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Privacy Impact Assessments
The Government of Canada is committed to privacy and the protection of personal information used in the course of providing programs and services to the public.
The Government of Canada's Privacy Impact Assessment Policy is one of several tools designed to meet this commitment. This policy was created to ensure that individuals have a right to control the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information.
- CBSA Privacy Impact Assessment Summaries
- Preliminary Privacy Impact Assessment Summaries
- Additional Resources
Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) ensure that all privacy issues have been identified and resolved or mitigated. The Government of Canada then seeks advice and notifies the Privacy Commissioner and informs the public that privacy issues have been addressed.
CBSA Privacy Impact Assessment Summaries
Entry Exit Initiative - Phase II
The Entry/Exit Initiative will implement a system to exchange Biographic Entry Data between Canada and the U.S., such that an entry into one country is considered an exit from the other, thereby establishing a common and integrated approach to border management. The coordinated investments in entry and exit systems will assist the Government of Canada in meeting its objective of effectively administering and enforcing Canada's immigration program and border management practices.
This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is specific to Phase II of the Entry/Exit Initiative (hereinafter referred to as Phase II). Phase II is scheduled for implementation on June 30, 2013 and will include the exchange of Biographic Entry Data regarding third-country nationals, permanent residents of Canada and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. at all automated land border ports of entry.
Automated Border Clearance Program
The Automated Border Clearance (ABC) program represents a major change for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in its delivery of primary processing of travellers arriving at major Canadian airports.
ABC is an innovative concept that streamlines a portion of the border clearance process for Canadian citizens with a valid Canadian passport and permanent residents (PR) of Canada with a valid Canadian PR card, by using self-service kiosks technology as an alternative to the traditional processing by border services officers.
Customs Controlled Areas
In 2001, through Bill S-23, sections 11.2 to 11.5 and 99.2 to 99.4 were introduced to the Customs Act to allow for the creation of Customs Controlled Areas (CCA).
The implementation of designated areas as CCAs is expected to take place in the spring of 2013. These designated areas are intended to address potential problems resulting from internal conspiracies where domestic employees may misuse their positions at certain border-related facilities to engage in criminal activities when in contact with uncleared international travellers and/or goods.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Canada's TFWP enables employers in Canada to hire foreign nationals on a temporary basis to meet short-term skill and labour needs when Canadians or permanent residents are not available. The TFWP is legislated through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations and is jointly delivered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) with the support of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The role of the CBSA is to determine the admissibility of foreign nationals to Canada at the Port of Entry (POE). CBSA also verifies the eligibility of foreign workers and issues work permits on behalf of CIC, if the necessary criteria are met.
Phase I Entry/Exit
In 2011, Canada and the United States (U.S.) issued the Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness which establishes a new long-term partnership built upon a perimeter approach to security and economic competitiveness and subsequently, the Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan (Action Plan) which sets out the joint Canada-United States priorities for achieving this vision. As part of delivering on its commitments in the Action Plan, Canada and the U.S. are undertaking the Entry/Exit Initiative.
High-Integrity Personnel Security Screening Standard (HIPSSS)
In November 2007, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Executive Management Committee approved the development of all required processes to implement enhanced personnel security screening measures allowable to decrease the risk of infiltration and corruption and maintain program integrity under the Policy on Government Security for all CBSA positions; and the creation of a CBSA High-Integrity Personnel Security Screening Standard (HIPSSS). The approval from the TB Cabinet Ministers Committee was required for policy approval through a TB Submission. Approval to proceed as requested with the phased implementation of HIPSSS obtained at the May 31, 2012 meeting.
ccmMercury
ccmMercury is used to track all Ministerial and Executive correspondence, including constituency correspondence that is not processed in the Agency and is usually returned to the author or the Minister of Public Safety Canada, Citizenship and Immigration or related government department offices.
National Integrated Interagency Information System (N-III) - Integrated Query Tool (IQT)
The N-III System provides program support and technology tools for information sharing across the Canadian public safety and security sector, including the CBSA. By addressing the information sharing needs of this sector, N-III facilitates communications and enhances investigations. The IQT is one of the information sharing query tools for public safety agencies.
Preliminary Privacy Impact Assessment Summaries
Anti-Doping Information-Sharing Memorandum of Understanding with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee
The Anti-Doping Information-Sharing MOU is designed to assist in anti-doping efforts during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by sharing certain customs program information collected during port of entry enforcement actions administered by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Additional Resources
Directive on Privacy Impact Assessment
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
