The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been at the forefront of Canada’s COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic. The CBSA has spent a good part of 2021 gradually adapting measures to allow for a safe return of travellers with health always as top priority. Meanwhile, the flow of goods across our border remained steady, and postal and courier shipments rose significantly as more Canadians shopped and did business on line. The CBSA also took this time to move forward on modernizing our border by using technology to facilitate and expedite activities through a more touchless travel experience. The CBSA’s 2021 highlights showcase the Agency’s commitment to facilitate the free flow of commercial goods and services, support a secure and welcoming immigration system, stop dangerous drugs and weapons from entering Canada, and contribute to Canada’s response to COVID-19. While not noted in the highlights, CBSA efforts in processing likely a record number of seafarers arriving and departing as part of much-needed crew changes for international shipping has been very much appreciated since the start of the pandemic.
