September 15, 2016
Joint Action Plan between CIFFA and CBSA
The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) sent a letter expressing concerns around delays in
marine container examinations.
To address these points, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in collaboration with CIFFA proposes a number
of recommendations including:
 Conducting joint analysis of bottlenecks in the processes, and
 Increasing transparency of process flows and standards.
Further to discussions in which the CBSA and CIFFA explored areas of cooperation, the two organizations agreed to
focus on activities that can be implemented in the short and medium term to address these two key areas.
Progress updates will be provided on a quarterly basis.
CBSA Leads: Megan Imrie and Lisa Janes
Short Term Deliverables (September – December 2016)
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Action Item
Desired
Outcome
Completion
Date / Status
Lead / Support
Develop a plan to
eliminate existing backlog
and prevent future
occurrences.
Reduce and eventually
eliminate the current
backlog.
Lead: Commercial and Trade
Operations (Steve Gorham)
Publish the National
Examination Program
process flow for marine
container examinations.
Enhance importers
knowledge of the
examination process flow
to understand where
issues may arise.
Improve standardization
of CBSA and Port
operations.
Lead: Program Compliance and
Outreach (Johny Prasad)
Engage stakeholders on
the development of the
Progressive Examination
Model, whose objective is
to transform the marine
examination process.
Ensure stakeholder issues
and views are taken into
consideration and
solutions are reflected in
the PEM end state to be
implemented at the Port of
Vancouver.
Lead: Commercial
Transformation – Air, Marine &
Rail (Todd Boucher)
Conduct a supply chain
analysis at multiple marine
ports of entry.
Bring to light challenges in
the supply chain, which
will in turn enable
responsible parties to
address gaps.
Lead: BCCC Commercial
Compliance Sub-committee
(Johny Prasad and Jim Sutton)
September 2016
In progress
October 2016
In progress
Support: Commercial and Trade
Operations (Steve Gorham) and
CIFFA (Ruth Snowden) with other
private sector representatives
Late fall 2016
In planning
Support: Program Compliance
and Outreach (Johny Prasad),
Regional Operations
December 2016
In planning
Medium Term Deliverables (January – July 2017)
Action Item
Desired Outcome
1.
Explore opportunities to update Legislation,
Regulations or Policy guidance in
collaboration with other Government,
Crown and Private entities – for example
TC for CTA review.
Assess whether/if changes
need to be made to
address gaps.
Lead: Program & Policy
Management Division (Tony
Hahn)
2.
Engage stakeholders to discuss trade
chain delays and develop services
standards for all partners.
Explore publishing of results of
examinations (marine) – on a national
level.
Identify timelines for all
stakeholders.
Lead: Program Compliance and
Outreach Division (Johny Prasad)
Assess ability to gather and
publish statistics on GoC
Open Data Portal
Lead: Program Compliance and
Outreach Division (Johny Prasad)
Track and analyze the costs of container
examinations.
To assess improvements
and impact to industry.
Lead: CIFFA
No.
3.
4.
Lead / Support
1