CBSA Southern Ontario Region: Operational and enforcement highlights from 2022

Backgrounder

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Southern Ontario Region released operational and enforcement highlights covering the period from January 1 to October 31, 2022.

The Southern Ontario Region (SOR) covers the southern portion of Ontario including the cities of Windsor, Sarnia, London, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, and their surrounding communities. The Region currently employs approximately 1,400 personnel and has seven land borders, two medium sized airports, two ferry crossings, and provides service to 10 small airports and over 150 marine sites.

SOR processes high volumes of land border travellers and conveyances and is home to four of the top six busiest traveller land border operations, and the top four busiest commercial land border operations in Canada.

Welcoming travellers into Canada

  • The CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region processed 11,986,404 individuals, which accounted for 44% of the national travellers who crossed at land borders. This represents 25% of the national travellers who crossed in all modes (land, air, marine and rail).
  • Additionally, the CBSA Southern Ontario Region (SOR) processed 4,445 asylum claims.

Supporting the economy

  • The CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region processed 2,645,152 trucks (commercial conveyances/vehicles) which accounted for 64 percent of the total national land border commercial conveyance volumes in highway mode.
  •  The Southern Ontario Region of the CBSA processed goods with a total value for duty at the time of release equalling $215,219,178,837.00 between January 1 to October 31, 2022.

Protecting Canadians

  • The Southern Ontario Region of the CBSA seized approximately 870.43 kg of narcotics and 208 firearms from January 1 to October 31, 2022. Additionally, the region seized $1,184,561.65 in undeclared currency and monetary instruments (ex. stocks, bonds, banker's drafts, cheques and money orders).This is a 57% increase over the same period in 2021.
  • Between January 1 and October 31, 2022, the CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region seized 281,165.76 kg in significant tobacco seizures equating to a total value of $52,160,949.34. The region also seized 3,537.61 Litres of alcohol with a total value of $126,000.48.
  • Additionally, between January 1 and October 31, 2022, the CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region intercepted 116 individuals wanted on outstanding warrants, arrested 105 individuals for impaired driving related offences, and refused entry to 1,256 individuals for serious criminality.
  • The Southern Ontario Region of the CBSA also returned 3 missing children to their families.

Collaborating with Indigenous communities

  • The Southern Ontario Region of the CBSA, with Regional Indigenous Affairs Advisors from the Indigenous Affairs Secretariat, supported the repatriation of ceremonial and sacred items for their return to the Six Nations of the Grand River territory located in Ohsweken, Ontario. The items were repatriated via the Peace Bridge located in Fort Erie, Ontario.
  • The Region supported the Jay Treaty Border Alliance (JTBA) Summit, which took place at Windsor’s Ambassador Bridge. The JTBA is a forum for Indigenous Nations, communities and partners for both sides of the border to discuss United States – Canada border considerations.
  • The Regional Indigenous Affairs Advisor for SOR continues to establish meaningful relationships using face-to-face meetings with local Indigenous communities within the Region and supports Indigenous representation at recruitment and career fairs. SOR also established an Indigenous student process to hire positions for the 2022 summer months.

Building a modern border

  • The Southern Ontario Region has implemented e-longrooms at the Peace and Blue Water Bridges to increase remote “touchless” processing. Additionally, the Peace Bridge added a UPS system to increase targeting as e-commerce continues to grow.
  • Regarding the Secure Corridor Concept at the Ambassador Bridge, 12 commercial carriers have been added to the program resulting in an increase of approximately 1,619 crossings per month using the program and an average processing time of 32 seconds per truck.

Associated Links

Contacts

For more information or to schedule an interview with regional CBSA representatives, please contact:

Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
media@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
1-877-761-5945

Page details

Date modified: