As travel to and from Canada rebounded sharply in 2022, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was kept busy facilitating the free flow of people and goods and stopping firearms and illegal drugs, like opioids, from entering Canada.
This year, Canada saw travel volumes soar in step with the removal of COVID-19 border restrictions with 50 million travellers seeking entry to Canada, an increase of 267% from 2021.
The CBSA also prevented 1,009 firearms (compared to 908 in 2021 - an increase of 11%), and 37,749 kilograms of illicit drugs (compared to 21,968 in 2021 - an increase of 72%) and other dangerous goods from entering our communities.
As of October 31, the CBSA facilitated the arrival of 50 million travellers into Canada:
-- 20,339,623 by air mode
-- 27,172,695 by land mode
-- 2,360,640 by marine mode
-- 32,292 by rail mode
The CBSA also supported our immigration system by welcoming 24,072 Afghans and 112,027 Ukrainians among others.
The government agency has a complex mandate as Canada's first line of defence at 1,200 ports of entry.
As of October 31, the CBSA, with its 6,500 officers and 14,000 employees:
-- Made 39,833 seizures totaling 24,078 seized goods.
-- Kept over 24,053 prohibited firearms and weapons off our streets.
-- Seized 37,749 kg of drugs including 2,662 kg of Cocaine, 339 kg of Heroin, and 4 kg Fentanyl.
-- Made 25 child pornography seizures.
-- Issued 952 penalties totalling $784,800, for food, plant and animal import violations.
-- Reunited 18 missing children with their loved ones in partnership with the Our Missing Children Program. The CBSA has reunited 2,012 missing or abducted children with their parents or legal guardians since becoming a partner of the program in 1986.
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