Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Health.
Thank you for inviting me to participate in this discussion today.
I am pleased to be here to respond to your questions about how the Canada Border Services Agency is implementing and enforcing border measures during the pandemic. I am here with Denis Vinette, vice-president of the travellers branch at the CBSA.
Since the start of the pandemic, the CBSA made its pandemic response a priority. To help keep Canadians safe and protected, the Government of Canada has put in place emergency border measures to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 and its variants in Canada.
CBSA border service officers apply over 90 acts and regulations to safeguard Canadians. Over the last year, we have also implemented the provisions of 50 orders in council that apply to foreign nationals and residents of Canada. The OICs are designed to restrict travel and establish public health requirements so that we can reduce the spread of the virus into Canada. The measures have resulted in 96% less air traffic and a 90% drop in non-commercial traffic entering Canada by land, compared with pre-pandemic volumes.
It's important to point out that Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people registered as an Indian under the Indian Act have a right to enter Canada. However, all travellers seeking to enter Canada go through enhanced screening measures by CBSA border service officers, and must meet testing and quarantine requirements to keep Canadians safe, unless they qualify as exempt.
Of course, some cross-border travel is necessary to maintain the flow of goods and services critical to our economy and our people. The majority of individuals crossing in vehicles at the land ports of entry are essential service providers, such as truck drivers and nurses. We must continue to strike a balance between keeping Canadians safe and keeping the economy running.
Data shows that Canada’s pre-arrival, on-arrival and post-arrival testing requirements, and quarantine requirements, are working. For example, over 99% of travellers entering Canada have either complied with the pre-arrival testing requirement or were exempt from it.
The CBSA continues to work with other Government of Canada organizations on the pandemic response. Our agency works in close co-operation with the Public Health Agency of Canada to implement and uphold the public health measures that are recommended at the border. The last year has shown that the CBSA is able to rapidly adapt its operations to put new processes, rules and orders in place. We are certain that we will be able to continue to respond to new and evolving measures, including the potential use of proof of vaccination credentials, to facilitate travel and manage the border.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have supported the government’s efforts to establish strong measures to secure Canada’s borders and to help prevent further introduction and transmission of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada. We have demonstrated our resolve and willingness to adjust restrictions based on scientific evidence. I am very proud of the work CBSA officers have done, and will continue to do, to protect Canadians and the Canadian economy in the face of this pandemic.
I would be happy to respond to questions from committee members.
Thank you.