{"id":2434,"date":"2025-11-05T21:36:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T21:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=2434"},"modified":"2025-11-05T21:36:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T21:36:59","slug":"what-budget-2025-promises-for-border-security-and-traveller-screening-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=2434","title":{"rendered":"What Budget 2025 promises for border security and traveller screening – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The federal budget unveiled by the government this week includes measures to strengthen border security and modernize screening of cross-border travellers, but details on the latter so far are slim.<\/p>\n

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The new spending proposals will complement the $1.3-billion border security plan announced last December, of which $81 million has been allocated for spending by the end of the current fiscal year, the government says.<\/p>\n

The budget proposes $14.8 million over the next four years to Transport Canada \u201cto develop and implement a new preclearance access regime, ensuring a more secure transportation system for all Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n

The document says the funding will also go toward \u201cdigital solutions to maximize efficiency in security screening activities,\u201d particularly for transportation facility employees.<\/p>\n

The government says the preclearance system will \u201ccomplement\u201d the new preclearance facility at Toronto\u2019s Billy Bishop Airport, which allows travellers to clear U.S. customs and immigration inspection prior to boarding a flight to the United States. The federal government contributed $30 million toward the facility, which is expected to open before the end of this year.<\/p>\n

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The budget also says the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will \u201creduce its day-to-day expenses by minimizing spending on professional services, leveraging technology to automate certain processes and functions, and modernising its organizational structure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will include deploying automated systems to detect prohibited items at pre-board screening checkpoints and enhance screening efficiency,\u201d the budget stated, while promising\u00a0\u201cno impact on the security of travellers.\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n

It also says CATSA\u2019s modernization efforts to \u201cimprove efficiencies\u201d include \u201calignment with recent changes implemented by the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government did not say if the proposals are a response to, or meant to compliment, enhanced biometric screening measures in the U.S.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said last month it would move ahead with rules that will require all travellers entering and exiting the country at all ports of entry to have their photograph taken for facial comparison purposes starting in late December. Many foreign travellers, excluding Canadians and other exempt nationalities, will also be subjected to fingerprint scans.<\/p>\n

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The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) only provides voluntary biometric screening for travellers arriving at 10 international airports, and said before the budget was released that it does not \u201ccurrently\u201d have plans to expand that system.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe do not currently have plans to implement a biometric system to verify travellers exiting Canada, however we regularly assess and review our systems and procedures to respond to evolving needs and ensure the safety and security of our country,\u201d a spokesperson told Global News last week.<\/p>\n

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The agency followed up with Global News on Wednesday to confirm that biometric data collected by the U.S. would not automatically be shared with the CBSA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we would receive automated information regarding a Canadian who enters into the U.S., it would not include the picture by default,\u201d the CBSA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

The CBSA said receiving that biometric data would require legislative amendments and updating the 2019 data-sharing agreement between Canada and the U.S., which only covers the biographical data of travellers entering either country.<\/p>\n

Global News has asked Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree\u2019s office if he intends to make those amendments.<\/p>\n

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