Impact of Border Measures and Statistics

Date: June 9, 2020

Classification: Unclassified

Branch/Agency: SPB/CBSA

Travellers - Air Mode (from March 22 – June 8):

• Decrease of 98% in U.S air travellers versus this same period in 2019 (year over year).
• Decrease of 96% of international air travellers arriving from other locations (other than the U.S.) versus the same period last year.
• 463 U.S. citizens and 189 foreign nationals travelling from the U.S. by air were denied entry into Canada.
• 201 foreign nationals from locations other than the U.S. were also denied entry.
• 1,324 air travellers responded positively to health screening questions nationally, and 376 travellers were referred* by the CBSA to a PHAC Quarantine Officer.
• 1,786 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – June 8)

Travellers - Land, Rail and Marine Mode (from March 22 – June 8):

• Overall decrease of 85% of highway volumes when compared to this same period last year (year over year).
• Decline of 90% in travellers across the country and across all modes (including air) versus the same period last year.
• The number of individuals travelling by ferry has decreased by 100%.
• The number of private boaters has decreased by 95%.
• Passenger rail service has been suspended until further notice (decrease of 100%).
• 5,331 U.S. citizens, and 723 other foreign nationals, were denied entry due to non-essential travel.
• 486 travellers arriving in land, rail and marine modes responded positively to health screening questions nationally, and 167 travellers were referred by the CBSA* to a PHAC Officer.
• 717 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – June 8)

*Note: Referral rates for the CBSA are not 1:1; travellers may respond in error, report symptoms that are not COVID-19 related, or be referred to Quarantine Officers from PHAC Screening Officers (which is not captured by CBSA reporting)

Refugee Claimants (from March 21 – June 8):

• 38 refugee claimants seeking entry to Canada have been directed back to the U.S.
• Four refugees were admitted into Canada from the U.S. as an exception under the Orders in Council.
• 158 refugees were admitted into Canada from the U.S. as an exception to the Safe Third Country Agreement.
• 38 foreign nationals were intercepted between ports of entry by the RCMP (irregular migrants) – (between March 21 – June 7)

Canadians turned back at U.S. Border (As of June 8):

There were 12 Canadians turned back at the U.S. border in air mode for non-essential travel, and 2,375 in land, rail and marine modes.

Commercial Operations - Year over Year data: 

• Decrease of 16% in commercial truck traffic (June 8)
• Increase of 18% total commercial releases (June 7)
  • Increase of 34% in highway releases
  • Decrease of 13% in air releases
  • Decrease of 40% in rail releases
  • Decrease of 15% in marine releases
• The service standard for Commercial Border Wait Times (45 minutes) was met 99.8% in the last week. 

Border Information Service (on June 5):

• The CBSA’s Border Information Service telephone line is now accessible 24/7 to respond to traveller and business queries.
• 2,323 calls received
• 60% domestic calls to 40% international
• 95% traveller-related; 5% commercial-related
• The most common questions were related to: admissibility (essential travel and/or family reunification, transiting Canada), quarantine requirements/exemptions, immigration related enquiries (work/student permits, biometrics), commercial importation of PPE.                

Date modified:

2021-02-08