Thank you, Mr. Chair. Many thanks for the recognition in your opening remarks. I truly appreciate it. We've had some great staff working diligently for the last two and a half years, doing all they can to protect at the border.
It is a pleasure for me to appear and speak with you today about the Canada Border Services Agency and what we are doing to improve the overall traveller experience at our airports. I would like to begin by noting that the CBSA is fully aware that Canadians are more eager than ever to resume their regular travel after more than two years of restrictions, as evidenced by the current volumes at our airports.
During the month of May, we gradually resumed border services at select airports affected by the temporary measures put in place as a result of the pandemic. Travellers are returning to a border that is being managed very differently this summer, with evolving COVID-19 requirements.
We recognize the impact that significant wait times at some airports are currently having on travellers, as stated by my colleague from Transport Canada. We are working with airports, air carriers, baggage handlers, other government departments and all partners to implement solutions to reduce delays as we approach the summer peak period.
The CBSA continuously monitors volumes and wait times to allocate resources and adjust staffing levels accordingly. We have increased officer availability at major airports, and student border services officers are now at work across the country.
There are also things that travellers can do to make the process easier for themselves and other travellers. Travellers can help reduce wait times at the border by coming prepared and by completing their mandatory ArriveCAN submission within 72 hours before arriving at the border.
ArriveCAN collects contact, health and travel information to protect the health and safety of travellers and expedite processing at the border. It is the fastest, easiest and most secure way for travellers to show they meet public health requirements.
The CBSA is constantly looking for innovative ways to facilitate and expedite border processing, without compromising health and safety. Over the coming months and years, the CBSA will undertake a series of major improvements as part of our traveller modernization initiative. The various components of this initiative will position Canada to manage future travel volumes without compromising public health priorities or economic recovery.
We are modernizing the border processing experience through the use of new digital tools and technologies to create a more streamlined process for travellers. One of these new tools is the advance CBSA declaration.
One of these new tools is the CBSA advance declaration. This is a feature within the ArriveCAN online application currently that gives air travellers the option to prepare their customs and immigration declaration 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada. This feature will be expanded to the ArriveCAN mobile app later this month.
In addition, over the next year, the CBSA plans to launch the CBSA advance declaration feature nationally at all airports with primary inspection kiosks. Travellers who use the advance CBSA declaration feature of ArriveCAN online will greatly reduce their processing time when they enter Canada through airports. On average, travellers using this new platform will complete their processing using the primary inspection kiosk in just over one minute—in as little as 68 seconds.
With the increased volume of travellers at our points of entry, there have been increased pressures on the government and industry to keep up. We trust that the traveller modernization initiative is steering us in the right direction.
I hope you have found this information beneficial, and I look forward to providing you with more insight on these important initiatives. I am happy to respond to questions from the committee.