Fact Sheet

Small and Remote Ports of Entry Initiative – Pilot of Remote Traveller Processing at Piney, MB

Small and Remote Ports of Entry Initiative:

Under the Beyond the Border Action Plan (Action Plan), the Small and Remote Ports of Entry Initiative commits Canada and the United States (U.S.) to jointly plan investments and enhance client service at small and remote ports of entry along the Canada–U.S. border. To this end, Canada and the U.S. are working to arrive at consensus recommendations for each of the small and remote ports of entry.

How the pilot would work:

For the pilot of remote traveller processing at Piney, Manitoba, travellers will be required to register to be able to use the port of entry after regular hours of service. Participation in the program will be voluntary, but applicants will have to undergo a risk assessment and only those approved will be permitted to use the remote traveller processing technology at this location. The port of entry will be connected to a remote monitoring centre, which is staffed by border services officers (BSOs) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Travellers arriving at the port of entry after hours will be processed by a BSO located at the remote processing centre through a two-way audio and one-way video kiosk. Cameras will be installed to provide the BSO with the ability to see the traveller and the vehicle.

The primary inspection interview will proceed as per standard operating procedures. Security gates will be installed to prevent the traveller(s) from proceeding without the BSO's authorization. At the kiosk, the audio-video system will be engaged so that the BSO will be able to see and communicate with the driver and any passengers in the vehicle.

Once the interview is complete, the BSO will determine whether the traveller(s) can be authorized to enter Canada or whether further action is required. If duties and taxes are owed, the BSO will process payments remotely at the remote monitoring centre or through the kiosk equipped with a remote payment system.

If the traveller(s) is authorized to enter, the BSO will allow the vehicle to proceed. If further action is required, the BSO will either initiate a response from the nearest 24/7 port of entry, or will direct that the traveller(s) return to the U.S. and proceed to the nearest staffed Canadian port of entry that is open for business. If the traveller(s) is instructed to remain at the port of entry, security measures will be in place to allow the BSO in the remote monitoring centre to maintain a view of the vehicle until the response arrives.

Privacy:

As required by Treasury Board policy, the CBSA will complete a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to determine the privacy impacts of implementing remote traveller processing. The PIA will be submitted for review to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner prior to implementing remote traveller processing at the pilot sites. Information gathered through remote traveller processing is subject to the same privacy and retention requirements as set out in the privacy legislation applicable to the CBSA.  It will also be consistent with the Beyond the Border Action Plan Joint Statement of Privacy Principles .

Security:

This approach will allow the CBSA to confirm the effectiveness of remote traveller processing through the use of enhanced security and technology. This will include the use of video cameras at the port of entry that will be monitored by BSOs at the remote monitoring centre. In addition, enhanced infrastructure such as fencing, gates, and increased lighting will be installed.

The Piney, Manitoba location was selected as there is a low volume of commercial traffic (average of two commercial vehicles per day), low traveller volumes (average of 20 vehicles per day) and it will allow the CBSA to test the technology. This port of entry met the criteria established by a Canada/US bi-national Small Ports Working Group to ensure that after-hours access will be maintained without compromising the security of the border.

Post-Pilot Review:

Once completed, the pilot will be reviewed against performance measures to determine success, viability and whether expansion should be undertaken. The review will be conducted using qualitative and quantitative data collected before, during and after the pilot and will also verify that remote traveller processing users are complying with border-related legislation.