Fact sheets: Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: Main Estimates 2026-2027 (May 28, 2026)

CBSA stats and facts

2025 Stats and Figures January 1 to March 31, 2026

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

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
• 5 Major Ports (Port of Vancouver, B.C., Port of Prince Rupert, B.C., Port of Montreal, QC, Port of Halifax, NS, Port of Saint John, NB), 213 Commercial Vessel designated sites, numerous marinas and reporting stations

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

18 IT consultants as of April 1, 2026, 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 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

• 17,716,640 travellers:
  • Air: 9,353,300
  • Highway: 8,273,598
    • including 1,296,161 truck drivers
  • Marine: 63,027
  • Rail: 26,715
• 8,736,431 travellers used Primary inspection kiosks
• 1,040,021 travellers used Advanced Declaration
• 2.17 million NEXUS members

Commercial goods imports in 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

• 8,602,774 releases of goods into the commerce of Canada
• 23,913,206 courier shipments
• $64.85 Billion Trusted Trader value for duty imported
• Commercial by the numbers:
  • Highway: 1,194,961 trucks
  • Air: 943,681 shipments
  • Marine: 504,456 containers
  • Rail: 469,527 cars

Food, plant and animal 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

A total of 877 Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties (AAAMP) issued for food, plant and animal import violations totaling $724,700 in penalties.

Enforcement in 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

A total of 11,765 seizures, intercepted and seized in Canada (from US and other countries), including:

• 118 seizures for a total of 167 firearms seized
• 1,752 seizures for a total of 3,589 weapons seized
• 5,498 illegal drugs seizures
  • Cocaine (including coca leaves, coca paste, cocaine and cocaine crack): 857 kilograms
  • Heroin: 179 kilograms
  • Fentanyl: 0.139 kilograms
  • Methamphetamines: 1,104 kilograms
  • Other opioids (including opium, methadone, morphine and morphine base): 676 kilograms
  • Other drugs, narcotics and chemicals: 4,246 kilograms (this number excludes cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, other opioids and cannabis)
• 2,881 cannabis seizures totaling 10,422 kilograms
• 2,422 tobacco seizures totaling 35,710 kilograms
• 29 child pornography seizures

Firearm seizures in 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

• Total firearms seized: 167
• Total firearms seizures: 118

Weapons seizures in 2026 (to March 31, 2026)

• Total weapons seized: 3,589
• Total weapon seizures: 1,752

Breakdown of LO-Intervened off-boards (to March 31, 2026)

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

In 2024, 2,758 Requests for Information were processed, rising to 3,884 in 2025 (+40%). As of March 31, 2026, 638 requests have been processed, submitted by police of jurisdiction and insurance agencies investigating fraud and vehicle export theft claims.

Anti-dumping (As of March 31, 2026)

As of March 31, 2026, the CBSA has conducted 5 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations across 3 product groups, spanning the mineral oil, paper, plastic, and predominantly steel industries, involving 2 countries, primarily China. Of the 5 investigations, all are ongoing.

Active Investigations:

1. Forged Grinding Media
   Steel balls or similar shapes made by forging or stamping, used mainly in mining and cement industries to crush and grind ore in ball mills
2. Oil and Gas Well Casing
   Steel pipes and casing used in oil and gas wells to support the well structure and transport oil or gas during drilling and production operations
3. Unarmoured Building Cables
   Electrical cables made of insulated copper or aluminum conductors used to permanently distribute electricity in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings
4. Thermoformed Molded Fibre Tableware^{Footnote 1}
   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
5. Truck Bodies^{Footnote 1}
   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 (Q1 of calendar year 2025 and calendar year 2026)

• In Q1 of calendar year 2025, a total of 2,949,688g of cannabis was seized. This then surged to 10,422,190 in Q1 of calendar year 2026, representing an increase of about 253%
• Q1 of calendar year 2025 recorded 403,610g of methamphetamine seized. This later climbed to 1,104,147g in Q1 of calendar year 2026. This is an increase of about 174%
• In Q1 of 2025 the CBSA seized 124,946g of other opioids. Later, in Q1 of 2026 the CBSA seized 675,899g of other opioids. This represents an increase of about 440%
• The quantity of heroin seized increased by about 436% when comparing Q1 of calendar year 2025 (33,327g) to Q1 of calendar year 2026 (178,518g)
• In total, Q1 of 2026 (17,483,600g) recorded a larger quantity of drugs seized than Q1 of calendar year 2025 (12,818,884g). A total increase of 36% was observed

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, 2025 to May 8, 2026, over 96% 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

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 (for example, overstays) is not included
4. The CBSA will enforce 20,000 removals in 2025
5. Bill C-12 impact on inventory is not included

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

Intake:

Results:

CBSA's Detention Capacity is:

CBSA's detention rates:

CBSA's detention rate as a percentage of asylum claims

Trade Statistics

Anti dumping and subsidy investigations – initiated

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 (for example, 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 Completed 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)

Removals

Removals expenditures by region and branch (in millions of dollars)

In 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency completed 23,178 removals, of which 1,184 (5%) were serious inadmissibility cases (for example, criminality, national security, war crimes, human rights violations and organized crime).

The Agency has been working to increase the number of removals completed each year; $55.5 million was received under the Border Plan to increase removals by 25% to 20,000 in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Unsuccessful claimants represent the great number of cases entering the enforcement continuum, and being processed for removal. The surge in recent years of asylum claims has directly impacted the of the overall growth of the three of the four Removals Inventories.

Between 2020 and 2025, the Removal in Progress inventory increased by 63%, Recent efforts to increase removals have resulted in the volume stabilizing since 2024, with less than 1% growth from 2024 to 2025, and a slight rise so far in 2026 (31,929 at the end of April).

The Removal Not Possible inventory experienced a similar level of growth over the same time period increasing by 60%. Nearly half of the cases in this inventory are subject to legislated stays of removal, including Administrative Deferrals of Removal and Temporary Suspensions of Removal. As a result, overall inventory levels continue to experience pressure despite increased enforcement activity. significantly increased.

While the other inventories have grown, the Wanted Inventory, has remained relatively stable growing only 4% between 2020 and 2025. The low level of growth in the Wanted inventory, shows non-compliance represent a relatively small and stable component of overall system pressure.

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 statistics

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

[Redacted]

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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, 2019 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 May 1, 2026, under the designation of the Iranian regime:

• approximately 17,800 applications were reviewed for potential inadmissibility
• 239 visas have been cancelled by IRCC
• 176 investigations have been opened by the CBSA
  • Additional investigations will be opened as new information becomes available
• 86 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
• 34 persons have been reported inadmissible by the CBSA for being a senior official in the Iranian regime
• 26 cases involving individuals in Canada have been or will be sent to the Immigration Division (ID) of the IRB for an admissibility hearing
  • 6 referrals were withdrawn by the CBSA before the case proceeded any further
• The CBSA has requested the scheduling of 20 of these cases, while the rest continue to undergo preparations prior to being sent for scheduling. Of these 20 cases:
  • 9 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
    • 6 individuals were found not inadmissible by the ID; CBSA has filed their appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in 5 of these cases
    • In 2 of these cases, the appeal was dismissed by the IAD. The CBSA has filed an application for leave and judicial review for both of these decisions; one remains ongoing and one was discontinued.
  • 1 case has been subsequently withdrawn by the CBSA
  • 10 cases are ongoing

Extortion

Financials

• $78.3 million spent on Removals in fiscal year 2024-2025 to achieve 18,126 removals
• Nearly 63% of the total expenditure was for Salary ($49.6 million), and another 27% was spent on Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
• The remaining 10%, (in other words, Other category), is comprised primarily of contributions to employee benefit plans ($7.4 million) (in other words, corporate requirements), and funding for items such as parental and maternity leave, and entitlements upon cessation of service ($340,000)
• Regional operations accounted for over 80% of the total budget for conducting removals—86% of the total salary, and 98% of the total O&M
• Operational expenses include the salary costs required for removal interviews and arrangements, and O&M costs such as travel expenses for officers and the individuals being removed
• $3,700 is the average cost of an unescorted removal and $12,500 for an escorted removal costs
• An escorted removal is required primarily when an individual poses a public safety risk, is considered a significant flight risk, or if it is a requirement imposed by the airline or a transit country
• Individuals being removed from Canada are required to pay for their own travel costs. In situations where the inadmissible person is unable or unwilling to pay, the CBSA covers the cost to ensure that they are removed in a timely manner. Costs are recovered by the Government of Canada when an individual who was removed at the government's expense seeks to return to Canada. Under the new cost recovery framework (effective April 2025), the fees have been adjusted from approximately $1,500 previously to just over $12,800 for escorted removals and just over $3,800 for unescorted removals, regardless of destination. This change established a cost recovery framework that is more in line with the current costs of removals and encourages voluntary compliance with removal orders
• Approximately $6 million was spent within IEB in NHQ for stakeholder engagement activities (in other words, securing travel documents for removal), program and operational guidance to the field, performance management and reporting, and corporate support costs. An additional $1 million was allocated to enabling branches ($800,000 for SPB and $200,000 for ISTB)

• Over $18.1 million spent in fiscal year 2024-2025 (87% of the total O&M expenditure) was spent on travel. This includes travel costs for escort officers (approximately $10 million), such as airline tickets and accommodation
• An additional $7.5 million was spent on airline tickets and associated travel expenses for individuals being removed who are unable or unwilling to pay the costs (Travel Expense for Individuals Being Removed in the table below); this can also include accommodations, food, clothing, onward transportation in the destination country, subsistence funding, and incidental costs
• In fiscal year 2024-2025, the CBSA completed 18,126 removals, including 718 escorted removals
• $612,000 spent on various professional services including building protection, $545,000 on translation and interpretation, and $360,000 on health and welfare for services such as nurse escorts and medical assessments for individuals removed from Canada
• The Other O&M category includes small amounts (under $300,000) for items such as purchasing of equipment, supplies and hardware/software; training; postage; and IT and maintenance services

Expenditure Trends

• 55% increase in removals expenditures and 141% increase in removals volume from fiscal year 2021-2022 to fiscal year 2024-2025
• In past years, the removal budget has been bolstered through additional funding sources supporting government priories, primarily Asylum and Irregular Migration funding for additional removals resulting from increased asylum claim processing
• Pay rate increases partially contributed to increased costs (FB3 salary increased by nearly 16% from June 2021 to June 2025)
• The Other category includes contributions to employee benefit plans (over 95%) and funding for items such as parental and maternity leave and entitlements upon cessation of service (less than 5%)

Iran

Question Period Note – CBSA – March 13, 2026

Key messages

• Let me be clear, CBSA officers are investigating Iranian foreign nationals who are in Canada and who served in the IRGC or were senior members of the regime
• They are bringing those people before the Immigration and Refugee Board and making the case against them

If Pressed

Q1 – On the 700 put forward by StopIRGC:

• This number is not true
• 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 names to the 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. Under the designation, 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.

Regime

The CBSA is investigating Iranians who are in Canada and who were senior officials of the regime, and bringing them before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to make a case against them.

Removal can proceed because these officials are inadmissible on the ground of human or international rights violations.

The CBSA's Border Watch Line is available for organizations and the public to submit tips on suspected regime members.

Approx. 450 tips were received by the CBSA Since the original designation of the Iranian regime in November 2022.

As of May 1, 2026, under the designation of the Iranian regime:

• approximately 17,800 applications were reviewed for potential inadmissibility
• 239 visas have been cancelled by IRCC
• 176 investigations have been opened by the CBSA
  • Additional investigations will be opened as new information becomes available
• 86 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
• 34 persons have been reported inadmissible by the CBSA for being a senior official in the Iranian regime
  • 26 cases involving individuals in Canada have been or will be sent to the Immigration Division (ID) of the IRB for an admissibility hearing
    • 6 referrals were withdrawn by the CBSA before the case proceeded any further^{Footnote 2}
  • The CBSA has requested the scheduling of 20 of these cases, while the rest continue to undergo preparations prior to being sent for scheduling. Of these 20 cases:
    • 9 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
      • 6 individuals were found not inadmissible by the ID; CBSA has filed their appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in 5 of these cases
        • In 2 of these cases, the appeal was dismissed by the IAD. The CBSA has filed an application for leave and judicial review for both of these decisions; one remains ongoing and one was discontinued.
    • 1 case has been subsequently withdrawn by the CBSA^{Footnote 2}
    • 10 cases are ongoing

IRGC

On June 19, 2024, the Minister of Public Safety listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.

Military service in Iran is mandatory (conscription); for some, service in the IRGC was compulsory.

The CBSA is investigating Iranians who are in Canada and who may have been members of the IRGC.

Where the CBSA suspects someone was a member of the IRGC, they prepare a case and present it to the IRB, the decision maker.

Since the listing of the IRGC, the CBSA has identified 37 suspected members of the IRGC:

• 7 left Canada before facing an admissibility hearing
• 23 are being prepared for an IRB hearing
• 7 are with the IRB for a hearing

Asylum seekers

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

• Asylum claims in air mode: 11,747
• Asylum claims in land mode: 21,462
• Asylum claims between the Ports of Entry (based on people brought to CBSA by PoJ): 1,840
  • This figure is included in the Asylum Claims in land mode
• This represents a 43% decrease in overall claims since last year (2024)
• The highest number of claims were at the Lacolle Port of Entry in Quebec, with 15,333 claimants (an increase of 186% over last year – 5,360 claims in 2024)

All data is as of April 15, 2026

CBSA Land Border Refugee Claims: 2020-2026

IRCC Inland Refugee Claims: 2020-2026^{Tablenote 2}

In 2020-2021, land border refugee claims low numbers were a direct reflection of the impacts of the Covid Pandemic.

• In 2022 and the early part of 2023, as Covid restrictions eased the number of land border claims increased sharply
  • A significant number of these claims were irregular claims between the Ports of Entry
• With the implementation of the STCA-AP on March 25, 2023 the number of irregular claims were greatly reduced
  • However, regular claims began increasing after the STCA-AP implementation
• Since its implementation, regular Claims have been around approximately the 15,000 per annum
  • However, in 2025 the number increased to almost 20,000 claims
    • 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 in Quebec
      • The influx can be attributed to the expiration of the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela Parole program in the United States announced on June 12, 2025
      • Additional announcements from the United States regarding the pending termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for specific nationalities such as Haiti, Somalia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Venezuela, South Sudan, Nepal and Burma have increased the potential for asylum claims at Canadian land POE's

Bill C-12 (Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act) Updates:

• Received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026
  • Part 8, amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to introduce two new ineligibility provisions
  • New Ineligibility provisions:
    • A101(1)(b.1) The person entered Canada after June 24, 2020 and waited more than 12 months to make a refugee claim
    • A101(1)(b.2) The person entered Canada from the United States between ports of entry and made their refugee claim 14 days or more after that entry
  • Application and Transitional Provisions
    • The new ineligibility provisions apply only to claims made on or after June 3, 2025
    • Claims made prior to that date are not subject to the new ineligibility provision
  • Claims found ineligible under the new provisions are not referred to the IRB
  • Claimants who are ineligible may apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)
  • CBSA will continue to monitor any impact on CBSA volumes resulting from the coming into force of the new ineligibilities
  • Between June 3, 2025 and March 25, 2026, about 32,300 claims have been flagged for redetermination ( out of 84,200 total claims), of which CBSA is expected to redetermine approximately 1.6k claims

1,000 officers

Hiring of 1,000 new CBSA Officers

• As of May 8, 2026, the CBSA has hired 106 new CBSA officers, of the 1,000
  • This includes 76 Border Services Officers (BSO) (including 3 fentanyl dog teams), 21 Trade Officers, 3 Recourse Officers, 4 Chemists and 2 Detection Technology Engineers
• By July, CBSA will have hired approximately 140 officers and will have approximately 200 in training at the college in Rigaud
• A new cohort of BSO trainees will start at the College every 5 weeks until we deliver on our commitment to hire 1,000 new officers by 2028-29 (see Annex 1). A cohort may include up to 72 BSO trainees.
• A portion of the officer trainees in each cohort will be dedicated to fulfilling the commitment to hire 1,000 new officers, while the others will be used to account for the attrition (retirement, departures) of existing officers.

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 General Competency Test: Level 1 (GCT1-207) 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 Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) from previous selection processes and is performed during the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP) in-residence training. It is not a pass or fail exercise, but rather an evaluation of your level of fitness. If you fall below the minimum standards of the test, your risk of failure or injury in the program increases.
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 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 are placed in our pre-qualified pool of OITP ready candidates and can be invited to an upcoming cohort.

10. OITP

10.1 OITP Stipend

Recruits are not paid a salary during OITP, but will receive a weekly tax-free allowance of $525 per week for the entire duration of training and paid accommodations and meals during Phase 2 of OITP (see below for more details).

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 month waiting  period to be invited to participate at OITP is dependent on cohort availability and seat allocation
• Invitations are sent approximately 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
• commercial operations
• 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. Twenty-four of these Border Services Officers completed and graduated in February 2026 and five Border Services Officers graduated in April 3, 2026 ; 4 backfills are being re-trained currently and are anticipated to be fully retrained by mid-October 2026.
• The 3 dog handlers graduated on April 3, 2026
• 2 Engineers were hired in 2025-2026 and are currently supporting operations. The other 3 Engineers, for a total of 5, will be hired this fiscal year
• There are also 2 engineering support personnel (1 for electronics and 1 for engineering and scientific support) that will be hired this fiscal
• 4 Chemists were hired in 2025-2026 and are currently supporting operations. The other 8 Chemists, for a total of 12, will be hired this fiscal year
• 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 has deployed or is in the process of finalizing the deployment of:
  • 18 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 initiate and/or 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
  • 9 Computed Tomography Scans
  • 13 Ducted Fume Hoods
  • 3 Detector Dog Services teams
  • 12 Chemists total (4 hired in 25/26)
  • 14 Intelligence resources
  • 6 Targeting Officers
• In fiscal year 2027–2028, the CBSA plans to deploy:
  • 30 Raman devices
  • 25 Ion Mobility Spectrometers
  • 4 Computed Tomography Scans
  • 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

Deployment timeline

Traveller Modernization – Progress to date

• 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 (for example, 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

  [Redacted]

• 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 (for example, 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

Comprehensive Expenditures Review

• Reduction totaling $52 million will start in fiscal year 2026-27 and on an ongoing basis
• At the CBSA, the following three proposals totaling $52 million (including EBP) were submitted and approved by the Finance Minister and Prime Minister:
  • Use of equipment and assets more efficiently [Redacted]:
    • decommissioning applications
    • extending the useful life of fleet vehicle; and
    • decreasing the number of printers
  • Change to administrative models, planning functions, training and travel [Redacted]:
    • standardizing organization structure (VP office, DG and Directors)
    • scaling down branch functions
    • consolidating financial management nationally-centralization of resources under CFO
    • standardizing travel directives; and
    • reducing discretionary training
  • Effective workforce management [Redacted]:
    • reducing reliance on overtime and eliminating standby pay
    • improving volumetric data and detailed resource; allocation models for optimal staffing levels land and air
    • reviewing historical overtime through dashboards; and
    • assigning resources based on service standards (for example, border wait times)

[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

CARM

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 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.

As of end of April 2026, over 237,900 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

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.

Small Businesses

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 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 – May 1 status update

Fentanyl

What is CBSA doing about 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 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays a critical role in protecting Canada's national security and the safety of our communities. Every day, our officers work on the front lines to stop dangerous and illegal goods from reaching our streets. Recent operations have demonstrated both the scale of the threat and the Agency's unique capacity to respond. The below nationally focused operations are examples of this, and its results highlight why continued and enhanced investment in the CBSA is essential.

The CBSA works closely with a wide range of domestic law enforcement partners to deliver a coordinated approach to border security, public safety, and the enforcement of Canadian law. These partnerships recognize that border integrity is a shared responsibility and that no single organization can address complex threats such as organized crime, human smuggling, firearms trafficking, or national security risks on its own.

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.

Cooperation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is built around securing the shared border while facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods. The relationship has evolved over decades but intensified after September 11, 2001, when both countries sought to prevent security threats without "thickening" the border. This led to a shared emphasis on risk management, information sharing, and coordinated operations rather than purely physical inspection at ports of entry.

At the operational level, collaboration includes joint enforcement and inspection activities. Integrated Border Enforcement Teams bring together CBP, CBSA, and other U.S. and Canadian law enforcement partners to target organized crime, smuggling, and national security threats between ports of entry. In parallel, preclearance programs allow CBP officers to conduct inspections in Canada before travel to the United States, streamlining passenger flows and enhancing security under the Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement that entered into force in 2019.

The CBSA also works extensively with international partners beyond the United States to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and travel, and combat transnational crime. This cooperation supports Canada's broader objective of "pushing the border outward" by addressing risks before people or goods reach Canadian ports of entry. Much of this work is conducted through legally binding agreements, multilateral organizations, and the deployment of CBSA personnel abroad to support intelligence collection, capacity building, and operational coordination.

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

Additionally, Operation Meridian was a targeted, 60 day surge operation conducted in Southern Ontario under Canada's Border Plan. Its objective was clear: disrupt the import and export of illicit narcotics and other contraband moving through commercial channels at major ports of entry. To achieve this, our border services officers intensified examinations of both inbound and outbound commercial shipments, leveraging advanced detection tools and intelligence.

• The results were : 90 percent of these seizures involved attempts to smuggle goods into Canada. These include:
  • 108 kg of cocaine
  • 350 kg of methamphetamines
  • 266 kg of khat
  • Firearms, other prohibited weapons, and substantial amounts of undeclared currency tied to criminal proceeds were also seized
• These enforcement outcomes also translated into real public safety results. Criminal charges were laid against five individuals, and 16 additional investigations remain ongoing