Impact of Border Measures and Statistics

Date: March 16, 2021
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: SPB/CBSA

Overall – weekly data:

• Overall, there has been a decline of 89% in travellers across the country in all modes versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to March 15).
• As there is a requirement for the digital submission of information (as of November 21), data shows that 89% of air travellers used ArriveCAN to submit the required information (over the last 7 days, up to March 14).
• Traveller volumes at the border increased by approximately 7% between last week (March 8 – 14) and two weeks prior (February 22 – 28):
• 24% more in U.S. air travel;
• 32% more international air travel;
• 4% more commercial truck drivers at the land border; and
• 9% more in other highway traffic.

Admissibility of Foreign Nationals under Family Reunification (June 9, 2020 – March 15, 2021):

• 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, 36,581 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: 4;
• New Brunswick: 609;
• Quebec: 11,169;
• Ontario: 13,692;
• Manitoba: 292;
• Saskatchewan: 148;
• Alberta: 222;
• British Columbia: 10,444; and
• Yukon: 1

Note: Immediate family members can enter Canada under the new OIC 44 and OIC 45 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 and agree to comply with all quarantine requirements. 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. Additionally, under the new OIC 43, all travellers, with some exceptions, are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the US within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival. Additionally, air and land travellers entering Canada will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine as of February 22, 2021.

Travellers - Air Mode (from March 22, 2020 – March 15, 2021):

• Decrease of 99% in U.S. air travellers versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to March 15).
• Decrease of 96% 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 March 15).
• 4,037 travellers were referred to PHAC for not demonstrating a pre-arrival test result (January 7 – March 15).
• 20 foreign nationals seeking entry from the U.S. were prohibited entry for failing to have a pre-arrival test result (January 7 – March 15).
• 1,703 U.S. citizens and 511 foreign nationals travelling from the U.S. by air were denied entry into Canada.
• 922 foreign nationals from locations other than the U.S. were also denied entry.
• 530 travellers were referred* by the CBSA to a PHAC Quarantine Officer after being ruled as a potential case of concern.
• 14,619 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – March 15).

Travellers - Land, Rail and Marine Mode (from March 22, 2020 – March 15, 2021):

• Overall decrease of 83% of highway volumes when compared to this same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to March 15).
• 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 March 15).
• The number of private boaters has decreased by 71% when compared to this same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to March 15).
• Passenger rail service has been suspended until further notice (decrease of 100%).
• 1,708 travellers were referred to PHAC for not demonstrating a pre-arrival test result (February 15 – March 15).
• 698 foreign nationals seeking entry from the U.S. were prohibited entry for failing to have a pre-arrival test result (February 15 – March 15).
• 28,376 U.S. citizens, and 3,978 other foreign nationals, were denied entry due to non-essential travel.
• 652 travellers were referred by the CBSA* to a PHAC Officer after being ruled as a potential case of concern.
• 7,384 asymptomatic travellers referred to PHAC for not having suitable accommodation to quarantine (April 17 – March 15).

*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, 2020 and March 15, 2021:
• 1,757 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,
• 50 claimants were admitted into Canada from the U.S. as an exception under the OICs; whereas,
• 315 refugee claimants seeking entry to Canada were found to be ineligible under the STCA; and
• 345 refugee claimants seeking entry to Canada have been temporarily directed back to the U.S.

Canadians turned back at U.S. Border (as of March 15, 2021):

• There were 53 Canadians turned back at the U.S. border in air mode for non-essential travel, and 10,181 in land, rail and marine modes.

Commercial Operations – Year over Year data:

• Overall, there has been an increase of 3% in commercial truck traffic versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up to March 15)
• Overall, there has been an increase of 17% in commercial releases in all modes versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until March 14)
• Increase of 23% in highway releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until March 14)
• Decrease of 2% in air releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until March 14)
• Increase of 26% in marine releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until March 14)
• Decrease of 9% in rail releases versus the same period last year (over the last 7 days, up until March 14)

 Border Information Service (on March 14):

• The CBSA’s Border Information Service telephone line is now accessible 24/7 to respond to traveller and business queries.
• 616 calls received
• 71% domestic calls; 29% international calls
• 100% traveller-related; 0% commercial-related (no commercial service on the weekend)
• The most common questions were related to: pre-arrival COVID-19 testing, mandatory quarantine/isolation inquiries, IRCC-related processing, postal/courier imports.

ArriveCAN (as of March 14)    

• Traveller processing has been streamlined through the implementation of web-based applications for submitting information on quarantine plans. 
• Since November 4, 2020, passengers have been notified by their air carrier of the need to submit COVID-related information digitally prior to boarding their flight to Canada. 
• Since November 21, 2020, travellers seeking entry by air to Canada have been 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.
• 89% of air travellers used ArriveCAN to submit the required information (over the last 7 days, up to March 14).
• As of February 22, 2021, all travellers, whether arriving by land or air are required to submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically, such as via ArriveCAN, before crossing the border or boarding a flight.
• 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 PHAC Officers. This also protects the health and safety of travellers and officers.
• Up to March 14, the CBSA has used data obtained from web based applications (e.g. ArriveCAN) to process 1,206,830 travellers in the air (976,896), land (229,655) and marine (279) modes.

Date modified:

2021-08-16