Timeline – CBSA Border Measures
Date: July 22, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: SPB/CBSA
Measures
January 22
Enhanced screening border measures at 4 major airports – travellers from Wuhan:
- Locations: Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto international airports
- Measures include:
- messaging on arrival screens;
- asking an additional health screening question to travellers either on an electronic kiosk or by a CBSA officer directly if they have travelled to Wuhan China; and
- asking travellers to inform a Border Services Officer if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
January 31
Administrative Deferral of Removal (ADR) imposed on Hubei province, China
January 31
Introduction of new screening form and screening aid for all persons detained and admitted to a detention facility
February 1
Expansion of enhanced screening to other airports
Locations: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax airports
February 6
Detention Reviews by IRB by telephone or videoconference
For detainees who respond in the affirmative to specific screening questions.
February 8
New information brochure:
Issued by BSOs, with specific instructions for travellers who have been in the Province of Hubei
February 9
Enhanced screening at all airports:
Locations: All international airports in Canada
February 14
Occupational health and safety advice from Health Canada: provided to Border Services Officers (BSOs)
February 17
Contact tracing for travellers who have been in Hubei (PHAC)
- All travellers who indicate they have been in the province of Hubei are required to fill out a PHAC contact form to allow health authorities to monitor and track those who have been in the impacted region
- The form captures basic biographical data, flight data, and contact information for the passenger while in Canada. Once completed, PHAC determines when and how to share this information with provincial authorities
February 19
Surgical mask kits begin being issued by BSOs to all travellers who reported that they have been in the Province of Hubei
March 4
Expansion of screening – travellers from Iran:
Locations: All international airports in Canada to include Iran
March 6
Enhanced health screening in land, rail and marine mode: added to border processing for travellers seeking entry into Canada by car, rail or ferry
March 12
Expansion of screening - travellers from Italy
Locations: All international airports in Canada to include Italy
March 12
Introduction of new procedures requiring all detainees who are being transported and detained must wear a mask
March 14
Enhanced signage implemented: at all ports of entry
March 15
Quarantine Officers deployed on-site at Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montreal (YUL) international airports.
Quarantine Officers available to conduct health assessments through the 24/7 Central Notification System (CNS) Line for all other locations where Quarantine Officers were not on-site.
March 16
Public visits to IHCs suspended
March 16
New procedures in place at Immigration Holding Centres (IHCs)
- Visits from the public are suspended. Exceptions include counsel, designated representatives, and interpreters.
- Non-contact visits used where available; and, if necessary, contact visits exercise safe distancing practices.
- Mandatory requirement for personal protective equipment for both detainees, staff and contracted staff.
- Social distancing measures introduced in all CBSA IHCs
March 16
Request for all inbound travellers to self-isolate (PHAC)
International flights are redirected to only four international airports: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver
March 16
Waiving of duties and taxes on temporarily imported goods for emergency use in response to COVID-19 (Finance Canada)
March 16
Contact tracing for all symptomatic travellers (PHAC)
All travellers who display symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as a cough, fever, or difficult breathing, are required to complete a PHAC contact tracing form.
March 16
Customs Notice 20-08
- Provides information on the use of the Goods for Emergency Use Remission Order, (C.R.C., c. 768), and application of Tariff Item No. 9993.00.00 of the Customs Tariff in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Updated on April 7, 2020 to include importations on behalf of public or private care residences, such as seniors’ residences, retirement homes, nursing homes and shelters.
March 17
President correspondence to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization
To encourage WCO Member States to maintain coordinated action and avoid unduly disrupting international trade supply chains.
March 17
CBSA and US CPB agrees to strike a Task Force to advance the Canada-US Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
To facilitate efficient trade and the cross-border movement of essential goods, workers and services in North America.
March 17
Removals Postponed:
- All inland removals (excluding cases where removal order is issued at Port of Entry) will be postponed until April 21, 2020.
- Does not apply for national security, organized crime, crimes against humanity and criminal cases and for those individuals who are willing to leave the country voluntarily (a statutory declaration must be signed by these individuals).
- These excepted removals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by CBSA senior management prior to their occurrence.
Mid-March
Temporary Targets in effect for counterfeit medical supplies in the commercial stream
In collaboration with US CBP, CBSA has created targets to aid commercial BSOs in identifying possible counterfeit shipments of medical supplies for examination.
March 18
Air Travel Ban on Foreign Nationals put in place: Foreign Nationals are restricted from entering Canada if they arrive by aircraft coming from a foreign country.
Subject to specific exemptions, which included:
- Foreign Nationals, including United States (U.S.) citizens, who have been in the U.S. and Canada for more than 14 days;
- Close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
- French residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon (SPM) arriving directly from SPM;
- Urgent Protection Plan resettled refugees;
- Accredited diplomats and their family members;
- Airline and maritime crews;
- Foreign nationals travelling at the invitation of the Canadian Government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response or whose entry would be in the national interest;
- Members of the Canadian military, visiting forces, and their family members; and;
- Transiting passengers travelling to / from the U.S., and international-to-international transit.
March 18
CBSA engagement with stakeholders and industry
- The CBSA, via its Border Commercial Consultative Committee (BCCC), reached out to its members (customs brokers, representatives of modal conveyances rail, marine, highway, air, courier) with a forum to communicate their issues and share information on what the CBSA is doing in relation to the COVID-19 situation.
- The CBSA remains in communication with its stakeholders (Marine Terminal operators, Canadian Trucking Alliance, Customs Brokers, etc.) offering support for resolution of issues, including those related to COVID-19.
March 18
Quarantine Officers deployed on-site at Calgary (YYC) international airport
Quarantine Officers available to conduct health assessments through the 24/7 Central Notification System (CNS) Line for all other locations where Quarantine Officers were not on-site.
March 19
Grace period for late accounting penalties
Provide for a 45 business days grace period for late accounting penalties. Clients will not have to submit an application to have late accounting penalties waived. This applies to transactions released from March 11, 2020, to May 14, 2020, inclusively.
March 19
Customs Notice 20-09
CBSA issued a Customs Notice indicating that effective immediately, the period of 90 days for submitting corrections, following a CBSA trade compliance verification where errors were found, would be automatically extended by 30 days.
March 21
Travel restrictions in effect (as agreed until April 21, 2020):
- prohibit any foreign national, including U.S. nationals, from entering Canada in all modes of travel (air, land, rail and marine) for optional or discretionary purposes, with the exception of:
- A person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act;
- A person who, in the opinion of Chief Public Health Officer, does not pose a risk of significant harm to public health;
- A protected person who has previously received refugee protection in Canada as defined in section 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; or
- A person, travelling by aircraft, if the scheduled arrival in Canada is before 11:59AM EDT on March 21, 2020.
- all Foreign Nationals entering Canada for essential business or studies must also have only been in either the U.S. or Canada for the period of 14 days prior to their arrival in Canada.
- all Foreign Nationals are prohibited from entering if they display the following symptoms: a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties.
March 22
Travel restrictions in effect (as signed until June 30, 2020):
- for any foreign national entering Canada by air and marine mode from any country other than the U.S. with the exception of:
- Foreign National, including US citizens, who have been in the US and Canada for more than 14 days (as per the order governing travel from the US to Canada);
- Immediate family member of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
- Person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act;
- Person who is authorized, in writing, by a consular officer of the Government of Canada to enter Canada for the purpose of reuniting immediate family members;
- Airline or marine crew member;
- Accredited diplomat and immediate family members, including representative from the United Nations and international organizations for which Canada is part of;
- Foreign national travelling at the invitation of the Canadian government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response;
- Person who arrives by means of an aircraft operated by the Canadian Forces or the Department of National Defence;
- Member of the Canadian military, visiting forces, and their family members;
- Protected Person presenting a Convention Refugee travel document;
- A French citizen who resides in St. Pierre and Miquelon (SPM) who has only been in SPM, the US or Canada during the period of 14 days before the day on which they board;
- Person or any person in class of persons who, in the opinion of Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer does not pose a risk of significant harm to the public health, or will provide essential service while in Canada; and
- Transiting passengers through Canada to another country.
- Transiting passengers will be subject to any travel bans and restrictions the third country has in place.
March 25
Mandatory isolation for all inbound travellers (PHAC)
- Individuals entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID 19, are ordered to self-isolate for 14 days, with the exception of:
- Persons making necessary medical deliveries of cells, blood and blood products, tissues, organs, or other similar lifesaving human body parts, that are required for patient care in Canada;
- Asymptomatic persons in the trade and transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods and people, including truck drivers and crew on any plane, train or marine vessel, and that cross the border while performing their duties or for the purpose of performing their duties;
- Asymptomatic persons who have to cross the border regularly to go to work, including in the health care sector or critical infrastructure workers for the purpose of performing their duties; and
- Asymptomatic persons who have to cross the border to provide or receive essential services, including emergency responders and personnel providing essential services to Canadians related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
March 25
Additional contact tracing of some asymptomatic travellers (PHAC)
The CBSA expands contact tracing to include a random sample of 200 asymptomatic travellers. Contact information continues to be collected for all symptomatic travellers.
March 26
OIC 9 entered into force (also known as OIC 0185)
This OIC prohibits foreign nationals from seeking entry to Canada at any location to make a claim for refugee protection
March 27
Prime Minister’s announcement to extend the timeframe for the payment of customs duties, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)
- The timeframe for all payments due to the Agency is extended to June 30, 2020. This also includes charges on the statement of account for March due on April 1, 2020.
- To ease cash-flow challenges that businesses are facing across the country
- $8.7B in estimated revenue deferral for the three month period.
By March 27
In-person reporting for detainees released on Alternatives to Detention eliminated
- All ATD detainees to use phone reporting
- Effective date varies across regions beginning March 17
March 29
Temporary Lookouts in effect for non-compliance with self-isolation requirements
- Lookouts will not be issued on all asymptomatic travellers, but on those the CBSA believes may not have respected the requirement to self-isolated and have signaled an unwillingness to comply.
- Lookouts will be issued for symptomatic travellers who are issued a quarantine order under the Quarantine Act comply with those orders.
- Lookout information will be maintained for a period of 14 days and will be shared with U.S. CBP where required.
- PHAC will be notified every time CBSA encounters an individual that it believes has failed to comply with the order to self-isolate.
March 30
CBSA suspends all trade compliance interactions with trade chain partners until April 20
- The suspension provides industry an additional 30 days to submit corrections to the CBSA following a trade compliance verification.
- All deadlines imposed in connection with a verification are automatically extended by a period of time equivalent to the period of suspension.
March 31
Expansion of contact tracing to all travellers arriving in land and air mode who are required to self-isolate (PHAC)
- Effective March 31, 12:01 am, the CBSA captures basic biographical data and contact information for the traveller while in Canada. Once completed, it is provided to PHAC.
- PHAC determines when and how to share this information with provincial authorities and/or law enforcement.
March 31
Tariff classification and other information to import medical supplies (WCO)
- Listing of medical supplies for COVID-19 based on Harmonized System (HS) codes provided by the World Customs Organization identified by tariff classification under Canada’s Customs Tariff.
- Customs Notice 20-12 COVID-19 issued to inform the commercial importing community of tariff classification and release information, including eligibility for duty free or remission of duties and taxes.
April 2
Domestic PHAC exemption for Mohawks of Akwesasne First Nation
- Effective April 2, domestic travellers from the Mohawks of Akwesasne First Nation transiting the Cornwall Port of Entry (Ontario) are exempt from the requirement to provide biographic information to the Public Health Agency of Canada
April 2
Carriers to Sign up For Electronic Notices
All carriers are encouraged to sign up to receive electronic notices.
April 6
Centralized Traveller History Requests pursuant to Quarantine Act
- Warrant Response Centre implemented a centralized response for law enforcement to request 14 day traveller histories in relation to travellers suspected of non-compliance with the Quarantine Act.
- Association of Canadian Chiefs of Police was provided with the new direction for making requests to the WRC for dissemination to police services.
April 7
Relief of imported goods for emergency use
In collaboration with Finance Canada, the CBSA provided relief of duty and tax for goods required for an emergency and are imported by or on behalf of federal, provincial or municipal entities involved such as centres for health care as well as by or on behalf of members of first response organizations such as police, fire and local civil defense groups, including medical response teams.
April 9
Sharing of COVID-19 Lookouts with RCMP
- Information related to lookouts shared with RCMP on a daily basis.
- RCMP has agreed to provide this information to local or provincial police of jurisdiction.
April 14
Canadian Automated Export Declaration (CAED) Decommissioning Delay
The CAED decommissioning date has been extended from
June 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020, however, exporters and customs service providers are encouraged to activate their Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) accounts as soon a possible.
April 15
Temporary Reduction of Select Land Ports of Entry (POEs)
- CBSA temporarily reduces the hours of service at 27 low-traffic POEs: 3 in British Columbia; 2 in Alberta; 8 in Saskatchewan; 6 in Manitoba; and 8 in Quebec. Opening of one seasonal POE in Alberta will be delayed.
- Hours of service match with US CPB POE reductions.
April 15
OIC 10 – Enhanced Border Measures in support of mandatory Quarantine and Isolation
- Travellers are required to make the following declaration: “I acknowledge that I/we must quarantine (if no symptoms) or isolate (if symptomatic) for 14 days to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.”
- Technicians entering Canada to maintain or repair equipment necessary to support critical infrastructure have been exempted from mandatory quarantine by the Chief Public Health Officer.
- Every person entering Canada is required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering. After making the declaration, the CBSA officer will ensure the traveller is wearing an appropriate mask or face covering in line with guidance provided by PHAC.
- Should a traveller not have an appropriate face covering or mask, the BSO will provide one to them.
- If required, the BSO will ask a traveller to remove their face covering for the purpose of identity verification. In such cases, the BSO is to ensure the traveller is at a 2m distance of the BSO when not wearing a face covering or mask.
April 16
Medical Supplies
- Customs Notice 20-12 (March 31) was updated to cover a greater range of medical equipment and supplies such as oxygen concentrators and sample collection sets.
- A list of medical supplies for COVID‑19 based on HS codes provided by the World Customs Organization has been identified by tariff classification under Canada’s Customs Tariff.
- A correction was also made for the tariff classification of plastic face shields. This change is revenue neutral as the original classification and the new classification are both duty free.
April 17
Suspension of all trade compliance interactions with trade chain partners extended until further notice.
April 20
Travel restrictions extended for 30 days
- Restrictions put in place on March 21 to April 21 have been extended for 30 days (until May 21)
- These restrictions prohibit any foreign national, including U.S. nationals, from entering Canada in all modes of travel (air, land, rail and marine), subject to certain exceptions (see March 21 entry)
April 20
Amendments to the Immigration Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
- Amendments have been made to the IRPR that impose obligations on the employers of temporary foreign workers to ensure that employees have the ability to comply with the quarantine measures that are imposed when they enter Canada;
- Further IRPR amendments provide the authority to delegated officials to issue a removal order for non-compliance with a new condition that requires compliance with any order issued under the Quarantine Act or Emergencies Act;
- Additional amendments have been made to introduce a set of factors to assess the suitability of any person who wishes to post a guarantee on behalf of a foreign worker, that they will comply with conditions imposed on them upon entry.
April 21
Removals Postponed (extension)
- All inland removals (excluding cases where removal order is issued at Port of Entry) will continue be postponed until
May 21, 2020. - Does not apply for national security, organized crime, crimes against humanity and criminal cases and for those individuals who are willing to leave the country voluntarily (a statutory declaration must be signed by these individuals).
- These excepted removals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by CBSA senior management prior to their occurrence.
April 21
CBSA issues direction to travellers driving across land borders into Canada to wear a non-medical mask or face covering
April 22
Extension of restriction on non-essential travel across the Canada-U.S. Border
- Restrictions have been extended to May 21, 2020
- Temporary direct backs continue in air and marine mode.
- Extended measures put in place for direct backs for claimants arriving between ports of entry, as well as the application of the Safe Third Country Agreement at land POEs.
- Additional exemptions for refugee claims made at POE include those pursuant to Minister Discretion based on national or public interest, including persons charged with the death penalty.
- POEs will complete processing once asylum seekers have completed 14-day self-isolation or quarantine periods. If the individual was symptomatic, they will not be released from self-isolation until verified by a PHAC quarantine officer as safe to release
- IRCC and/or PHAC are responsible for transporting and housing of asylum seekers post-processing.
April 22
Soft Launch of ArriveCAN mobile application
- ArriveCAN is a mobile application that enables all incoming travellers to Canada (by air or land) to submit mandatory contact tracing information quickly, easily and securely.
- Information is collected under the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) contact tracing form (Covid-19 Form) (e.g., tombstone data, such as flight, traveller, and isolation address details, etc.).
- ArriveCAN serves as an encouraged alternative to the current COVID-19 paper contact tracing form used at Ports of Entry (POEs) and is available on the Google Play and Apple Stores.
- CBSA, on behalf of PHAC, is responsible for developing the application, collecting, storing the data and reporting data to PHAC.
- PHAC is responsible for overall project delivery and implementation.
- The application was promoted at Vancouver International Airport and the Douglas Land POE (BC)
April 23
Safety Measures for Commercial Stakeholders
CBSA commercial offices open to the public are employing systems to promote physical distancing for our commercial clients, including driver queuing areas and waiting rooms, the use of signage and/or the use of tape or any other marking material on floors to identify the PHAC recommended 2 metre distance. Officers have been briefed on preventing the spread of COVID-19, and plexiglass protective barriers in higher-risk CBSA facilities are beginning to be installed.
Information For Carriers/Drivers
Additional information for Carriers and Drivers is provided with respect to border measures and commercial conveyances.
April 29
National Launch of ArriveCan Application
May 5
Regulatory Amendments Regarding the Imposition of Mandatory Conditions on Foreign Nationals Authorized to Enter Canada in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) were made to:
- impose mandatory conditions related to ensure compliance with orders or regulations made under the Emergencies Act or the Quarantine Act; and
- provide Ministerial authority to issue removal orders for specific non-compliance related to the failure to comply with such requirements
May 8
Waiving tariffs on certain medical goods
- The Government of Canada announced that it is waiving tariffs on certain medical goods, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves.
- CBSA updated Customs Notice 20-19 accordingly
May 11
System Changes to validate PPE Importations
The CBSA has made system changes to ensure that importations of PPE can be validated electronically, thereby ensuring that supplies meet import requirements and are not unnecessarily delayed.
May 12
Temporary Suspension of Service at Select Air and Marine Ports of Entry (until further notice)
- CBSA temporarily suspended service at:
- 126 small airports
- 342 small vessel reporting sites
- 8 ferry locations (after ferry companies halted service)
- 2 seasonal land ports of entry (deferred opening)
May 12 (11:59 PM ET)
Temporary suspension of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program
- The RABC, which is only available in parts of northwestern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, has been temporarily suspended.
- Permit holders cannot use their RABC permit to enter Canada until current Canadian travel restrictions are lifted.
May 15
Termination of the Automatic Waiver of Late Accounting Penalties
- The CBSA announced it will no longer automatically waive late accounting penalties, effective May 26, 2020.
- As per standard practice, an importer may, however, request a review of a late accounting penalty
May 21
Removals Postponed (extension)
- All inland removals (excluding cases where removal order is issued at Port of Entry) will continue be postponed until
June 21, 2020. - Does not apply for national security, organized crime, crimes against humanity and criminal cases and for those individuals who are willing to leave the country voluntarily (a statutory declaration must be signed by these individuals).
- These excepted removals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by CBSA senior management prior to their occurrence.
May 22
Extension of restriction on non-essential travel across the Canada-U.S. Border
- Restrictions have been extended to June 21, 2020
- Temporary direct backs continue in air and marine mode.
- Extended measures continue for direct backs for claimants arriving between ports of entry, as well as the application of the Safe Third Country Agreement at land POEs.
May 29
Updated measures for cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters
Cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.
June 3
New measures for the use of face coverings in the Canadian Transportation sector
- The use of face coverings by workers and others involved in the transportation system will be expanded to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
- This approach complements recent regulations and guidelines for passengers to use face coverings in certain circumstances when travelling by air, marine and rail.
June 8
OIC 13 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country other than the United States)
- In effect until June 30, 2020.
- Updated to include exceptions for:
- diplomats and their immediate family;
- international-to-international transit;
- exemptions for people on conveyances which pass through Canadian waters and air space and do not land in Canada and,
- discretionary entry by immediate family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Immediate family members can enter pursuant to the new exemption if: (1) they are asymptomatic (2) they are entering Canada to be with their immediate family member; and (3) they can demonstrate the intent to stay in Canada for a period of at least 15 days.
June 8
OIC 14 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States)
- In effect until June 21, 2020.
- Updated to include exceptions for: discretionary entry by foreign nationals who are immediate family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Immediate family members can enter pursuant to the new exemption if: (1) they are asymptomatic (2) they are entering Canada to be with their immediate family member; and (3) they can demonstrate the intent to stay in Canada for a period of at least 15 days.
- Additional exemption for people on conveyances which pass through Canadian waters and air space and do not land in Canada.
June 19
OIC 15 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Mandatory Isolation), No. 2.
- In effect until June 30, 2020.
- Updates include the addition of a new non-application exception for persons whose presence in Canada is determined to be in the national interest.
- This determination can be made by any of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration, or Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
- This new provision may be used to provide professional athletes and staff of professional sports leagues with an exemption from the 14-day quarantine requirement, provided they abide by conditions imposed by the Minister granting the exemption.
- Sports leagues and professional athletes will be issued National Interest Exemption letters with conditions developed in consultation with the Minister of Health
- Also includes technical amendments to correct double negative error in paragraph 4(1)(c) and in subparagraph 10(1)(b)(iii) of the English version of OIC 10.
June 19
OIC 16 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States)
- In effect until July 21, 2020.
- No additional amendments; OIC 14 is simply extended until the new expiry date of the Order.
June 29
OIC 17 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country other than the United States)
- In effect until July 31, 2020.
- Technical amendments were made to the language in paragraphs 3(j) and (k) to reflect that decisions have been made “as determined by”, rather than “in the opinion of”, public officials.
- Removal of a moot clause pertaining to international marine vessels that have left port before March 21, 2020 resulting in the alphabetical changes to certain clauses in subsection 3(1).
June 29
OIC 18 - Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Mandatory Isolation), No. 3
- In effect until August 31, 2020.
- Requires every individual who enters Canada, and is required to quarantine or isolate, to wear a mask or face covering upon entry to Canada and while in transit to a place of quarantine or isolation, a health care facility, or a place of departure from Canada, unless they are alone in a private vehicle.
- Individuals who are exempt from the quarantine requirement are now required to wear a mask or face covering while they are in public settings if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Provides for one asymptomatic person to accompany a minor or a person requiring assistance if they must temporarily leave quarantine in a medical emergency or for essential medical appointments.
- Additional changes to provide clarity that every person entering Canada is required to answer any questions asked by a screening officer, quarantine officer, or public health official for the duration of the 14-day period beginning on the day they enter Canada.
July 1
End of the Deferral Period for the Payment of Duties and Taxes
- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA published the Customs Notice 20-11 on March 27, 2020, Extension of Timeframes for Payment of Customs Duties and GST (COVID-19), notifying importers that the payment deadline for all statements of account for amounts owing during the months of March, April and May 2020 would be extended to June 30, 2020.
- On June 29, 2020, the Minister of Finance issued a news release indicating that, with a broad range of economic measures and support programs now in place, the GST/HST and customs duty payment deferral is ending as planned on June 30, 2020. As such, all statements of account became payable.
July 3
Additional temporary service reductions at select Canadian ports of entry
Temporary reduction of service hours at additional land, air, and marine POEs in addition to deferring seasonal opening hours at select POEs. These COVID-19 related measures are temporary and in effect as of July 3, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. They will remain in effect until further notice.
The CBSA will proceed with the following temporary measures:
- reducing the hours of operation at 12 land POEs;
- reducing the hours of operation at eight air POEs;
- deferring the seasonal opening of one marine POE; and
- deferring the shift to seasonal hours of operation at one land POE.
July 7
Resumption of Trade Compliance Work
The CBSA is resuming a full range of trade compliance work and adapting its practices to reflect the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The CBSA is prioritizing actions where importers have indicated there is a willingness to advance their audit or verification, on compliance verifications or other interventions involving higher dollar amounts, files close to completion, and other important files.
July 8
Customs Notice 20-24 - CBSA Reporting Patterns IT Limitations
This notice provides information on how to transmit high volumes of cargo reports. It is for the attention of carriers, freight forwarders, importers, brokers and service providers. To decrease the impacts caused by a high number of Advance Commercial Information (ACI) supplemental or electronic house bills per primary cargo, industry has been provided a list of recommendations.
July 14
Soft Launch of ArriveCAN Version 2.0 (Phase II)
This version includes features for travellers to complete a 48-hour check-in upon arrival into Canada, and submit voluntary symptom tracking throughout the 14-day quarantine period. While exempt travellers are not required to quarantine upon entry, they must now provide their contact information at the border, and are encouraged to use the application. Border Services Officers can now see a traveller’s response which would trigger a referral.
July 20
National Launch of ArriveCAN Version 2.0 (Phase II)
July 20
OIC 19 – Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States)
- In effect until August 21, 2020.
- No additional amendments; OIC 16 is simply extended until the new expiry date of the Order.
- Date modified: