The Canada Border Services Agency Celebrates 10 Years

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Created to provide integrated border services, the CBSA has been dedicated for 10 years to protecting Canada’s security and supporting its economic prosperity…

“For 10 years, the CBSA has continued to keep illegal weapons off our streets, prevented illegal drugs from entering our communities, and removed persons who are inadmissible to Canada. The Agency also plays a fundamental role in supporting vital cross-border trade, and it is central to our security, to keeping our communities safe, and in keeping our economy strong and prosperous,” said Minister Blaney.

The CBSA has seen a number of significant changes over the past 10 years. The Agency delivers border services in a more intricate environment, with new and expanding markets for trade and more sophisticated risks to our security. The CBSA has transformed and modernized to meet these challenges and deliver high-quality border services to Canadians. In 2006, the CBSA underwent a major change with the implementation of the arming initiative. Providing CBSA officers with duty firearms has strengthened border security and helped us better protect our communities. ..

...Last year alone, the CBSA welcomed more than 100 million travellers to Canada, cleared 14 million commercial releases and collected $25 billion in revenue on behalf of the Government of Canada. The Agency also seized close to 400 prohibited and restricted firearms, made over 11,000 drug seizures, removed 18,918 persons who are inadmissible to Canada and recovered 12 missing children.

The CBSA is proud to mark 10 years of dedicated service to Canadians, and will continue to rise to new challenges in the future.

Further details are available on the CBSA website at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2013/2013-12-12-eng.html.