Ottawa, June 15, 2005...On the occasion of National Public Service Week 2005, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released national statistics for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2005. These figures are a testament to the energy, expertise, and dedication of the more than 12,000 CBSA public servants located across Canada and abroad. Created in December 2003, the CBSA consolidates border services into one agency that can provide an integrated and innovative approach to protecting the safety and security of Canadians while at the same time facilitating the vital flow of trade and travel that are the cornerstone of the Canadian economy. Located at about 1,200 service points across Canada and 39 locations abroad, the CBSA delivers innovative border management through a network of dedicated professionals who work strategically with domestic and international partners to ensure Canada remains secure and responsive to new and emerging threats. In this reporting period, CBSA officers processed more than 94.9 million travellers to confirm all people coming into Canada were admissible and complied with Canadian laws. The CBSA intercepts, detains, and removes those persons who pose a threat to Canada, or who have been determined to be inadmissible. In the same period, the CBSA collected more than $3 billion in import duties, nearly $24.9 billion in GST, and $52 million in provincial sales taxes. The CBSA processed over 26 million courier shipments and collected trade statistics on goods valued at over $2.1 billion per day. CBSA officers recovered 74 missing children across Canada in 2004. In total, 1,359 children have been reunited with their parent/s or legal guardians since the inception of the Our Missing Children program in 1986. With over 5,500 weapons seizures, 8,591 total drug seizures, 94,000 persons denied entry into Canada, and over $43 million dollars seized from undeclared currency and currency that was suspected to be from proceeds of crime, CBSA officers continue to provide vigilance and protection at port of entry sites across Canada. For more statistics, additional information on the CBSA and its mandate please visit About the CBSA. For media information
