Canada is facing a significant increase in refugee claimants, leading to a new practice of conducting security screenings based on the honor system. Mark Weber, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, informed Parliament this week that due to staffing shortages, individuals claiming refugee status are allowed entry without thorough security checks.

Currently, foreign nationals arriving at Canadian border posts must complete a security questionnaire using a smartphone app. Once submitted, they are permitted to enter Canada as refugee claimants. This status grants them access to free healthcare, public education, and work permits. In some instances, claimants may also receive taxpayer-funded accommodations.

Data from the federal government’s Interim Housing Assistance Program revealed that in 2024, some claimants received free meals and hotel accommodations costing taxpayers approximately $224 per day. With a backlog in processing claims, even those with potentially false claims can remain in Canada for up to two years while their cases are reviewed.

Weber expressed concern about the potential for misuse of the system, stating, "Our goal at the border is to build the file to be able to identify non-genuine claims, and right now we’re kind of relying on people to self-declare that they’re a non-genuine claim." He noted that border guards are unable to monitor for security threats effectively, as their primary role has shifted to collecting basic personal and biometric information.

The number of refugees and refugee claimants in Canada has reached a record high of 497,443, according to Statistics Canada. This figure has surged from just 16,058 in 2015 when the current government took office. The demographic of those making refugee claims has also changed, with a notable increase in asylum claims from international students. In 2024, there were 20,245 claims from foreign students, a number expected to rise in 2025.

Since 2017, Canada has seen over 100,000 irregular border crossings, where individuals enter the country illegally before claiming asylum. Although the rate of illegal entries has decreased since new legislation was enacted to deter asylum-seekers from the U.S., authorities still report accepting between 50 and 100 illegal border crossers each month.

In 2018, former immigration minister Ahmed Hussen acknowledged the abuse of this system, particularly by individuals from Nigeria who entered the U.S. on tourist visas with the intent to cross into Canada for asylum.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) currently employs about 8,500 frontline staff, a number that has remained stable since 2012, despite a reduction of approximately 1,000 positions at that time. Weber indicated that these employees now face a significantly increased workload due to the rise in refugee claimants and irregular border crossings.

He emphasized that the human element at Canada’s borders is diminishing, stating, "The technology that we see the CBSA putting in place is all about self-declaration … the refugee claimant doing everything on their own because we simply don’t have the staff to do the proper interviews and do what we did previously."

**In Other News** Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been notably restrained in her criticism of the federal government, possibly due to the prospect of receiving support for an oil pipeline. Reports suggest that a deal may be in the works to connect Alberta oil to the Pacific Ocean via northern British Columbia. Despite B.C. Premier David Eby’s opposition to such a project, the new Major Projects Office established by the federal government may have the authority to proceed regardless of provincial objections.