TORONTO, Canada – The Canadian government is taking decisive steps to enhance border security, working in partnership with provincial, territorial, and U.S. authorities to ensure the safety of communities on both sides of the border.
David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety, announced the initiation of a government-led series of exercises aimed at bolstering the country’s ability to respond effectively to border events. The inaugural exercise took place on January 3, 2025, in collaboration with the Ontario government.
“Enhancing border security requires a unified ‘Team Canada’ effort, and these exercises with provincial and territorial partners are designed for just that purpose. Through dedication and professionalism, Canada’s law enforcement agencies are ready to tackle any scenario at our border,” stated McGuinty.
In support of this collaborative effort, senior officials from federal border security organizations, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Public Safety Canada, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), engaged with Ontario officials to evaluate preparation and response strategies for potential border situations.
“Collaboration is key for the Canada Border Services Agency in maintaining effective border operations and security. We are implementing enhancements to boost our operational capacity while strengthening partnerships at both federal and provincial levels to support Canada’s Border Plan. We have intensified monitoring and reporting activities and practiced our contingency plans. Additionally, we recently aligned service hours with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at over 30 locations, addressing prior challenges,” said a spokesperson from the CBSA.
The primary objective of these exercises is to evaluate preparedness, test coordination, and ensure effective communication among federal, provincial, and territorial agencies. These joint initiatives are reinforcing Canada’s capability to respond to evolving border challenges while maintaining security.
These exercises are part of Canada’s Border Plan, a $1.3 billion investment aimed at enhancing enforcement measures at the border, which includes introducing helicopters, drones, mobile surveillance towers, and new canine units.
The CBSA and RCMP play vital roles in safeguarding communities by preventing the entry of illegal goods and inadmissible individuals into Canada. They maintain constant operational contact with U.S. partners and have comprehensive contingency plans while acquiring advanced technology and surveillance equipment to enhance existing resources.
In a related development, the CBSA has introduced new measures to offset the costs associated with the removal of inadmissible individuals from Canada. Under the new framework, fees for those seeking to return after being removed will increase significantly.
Individuals being removed from Canada must cover their travel expenses. If they cannot or refuse to pay, the CBSA will handle the costs, ensuring timely removals. The government will recover these expenses when those removed seek re-entry into Canada.
“Under the revised cost recovery framework, fees will rise from approximately $1,500 to over $12,800 for escorted removals and over $3,800 for unescorted removals, irrespective of the destination. This adjustment aligns cost recovery with current removal expenses and encourages compliance with removal orders,” the CBSA confirmed.
As mandated by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the CBSA is legally obligated to remove all foreign nationals deemed inadmissible to Canada. From January 1 to October 31, 2024, the agency successfully removed over 14,000 inadmissible individuals.
