The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) says nearly 50 million travellers entered Canada in the first 10 months of 2022, approximately four times the 2021 volume. Correspondingly, the agency reports that it also stopped proportionally more drugs and guns from entering the country during a year when travel bounced back from pandemic lows.
As of Oct. 31, the CBSA says it facilitated the arrival of 50 million travellers as follows:
• 20,339,623 by air
• 27,172,695 by land
• 2,360,640 by marine
• 32,292 by rail
• Notably included were 112,027 Ukrainians and 24,072 Afghans
The flood of travellers in 2022 represented an increase of 267% from 2021. At the same time, the Agency also says it prevented 1,009 firearms (compared to 908 in 2021 – an 11% increase), and 37,749 kg. of illicit drugs (compared to 21,968 in 2021 – an increase of 72%) and other dangerous goods from entering the country, as well as making 25 child pornography seizures and reunited 18 missing children with their loved ones.
In the face of severe criticism for chaotic border scenes of travellers trying to enter the country during the year – particularly during summer – the 2022 review also highlights CBSA’s ‘Border Modernization mandate’ as making significant steps towards easing the flow of travellers through the introduction of a suite of new tools – while also maintaining health and security standards.
“New touchless border processes were introduced at select ports of entry to reduce possible disease transmission points while shortening border wait times,” says the agency. “By streamlining the process for low-risk travellers CBSA can focus on higher-risk activities, such as conducting secondary examinations and enforcement activities.
New and continuing initiatives include:
• Launched Advance CBSA Declaration. This optional feature, in ArriveCAN, allows travellers to make their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of arriving in Canada and save time at the airports. It is currently available at six international airports and will be expanded to other airports in the coming months.
• Rolled out eGates at Toronto Pearson International Airport for those travelling alone or in small groups to verify their identity and submit their customs and immigration declaration faster. Combined with the use of Primary Inspection Kiosks, eGates are improving the flow of traffic at the arrivals hall.
Looking ahead, CBSA launched the Land Border Crossing Project, the largest infrastructure project in the history of the agency, which will see 24 ports of entry upgraded or replaced over seven years. The sustainable, energy efficient, and accessible infrastructure will improve service to travellers and commercial importers and working conditions for officers. Cultural representation displays of local Indigenous communities will be incorporated into each port of entry.