Key relationships: Ministerial transition 2024
Advancing reconciliation
The Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) reconciliation work is guided by the Government of Canada's 44th Parliament Speech from the Throne, the Minister of Public Safety's mandate letter, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Department of Justice's Principles respecting the Government of Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action, the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls' 231 Calls to Justice, Many Voices One Mind: a Pathway to Reconciliation, and modern and historic Treaty obligations.
The CBSA has undertaken a comprehensive and transformative approach to Reconciliation, as defined in the Indigenous Framework and Strategy, approved by the Executive Committee in 2018 and stewarded by the Indigenous Affairs Secretariat. The Framework and Strategy direct the CBSA to become a leading organization that engages, respects, cooperates and partners with Indigenous Peoples in providing integrated border services that support national security and public safety priorities and that facilitate the free flow of admissible people and goods.
The CBSA Policy on the agency's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples was implemented across the agency on . The Policy provides guidance on how CBSA staff will interact with Indigenous Peoples.
The CBSA builds Indigenous cultural competency through experiential, in-person and online learning opportunities. The CBSA has launched Indigenous courses for frontline CBSA staff, co-developed Akwesasne Awareness Training, offered KAIROS blanket exercises, facilitated several Indigenous sacred bundle presentations, and opened an Elder's Room and reflections spaces at the CBSA College in Rigaud. The CBSA also leads a public service-wide Indigenous Training and Development Community of Practice and is co-leading development of an online Indigenous knowledge portal and a Policy on Indigenous Learning.
CBSA has taken action to address the findings of the "Many Voices One Mind: a Pathway to Reconciliation" report coming out of agency gatherings in and , and are working to form and Indigenous Committee, which will develop an Action Plan for 2025. Examples include providing Indigenous employees with second language training priority, piloting culturally inclusive language training for Indigenous employees, and undertaking a design thinking exercise to prioritize more initiatives.
Jay Treaty Border Alliance Collaboration Initiative
The Jay Treaty Border Alliance is an advocacy body composed of First Nations communities and tribal governments from the United States lobbying for the recognition of border mobility rights. The JTBA-CI, which includes members of the Jay Treaty Border Alliance and the Government of Canada, convenes in partnership to address unique First Nations border crossing issues related to the mobility of First Nations people and their goods. Work is advancing through the High Table, the vice president-level Governance Table, and director-level technical tables focussing on: border crossing experience; entry of goods, identification and travel documents; right of entry; and, the recent addition of safety and security. The High Table is co-convened by the Minister of Public Safety and Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict of the Chiefs of Ontario. The High Table also includes participation from the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne–CBSA Border Collaboration Initiative
This is a Nation-to-Nation partnership between CBSA and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne designed to co-develop solutions to the unique and complex border challenges in the Cornwall-Akwesasne area. It includes four Working Circles, two sub-Circles, a Governance Circle and a Leaders Circle.
Preclearance feasibility studies
The 2017 Minister's Special Representatives Report on Border Crossing Issues identified challenges with the locations of the Ports of Entry at Cornwall, ON and Beaver Creek, YT given their significant distance from the actual border. The location of each port of entry results in Indigenous community members travelling between traditional and/or reserve territories being required to report to CBSA despite not having left Canada.
The CBSA has received Ministerial approval to conduct consultations and feasibility assessments with existing resources to explore the viability of preclearance operations in the United States for both ports of entry.
Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
On , the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent in Canada and became law. The CBSA and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada co-developed language for an action plan measure to address Article 36 of UNDRIP with Indigenous partners and organizations. On , the UNDA Action Plan was released. In order to implement Action Plan Measure 52, the CBSA and IRCC undertook a consultation and cooperation process through nationwide regional round tables, which occurred between and . Government officials met with Indigenous partners and organizations to learn about border mobility concerns, discuss possible options on right of entry legislative amendments, and commence solution-based conversations for complex border crossing issues. This engagement led to the release of the 'Reflecting back and looking forward' report in . On , temporary measures to reunite families of Indigenous people separated by Canada's border were released while the Government of Canada works toward long-term solutions to address Indigenous border mobility challenges.
Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination Tables
Currently, CBSA maintains an active presence on multiple negotiation tables at which border crossing matters are a topic of discussion, including, but not limited to, the White River First Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik, and WSÁNEĆ. CBSA also provides subject matter expertise on border crossing concerns as appropriate for self-government agreement negotiations.
Labour relations
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) is responsible for all collective bargaining within the core public administration (including the CBSA) and ensures the renewal of 27 collective agreements through negotiations with 15 bargaining agents.
Treasury Board is also responsible for providing advice on collective bargaining and for supporting federal departments and other portions of the core public administration in interpreting collective agreements.
The CBSA's workforce has membership in five of the 15 bargaining agents, broken down as of , as follows:
- The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is the largest union covering federal public servants and represents 14,577 CBSA employees, including 10,853 in the Frontière‑Border (FB) classification. While the CBSA is the only employer representative at the Frontière‑Border negotiating table, it is not represented at the other Public Service Alliance of Canada -Treasury Board bargaining tables
All collective agreements with the Public Service Alliance of Canada have been ratified and will expire in 2025 or 2026
- The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) represents 1,252 CBSA employees. All Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada collective agreements are valid and set to expire in 2025 or 2026
- The Association of Canadian Financial Officers (ACFO) represents 276 CBSA employees. A collective agreement is in place and will expire
- The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) represents 502 CBSA employees. A collective agreement is in place and will expire
- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents 13 CBSA employees. A collective agreement is in place and will expire
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