TORONTO: The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada’s border is not used for illegal activity .
This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law .
CBSA officers at the Fort Frances port of entry (POE) processed 58,854 travellers in 34,045 vehicles, which represents a four-percent decrease in travellers and a three-percent decrease in vehicles from December 2013 .
More than 238 international travellers entered by bus .
In December 2014, CBSA officers at the Rainy River POE processed 23,944 travellers in 13,701 vehicles, which represents a two-percent increase in travellers and a one-percent decrease in vehicles from December 2013 .
Immigration highlights In December, officers at the Fort Frances POE conducted more than 311 immigration interviews resulting in five Visitor Records, 32 Work Permits, and two Temporary Resident Permits, and in three cases, individuals decided to voluntarily withdraw their applications to enter Canada .
In December, officers at the Rainy River POE conducted more than 56 immigration interviews resulting in one Visitor Record, one Work Permit, one Temporary Resident Permit and in one case, an individual decided to voluntarily withdraw their application to enter Canada.
On December 12, a male U.S. resident was seeking entry into Canada and was referred for a secondary immigration examination .
During the interview, officers discovered that the traveller had been convicted of driving under the influence in the United States .
On December 17, a male U.S. resident and a 15-yearold female U.S. resident passenger arrived at the Fort Frances POE and were referred for a secondary immigration examination .
During the interview, officers were told that the male was in a relationship with the passenger’s mother.
Further questioning revealed that they were entering Canada to visit tourist sites; however, they had no travel plans, no hotel reservations nor any knowledge of the area .
The passenger, a minor, did not have a letter of permission from her parent or legal guardian in her possession indicating that the driver was allowed to travel across the border with her .
Officers attempted to contact the passenger’s mother by telephone but were unable to reach her .
A background check revealed that the driver had a criminal record in the United States for domestic assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor .
Both individuals were refused entry as the passenger did not have sufficient documentation and the driver had serious criminality .
Both travellers were also deemed to be nongenuine visitors to Canada .
The driver and the passenger were returned to the United States and the U.S .
Customs and Border Protection was informed since the driver was in the company of the minor without permission from a legal guardian.
