Parliamentary Committee Notes: Funding to Modernize Canada’s Border Infrastructure

Date: February 24, 2022
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: FCMB / CBSA

Proposed Response:

• In Budget 2019, the Government announced $765 million over 5 years to support effective border management and enforcement the modernization of border operations, and to facilitate the safe and timely flow of transactions at the border.
• Of this amount, $440 million was in support of the Land Border Crossing Project (LBCP).
• In total, the LBCP will replace 24 land border ports of entry (POE) across Canada that are in poor physical and functional condition.
• Replacing these POEs will:
  • allow the CBSA to modernize its portfolio of custodial ports to meet core operational requirements through updated work environments;
  • advance sustainability goals and requirements; and
  • improve processing of travellers and commercial goods.
• The CBSA is focused on advancing its modernization agenda by improving infrastructure and processes at Canada’s POEs, including digital technology for travellers and conveyances, in order to ensure the safety, security and integrity of our borders.

Financial Implications:

• The CBSA is requesting $30.2 million in the Supplementary Estimates (C), 2021-22 and $35.2 million in the Main Estimates, 2022-23 for the LBCP.
• The funding will be used to support the planning project phase for three full-service ports of entry (POEs) (St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec; Pacific Highway, British Columbia; St-Armand, Quebec) and to support the planning and execution project phases for the remaining 20 smaller POEs that are being replaced.
• Infrastructure at one POE (Fraser, British Columbia) has already been replaced.

Background:

In 2018–19, the CBSA undertook a thorough analysis of its 107 land POEs and assessed their physical and functional condition, resulting in the development of a Real Property Strategy to rebuild and recapitalize the Agency’s land ports over the next 30 years. The Land Border Crossing Project (LBCP) is the delivery mechanism to rebuild and transform the first wave of land border custodial ports.

In 2019–20, the Agency advanced its Real Property Investment Strategy, including $440 million of repurposed funding secured in Budget 2019 for the renewal of up to 24 ports of entry through the LBCP.

The CBSA will also integrate climate change resilience into the design, construction, and operational aspects of the project. This initiative alone is anticipated to reduce CBSA’s global GHG emissions by approximately 5%.

For example, the CBSA is investing in innovative modular building technology that will be used at smaller installations and in isolated regions. These units integrate northern climate resilience considerations, off-grid capabilities and further improved energy efficiencies into the building design. In addition, these buildings can be repurposed, repaired, relocated and/or expanded so they can be modified for future technologies and use.

Contacts:

Approved by: Andrew Francis, A/Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Management Branch
Approved by: Scott Millar, Vice-President, Strategic Policy Branch

Financials Approval: Andrew Francis, A/Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Management Branch

Date modified:

2023-05-11