Enhanced Border Measures
Date: May 21, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: TB/CBSA
Proposed Response:
- In efforts to flatten the curve, we have taken a number of extraordinary measures at the border.
- These measures include restricting non-essential travel at the Canadian border, including travellers arriving from the U.S., while ensuring that goods that are essential to our well-being and economic prosperity can continue to flow through.
- This restriction on all optional or discretionary (non-essential) travel across the Canada-U.S. border has been extended until
June 21, 2020. - Airlines are also required to screen all passengers, including Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, for symptoms related to COVID-19 before they board a flight to Canada.
- In order to protect the safety of all travellers, those who have symptoms will not be allowed to board for 14 days following their denial.
- International flights continue to be routed only to the major airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, to better manage the flow of those returning from abroad.
- The CBSA increased the number of Border Service Officers (BSOs) at these airports to provide for an adequate level of service, as well as relief for officers as required.
- As of April 15, 2020, the Government of Canada implemented a federal Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act requiring anyone entering Canada, regardless of mode, to quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days.
- However, certain persons who cross the border regularly to ensure the continued flow of goods and essential services, or individuals who receive or provide other essential services to Canadians, are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirement, as long as they are asymptomatic.
- In addition, the CBSA has put in place mechanisms to identify travellers who may be non-compliant, or suspected of potential non-compliance with a mandatory quarantine or isolation order.
- All travellers subject to mandatory quarantine or isolation, regardless of how they arrive in Canada will be required to provide contact information when being processed by the CBSA.
- This information will be shared with the Public Health Agency of Canada to ensure compliance with the mandatory isolation order and shared with the RCMP on a regular basis. The RCMP has agreed to provide this information to the police of jurisdiction.
On Alberta Measures
- The CBSA has had ongoing engagement with the provinces and territories regarding the border measures currently in place.
- The CBSA and PHAC have worked directly with provinces and territories with respect to quarantine plans and to ensure that information is shared appropriately.
- The CBSA, together with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Transport Canada worked with the Province of Alberta to ensure provincial checkpoints compliment the work being done at the border.
On Travellers Arriving in Canada
- The Government of Canada has taken extraordinary measures in an effort to reduce the potential for the cross-border transmission of COVID-19.
- This included restrictions on entry of all foreign nationals arriving from any country other than the U.S, unless they are exempt and not entering for an optional or discretionary purpose. There is also a prohibition in place for travellers coming from the U.S. for optional or discretionary purposes.
- Over the past 7 days (May 13 to May 19), approximately 71% of travellers arriving in Canada were Canadian citizens or permanent residents, 4.5% were U.S citizens, and 24.5% were other foreign nationals.
Background:
To prevent potential transmission to Canada of the virus that is the cause of COVID-19, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Health Portfolio Operations Centre (HPOC) has recommended enhanced border measures at ports of entry to identify and effectively screen persons who are feeling ill or unwell and to inform travellers of the need to quarantine for 14 days.
Consequently, CBSA Border Services Officers (BSOs) ask each traveller if they currently have a cough, difficulty breathing, or feel that they have a fever. If a traveller responds in the affirmative, they are to be isolated at the earliest opportunity, and provided with a mask kit. In addition, they are asked to fill out the PHAC Coronavirus form, which allows health authorities to monitor and track those who have been in affected regions, and are asked to self-isolate. The form captures basic data, flight data, and contact information for the passenger while in Canada. These travellers will be automatically referred to a PHAC quarantine officer. As of April 15, BSOs are also asking travellers if they have an appropriate location to quarantine, that the location is not shared with vulnerable individuals and that they are able to demonstrate that basic necessities (such as food and medication) can be delivered to them.
BSOs use a risk-based approach when processing travellers. When it comes to the COVID-19 situation, CBSA officers are to remain vigilant with respect to travellers coming from countries and regions where significant numbers of confirmed cases exist. BSOs are to use discretionary questioning techniques to establish whether or not a traveller may be ill, unwell or potentially transmitting COVID-19.
Under the International Health Regulations, to which Canada is a signatory, all travellers arriving in Canada who are ill or may be ill with a communicable disease, must be referred to Canadian health authorities for assessment and medical treatment until such time as they no longer present a threat to the public in Canada or abroad. This means that ill foreign nationals who arrive at ports of entry may not be instructed to go back to their country of origin (in the land mode, drive back to the United States) while exhibiting signs of a suspected communicable disease and must always be referred to a PHAC quarantine officer for a health assessment.
Immigration and customs processing, questioning and examination are suspended until all screening, health assessment and medical examination/treatment under the Quarantine Act have been completed.
Contact information of all travellers subject to a mandatory self-isolation order is captured when the traveller seeks entry into Canada. Provision of the information requested by the CBSA on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada is mandatory under the Quarantine Act. Travellers are thus required to provide their email, address while in Canada, and phone number. If a traveller does not provide this information, they may be subject to additional measures, such as a requirement to undergo a health assessment, or charged with an offence under the Quarantine Act.
Responding to the Arrival of Symptomatic Travellers
Travellers found to be ill in-flight are met by CBSA officers at the gate, provided with a kit that includes a mask and instructions, and asked to wear the mask immediately. They will be escorted through the airport to ensure that they are kept away from other passengers. CBSA officers are already familiar with this standard procedure and work with airlines, airport authorities and PHAC to ensure an efficient and effective process is in place to protect the well-being of others.
Increased Presence
At all airports, additional teams of roving officers have been deployed throughout the arrivals area and baggage areas to engage with travellers and increase officer presence through conversation.
The additional officers are conducting further health screening and public outreach by visually observing arriving travellers and engaging them to question them on how they are feeling and to ensure that they are aware of the guidance provided by PHAC. CBSA officers will use their training to approach any traveller displaying signs of illness for further questioning. CBSA officers are distributing revised PHAC pamphlets containing the latest health advice that advises travellers to self-isolate. All travellers are asked if they are feeling sick or unwell by officers working podium or triage or document verification officers before they leave the CBSA area. This is in addition to maintaining normal staffing levels even though traveller volumes may be decreasing.
Contacts:
Approved by: Calvin Christiansen, Director General, COVID-19 Task Force, Travellers Branch, [REDACTED]
- Date modified: