services Agency has also been part of a Joint Intelligence Group and task forces in Ontario and Quebec that focused on stolen vehicles. This collaboration has been exceptionally important and has helped drive our results:
  • In 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency intercepted 2,277 stolen vehicles at various ports across the country
  • In 2025, 1,590 vehicles have been intercepted
  • These interceptions were largely driven by referrals from policing partners and the Canada Border Services Agency's intelligence driven targeting. This highlights the importance of strong partnerships and coordinated efforts between the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial and municipal police services, and other key stakeholders
  • The Canada Border Services Agency is working closely with its partners to exchange on latest trends, and adjusting processes, as required
• The Canada Border Services Agency, so as partners, are noticing the continued increase in fraud related to vehicles being exported, which requires additional verifications and collaboration with partners, as those vehicles are not reported as stolen in most cases
  • The Canada Border Services Agency is closely working with law enforcement partners, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to establish and refine processes to identify financial fraud in a timely manner
  • Identifying financial fraud and preventing the export of those vehicle requires more work for the Canada Border Services Agency and law enforcement partners. This, combined to the changes in the concealment methods, increases the level of effort required to intercept stolen vehicles and fraudulently financed vehicles from being exported

Firearms

What is CBSA doing about firearms

The CBSA's firearms strategy is focused on the identification, interdiction, and regulatory enforcement of firearms. This includes denying entry of illegal firearms or firearm parts into Canada. The CBSA also criminally prosecutes firearms smugglers and where they are not Canadian, denies them entry to or removes them from Canada.

Over a year ago, I appointed a senior operational official responsible for firearms. Her mandate is to make sure our many activities in CBSA were linked up, that we were engaging with police forces and that police forces were aware of CBSA's considerable authorities in this space and actively engages with US counterparts to improve timely information sharing. She also works with other federal agencies (RCMP and PS) to advance efforts to strengthen policy and legislation impacting enforcement at and beyond the border.

The CBSA has established three Integrated Firearms Enforcement Teams (the Ontario Firearms smuggling Enforcement Team (OFSET), the Prairie Integrated Firearms Enforcement Team (IFET) and the Québec Weapons Smuggling Integrated Enforcement Team (WSIET). The teams are composed of criminal investigators, intelligence officers, and firearms intelligence analysts. These cross-functional teams investigate, arrest and prosecute firearms smugglers.

Recognizing the threat of privately manufactured firearms (aka PMF's or ghost guns), the CBSA has also bolstered efforts to target and interdict firearm parts arriving at the border by:

• Coordinating national intelligence through the National Targeting Centre, the Firearms Intelligence Desk and Regional Intelligence field offices
• Increasing the number of search warrants executed by our criminal investigators across the country to stop the proliferation of PMFs in Canadian communities
• Educating frontline officers on concealment trends and risk indicators of both firearms and the parts that are used to manufacture firearms
• Utilizing and continuing to invest in detection technologies capacity (such as handheld devices, small scale and large-scale X-ray machines, and detector dogs)

In addition to CBSA independent efforts, we work alongside domestic and international law enforcement partners, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), other Canadian police agencies, and the U.S government (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in joint efforts to prevent and prohibit those who engage in criminal activity from entering Canada.

• An example of these efforts includes: tracing all eligible firearms seized through an information sharing Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This allows the CBSA and our US counterparts to investigate those engaging in firearms smuggling
• Sharing near-real time information on border seizures with the RCMP and US to support the identification of trends and persons engaged in firearm smuggling activities
• In 2025, the CBSA seized over 830 firearms and 17,700 prohibited weapons at our ports of entry. Over 90 percent of all firearms seized at our border coming into Canada came from the US and less than 1 percent were seized on export
• Between 2020 and 2025, over 4000 firearms seized at our border came from the U.S.