Impact of Border Measures and Statistics

Date: November 24, 2020

Classification: Unclassified

Branch / Agency: SPB/CBSA

Overall – weekly data:

• Overall, there has been a decline of 85% in travellers across the country in all modes versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• Traveller volumes at the border decreased by approximately 5% between November 9 – 15 and two weeks prior (October 26 – November 1):
• 9% more U.S. air travel;
• 10% less international air travel;
• 2% less commercial truck drivers at the land border; and
• 9% less in other highway traffic.

Admissibility of Foreign Nationals under Family Reunification (June 9 – November 23):

• Orders in Council have been introduced that contain provisions which allow foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to seek entry to Canada for the purpose of being with their family members.
• Thus far, 20,556 foreign nationals have been allowed to enter Canada for the purpose of family reunification. These travellers were destined to the following provinces/territories:
• Nova Scotia: 3;
• New Brunswick: 464;
• Quebec: 4,456;
• Ontario: 8,052;
• Manitoba: 194;
• Saskatchewan: 110;
• Alberta: 190;
• British Columbia: 7,086; and
• Yukon: 1

Note: Immediate family members can enter Canada under the new OIC 34 and OIC 32 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. In order for a foreign national to be allowed to enter Canada, the standard for entry must be met in full otherwise, they can be denied entry to Canada.

Travellers - Air Mode (from March 22 – November 23):

• Decrease of 95% in U.S. air travellers versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• Decrease of 89% of international air travellers arriving from other locations (other than the U.S.) versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• 1,389 U.S. citizens and 417 foreign nationals travelling from the U.S. by air were denied entry into Canada.
• 641 foreign nationals from locations other than the U.S. were also denied entry.
• 3,958 air travellers responded positively to health screening questions nationally, and 468 travellers were referred* by the CBSA to a PHAC Quarantine Officer.
• 10,619 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – November 23)

Travellers - Land, Rail and Marine Mode (from March 22 – November 23):

• Overall decrease of 80% of highway volumes when compared to this same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• The number of individuals travelling by ferry has decreased by 100% when compared to this same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• The number of private boaters has decreased by 63% when compared to this same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23).
• Passenger rail service has been suspended until further notice (decrease of 100%).
• 22,411 U.S. citizens, and 3,113 other foreign nationals, were denied entry due to non-essential travel.
• 1,611 travellers arriving in land, rail and marine modes responded positively to health screening questions nationally, and 377 travellers were referred by the CBSA* to a PHAC Officer.
• 4,542 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – November 23).

*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:

• Week over week, there has been a relatively consistent number of asylum seekers at the Canada/U.S. border since travel was restricted.
• Between March 21 and November 23:
• 1,069 claimants arriving at a port of entry met an exemption to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) and were allowed entry to Canada to proceed with their claim; and,
• 38 claimants were admitted into Canada from the U.S. as an exception under the OICs; whereas,
• 222 refugee claimants seeking entry to Canada were found to be ineligible under the STCA; and
• 220 refugee claimants seeking entry to Canada have been temporarily directed back to the U.S.

Canadians turned back at U.S. Border (as of November 23):

• There were 37 Canadians turned back at the U.S. border in air mode for non-essential travel, and 8,345 in land, rail and marine modes.

Commercial Operations – Year over Year data:

• Overall, there has been an decrease of 2% in commercial truck traffic versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to November 23)
• Overall, there has been an increase of 7% in commercial releases in all modes versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until November 22)
• Increase of 8% in highway releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until November 22)
• Decrease of 1% in air releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until November 22)
• Increase of 16% in marine releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until November 22)
• Increase of 61% in rail releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until November 22)
• The service standard for Commercial Border Wait Times (45 minutes) was met 99.7% of the time in the last week.

Border Information Service (on November 22):

• The CBSA’s Border Information Service telephone line is now accessible 24/7 to respond to traveller and business queries.
• 366 calls received
• 55% domestic calls to 45% international
• 100% traveller-related; 0% commercial-related (no commercial service on the weekend)
• The most common questions were related to: admissibility (essential travel, immediate family and/or extended family members, transiting Canada), quarantine requirements/exemptions, immigration related inquiries (work/student permits), postal related inquiries (personal and commercial), Alberta pilot project inquiries.

ArriveCAN (as of November 22)    

• Traveller processing has been streamlined through the implementation of web-based applications for submitting information on quarantine plans. 
• As of November 4, 2020, passengers can expect to be notified by their air carrier of the need to submit COVID-related information digitally prior to boarding their flight to Canada. 
• As of November 21, 2020, travellers seeking entry by air to Canada will be mandated to submit COVID-related information through these digital means before boarding their flight to Canada.
• At that time, travellers who have not completed the information digitally prior to boarding will be permitted to board the aircraft and seek entry to Canada.
• Non-compliant travellers may be subject to enforcement action, which may include a fine or penalty upon arrival.
• Digital traveller information can be shared quickly and securely with provinces and territories to support public health follow-up, and with law enforcement to verify compliance with the Mandatory Isolation Order.
• Submitting information digitally in all modes of travel also helps travellers reduce their processing time at the border and limit physical contact between travellers and BSOs, as well as Public Health Agency of Canada officers. This also protects the health and safety of travellers and officers.
• Up to November 22, the CBSA has used data obtained from web based applications (e.g. ArriveCAN) to process 349,258 travellers in the air (254,117), land (95,045) and marine (96) modes.

Date modified:

2021-03-12