The 2024 Fall Economic Statement announced a $1.3 billion comprehensive border security package. The December 17, 2024 border announcement provided clarity that this $1.3 billion would support:
A new RCMP Aerial Intelligence Task Force comprised of helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers. Counter-drone technology will support RCMP officers and provide 24/7 surveillance between ports of entry.
Expanding the intelligence collection capacity of the RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment to better target transnational organized crime and fentanyl trafficking.
Regional hubs to coordinate national, regional, and local law enforcement activities against organized crime and illegal drugs.
A new Health Canada Canadian Drug Profiling Centre, and CBSA will deploy new chemical detection tools at high-risk ports of entry.
Artificial intelligence and imaging tools, as well as new CBSA canine teams.
Proposed legislative changes were also announced in FES, such as a new legislative requirement for port owners to provide CBSA with the space and facilities it needs to conduct export inspections, as well as stronger penalties and compliance rules for financial crimes. Additional measures were announced on December 17, 2024 such as heightened screening and enhanced tools to detect fraud, and new penalties for paid representatives like consultants, lawyers and unauthorized advisors who break the rules.
Measure and Funding Announced
The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to provide a $1.3 billion over six years, starting in 2024-25, comprehensive border security package to Public Safety Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Communications Security Establishment, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Prior Funding
Budget 2022 (Chapter 4, page 118): Proposed to provide $385.7 million over five years, and $86.5 million ongoing, for CBSA, IRCC, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to facilitate entry of increasing volumes of visitors, workers, and students.
FES 2022 (Chapter 3.2, page 40): Proposed to provide $137 million to enhance frontline capacity and hire additional officers to help alleviate pressures at the border, as well as prevent prohibited or restricted goods from entering Canada.
Budget 2021 (Chapter 4, page 144): Proposed to provide $656.1 million over five years, and $123.8 million ongoing, in part to enhance CBSA's ability to detect contraband and help uphold the integrity of Canada's border infrastructure.
Budget 2021 (Chapter 9.2, page 277): Proposed to provide $312 million over five years and $41.4 million ongoing to CBSA, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Public Safety Canada (PS) to implement legislation to help fight gun smuggling and trafficking.
Budget 2019 (Chapter 4, page 183) proposed to provide the RCMP with $77.3 million over five years and $13.5 million ongoing for enhanced law enforcement at the border.
Background
CBSA combats the cross-border movement of firearms, illicit drugs, and chemical precursors using various types of technology to detect and examine illicit goods. This includes non-intrusive imaging tools (Small Scale Imaging and Large Scale Imaging), x-ray technology, radiation detection portals, specialized examination vehicles, and handheld x-ray devices. (Source: Detection tools).
The Agency also works closely with RCMP and Five Eyes allies (the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand) to share intelligence and information to identify and interdict cross-border shipments. (Source: 2024-25 Departmental Plan).
The RCMP is responsible for securing Canada's borders between the ports of entry. As Canada's national police force, the RCMP also conducts investigations and works with domestic and international partners to combat inbound and outbound criminal threats.
The RCMP's Border Integrity program has a strategy in place to effectively monitor, assess and respond to threats at our border, and working with partners to deploy resources where they are needed most, based on three priorities:
Intelligence: gathering and synthesizing information from a variety of human and technological sources.
Integration: enhancing collaboration with other RCMP programs to address sophisticated, borderless crime.
Partnerships: strengthening and leveraging partnerships to ensure the RCMP has a complete threat picture at the border, informing an appropriate response.
Questions and Answers
How much is being allocated to each department? When will the border plan be released? What specifically will the funding support?
We do not have additional information to provide at this time beyond that the total cost will be $1.3 billion over six years. The government plans to release a comprehensive borders plan that will include further details.
What is Public Safety Canada's role with respect to the border?
Public Safety ensure coordination across all federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians.
Stats
In 2023-24, CBSA made over 62,000 total seizures. This included seizures of over 23,500 kg of cannabis; over 3,400 kg of cocaine; over 1,700 kg of opioids. The Agency also intercepted more than 27,000 prohibited weapons and 850 firearms from crossing the border. (CBSA enforcement action statistics)
