Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Pandemic Planning in the CBSA May 15, 2008 Stuart MacPherson Director Emergency Preparedness, Health & Safety Division Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO
CBSA - Mandate Provide integrated border services that support national security priorities and facilitate the free flow of persons and goods, including animals and plants, which meet all requirements under the program legislation
CBSA at a Glance 13,000 employees in eight regions 7,200 uniformed officers Over 1,200 points of entry across Canada plus 39 international locations, including: 119 land border crossings 3 major marine operations Postal services at three mail centres 4 immigration detention facilities
CBSA Statistics Trade and Traveller Statistics Handled over 12.8 million commercial releases Over 95 million travellers processed: Highway 70 million Air 22 million Other 3.9 million Over 32 million courier shipments 707,0335 courier shipments examined Agricultural Inspections 167,495 Interceptions in 2006-07
Pandemic Planning in the Canada Border Services Agency Planning is key to avoiding this situation!
The CBSA Approach CBSA will follow the four pillars of emergency management: Planning Prevention / Mitigation Response Recovery Planning will be science-based Information collected from authorities Evergreen Flexible
The CBSA Pandemic Plan The CBSA will: Keep updated on current information Consider different tools and options Ensure Business Continuity Protect the health and safety of our employees Support the Government of Canada s objectives for influenza pandemic preparedness and response: Minimize serious illness and overall deaths Minimize societal disruption among Canadians
Roles for the CBSA during a pandemic outbreak include: Preventing the entry of avian influenza Providing public information to travellers Providing information to carriers and importers Tracking travellers and goods Screening travellers and cargo Referral of sick passengers and goods Ensuring health and safety of CBSA staff
Roles for the CBSA during a pandemic outbreak include: Facilitate movement of urgently required goods across the border. Work closely with federal and provincial partners. Maintain strong links to international community particularly US Customs and Border Protection. Ensure a securing the border, particularly during time of heightened risk.
CBSA Pandemic Plan Objectives of the CBSA Pandemic Plan ensure continuity of operations serve to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of CBSA critical services. set out the policies and procedures for ensuring that goods continue to flow CBSA plan will provide: actions, tools and options to mitigate impact on: operations employees and stakeholders management with a guide for response and recovery
CBSA Emergency Management Tools Suite of operational levers that can be applied or eased to respond to the situation. Effective communications networks connecting Headquarters to regions and local offices. Strong communications with US authorities direct discussion of operational impacts of border controls. Presence abroad and advance information allows interception of threats before arrival in Canada.
Prioritization of Goods CBSA / Public Safety Working Group to develop a triage process for priority goods Objectives Process to engage industry and improve communications ie Communications Tree Process to triage essential shipments Triage methodology Communicating with stakeholders Process to physically move the goods
Canada U.S. Relations What We re Doing And How We ll Work Together
Canada U.S. Cooperation Where possible, we (Canada & U.S.) will: Work collaboratively on all four stages of EM Coordinate our actions and response capacity Endeavour to harmonize emergency response plans, Employ measures to protect animal and public health Use existing means of cooperation and coordination Enhance protocols for rapid exchange of information Share relevant information between our two countries
Canada U.S. Cooperation Business Resumption Planning Develop coordinated business resumption protocols at the border (Port of Entry) in the event of an unexpected disaster and/or increased alert levels. (dual bi-national). CBSA and CBP developed a Joint Business Resumption: Communication and Coordination Plan that formalizes the process for inter-agency communications and communications with industry.
Canada U.S. Cooperation Unified Business Resumption Messaging (UBRM) External messaging to the trade community Approximately 12 data elements of interest to trade Fusing key Information together and making it accessible in (as close to) a real time format for decision making authority.
Questions about CBSA s pandemic plan? Stuart.MacPherson@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca Questions about border polices? www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca