Question Period Note: Timeline – CBSA Border Measures

January 22 Enhanced screening border measures at 4 major airports – travellers from Wuhan:

• Locations: Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto international airports
• Measures include:
o messaging on arrival screens;
o asking an additional health screening question to travellers either on an electronic kiosk or by a CBSA officer directly if they have travelled to Wuhan China; and
o asking travellers to inform a Border Services Officer if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
January 31 Administrative Deferral of Removal (ADR) imposed on Hubei province, China
January 31 Introduction of new screening form and screening aid for all persons detained and admitted to a detention facility

February 1 Expansion of enhanced screening to other airports

• Locations: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax airports
February 6 Detention Reviews by IRB by telephone or videoconference

• For detainees who respond in the affirmative to specific screening questions.
February 8 New information brochure:

• Issued by BSOs, with specific instructions for travellers who have been in the Province of Hubei
February 9 Enhanced screening at all airports:

• Locations: All international airports in Canada
February 14 Occupational health and safety advice from Health Canada: provided to Border Services Officers (BSOs)
February 17 Contact tracing for travellers who have been in Hubei (PHAC)

• All travellers who indicate they have been in the province of Hubei are required to fill out a PHAC contact form to allow health authorities to monitor and track those who have been in the impacted region
• The form captures basic biographical data, flight data, and contact information for the passenger while in Canada. Once completed, PHAC determines when and how to share this information with provincial authorities
February 19 Surgical mask kits begin being issued by BSOs to all travellers who reported that they have been in the Province of Hubei
March 4 Expansion of screening – travellers from Iran:
• Locations: All international airports in Canada to include Iran
March 6 Enhanced health screening in land, rail and marine mode: added to border processing for travellers seeking entry into Canada by car, rail or ferry
March 12 Expansion of screening - travellers from Italy
• Locations: All international airports in Canada to include Italy
March 12 Introduction of new procedures requiring all detainees who are being transported and detained must wear a mask
March 14 Enhanced signage implemented: at all ports of entry
March 15 Quarantine Officers deployed on-site at Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montreal (YUL) international airports.
• Quarantine Officers available to conduct health assessments through the 24/7 Central Notification System (CNS) Line for all other locations where Quarantine Officers were not on-site.
March 16 Public visits to IHCs suspended
March 16 New procedures in place at Immigration Holding Centres (IHCs)
• Visits from the public are suspended. Exceptions include counsel, designated representatives, and interpreters.
• Non-contact visits used where available; and, if necessary, contact visits exercise safe distancing practices.
• Mandatory requirement for personal protective equipment for both detainees, staff and contracted staff.
• Social distancing measures introduced in all CBSA IHCs
March 16 Request for all inbound travellers to self-isolate (PHAC)
• International flights are redirected to only four international airports: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver
March 16 Waiving of duties and taxes on temporarily imported goods for emergency use in response to COVID-19 (Finance Canada)
March 16 Contact tracing for all symptomatic travellers (PHAC)
• All travellers who display symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as a cough, fever, or difficult breathing, are required to complete a PHAC contact tracing form.
March 16 Customs Notice 20-08
• Provides information on the use of the Goods for Emergency Use Remission Order, (C.R.C., c. 768), and application of Tariff Item No. 9993.00.00 of the Customs Tariff in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Updated on April 7, 2020 to include importations on behalf of public or private care residences, such as seniors’ residences, retirement homes, nursing homes and shelters.
March 17 President correspondence to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization
• To encourage WCO Member States to maintain coordinated action and avoid unduly disrupting international trade supply chains.
March 17 CBSA and US CPB agrees to strike a Task Force to advance the Canada-US Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

• To facilitate efficient trade and the cross-border movement of essential goods, workers and services in North America.
March 17 Removals Postponed:
• All inland removals (excluding cases where removal order is issued at Port of Entry) will be postponed until April 21, 2020.
• Does not apply for national security, organized crime, crimes against humanity and criminal cases and for those individuals who are willing to leave the country voluntarily (a statutory declaration must be signed by these individuals).
o These excepted removals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by CBSA senior management prior to their occurrence.
Mid-March Temporary Targets in effect for counterfeit medical supplies in the commercial stream

• In collaboration with US CBP, CBSA has created targets to aid commercial BSOs in identifying possible counterfeit shipments of medical supplies for examination.
March 18 Air Travel Ban on Foreign Nationals put in place: Foreign Nationals are restricted from entering Canada if they arrive by aircraft coming from a foreign country.
Subject to specific exemptions, which included:
• Foreign Nationals, including United States (U.S.) citizens, who have been in the U.S. and Canada for more than 14 days;
• Close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
• French residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon (SPM) arriving directly from SPM;
• Urgent Protection Plan resettled refugees;

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