February 25, 2020
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) published an outline of its performance in the past year, during which it collected $32.6 billion worth of duties and taxes.
The CBSA oversaw the release of 20.7 million shipments of commercial goods and almost 60 million courier shipments through its ports of entry and cargo and international mail centres.
Over 97 million Canadians and visitors passed through Canadian borders in 2019, including 57.6 million in highway mode and 36.5 million by air.
Approximately 21.8 million air travellers were processed by Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK) that enabled officers to focus on higher risk people and goods.
Modernized NEXUS kiosks using facial biometric technologies started being deployed at airports across Canada. The new kiosks use a new process that compares travellers to their ID and is expected to further expedite NEXUS air processing and enhance the travel experience through the customs hall.
"Our employees play a vital role in growing the Canadian economy by collecting revenue, facilitating trade and travel, welcoming newcomers to our country and keeping our communities safe. These are just a few examples of the work that our dedicated team of employees provide Canadians every hour of every day as our first line of defence," said John Ossowski, President of the CBSA