Program directory · Canada Border Services Agency
Science and Engineering
- Department
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Program code
- BUF12 (CBSA)
- Core responsibility
- Border Management
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Science and Engineering Program is the CBSA’s technical authority for science and engineering. This program enables the Agency to leverage science and engineering in the delivery of its mandate by providing timely, evidence-based advice to support business decisions and enforcement activities. The program’s objectives include:
• Scientific Services and Support – The scientific analysis of goods and information crossing Canadian borders, in support of revenue generation, program compliance and enforcement activities.
• Border Technology Lifecycle Management – Complete life-cycle management of detection technology, scientific instrumentation and radio communication equipment in order to meet the operational requirements of the front line for capabilities and safety.
• Applied Engineering and Disruptive Solutions – Targeted research, benchmarking and testing activities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of border operations through the application of science, technology and engineering.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Engineering | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $284M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Spending $36M, against $28.4M in 2018-19 (+27%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Indicators added: Number of analytical and forensic samples processed; Operational availability of deployed detection technology (excluding Health and Safety tools); Operational availability of Health and Safety related tools; Percentage of analytical and forensic samples analyzed within service targets; Percentage of proficiency tests that are successful | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Indicators dropped: Actual analytical and forensic services provided as a percentage of all analytical and forensic services projected; Analytical and forensic services provided within time service standards as a percentage of all analytical and forensic services provided; Availability of border technology as a percentage of planned availability | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $71.9M, against $48.5M in 2024-25 (+48%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: Percentage of border technology maintained to service standards; Percentage of reports delivered meeting service standard times; Percentage of scientific and engineering effort focused on emerging threats and solutions | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: Number of analytical and forensic samples processed; Operational availability of deployed detection technology (excluding Health and Safety tools); Operational availability of Health and Safety related tools; Percentage of analytical and forensic samples analyzed within service targets; Percentage of proficiency tests that are successful; Stakeholders surveyed are "satisfied" and "very satisfied" with Science and Engineering services as a percentage of all stakeholder responses | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Renamed from “Field Technology Support” to “Science and Engineering”. | GC InfoBase program names by year |
| 2026-27 | Planned spending $99.2M, against $71.9M in 2025-26 (+38%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2027-28 | Planned employees (FTEs) 210, against 162 in 2026-27 (+30%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 16,000 | 2024 | 16,065 | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 16,000 | 2025 | 17,576 | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 97% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 90% | 2025 | 91% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 88% The result was impacted by aging assets in the Large Scale Imaging Program, with multiple units out of service for prolonged periods in 2023–24. The CBSA is undertaking plans to replace aging assets going forward. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 90% | 2025 | 97% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 80% | 2024 | 86% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 80% | 2025 | 85% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 95% | 2024 | 99% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 95% | 2025 | 94% The result of 94% slightly missed the target of 95% due to inconclusive results for some tests. A review of methods was conducted and some technique improvements were identified to support the integrity of future test results. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 80% | 2019 | 89.1% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 80% | 2020 | 93% | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 80% | 2021 | 91.8% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 80% | 2022 | 93.8% | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 80% | 2023 | 90.2% | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 80% | 2024 | 95% | Met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 80% | 2025 | 93% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 96% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 83% The CBSA temporarily diverted resources for the recruitment and training of new employees, resulting in a temporary decrease in output. Also, several large multi-year cases were initiated, which further reduced output as the cases were not resolved by the end of the fiscal year. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | 120.6% Despite the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the delivery of analytical and forensic services, the CBSA was able to surpass its service projections for 2020–21. | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 90% | 2022 | 77% The CBSA’s laboratory activities were negatively impacted by distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby delays in completing analytical work were caused by a reduction in the number of people permitted to access the laboratory at one time. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 90% | 2023 | 91% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 80% | 2019 | 84.9% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 80% | 2020 | 77% The CBSA temporarily diverted resources for the recruitment and training of new employees, resulting in a temporary decrease in output. Also, several large multi-year cases were initiated, which further reduced output as the cases were not resolved by the end of the fiscal year. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 80% | 2021 | 71.6% The CBSA’s ability to provide analytical and forensic services within time service standards was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 80% | 2022 | 68% The CBSA’s laboratory activities were negatively impacted by distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby delays in completing analytical work were caused by a reduction in the number of people permitted to access the laboratory at one time. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 80% | 2023 | 89.5% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 95% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 91% | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | 92% | Met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 90% | 2022 | 93.8% | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 90% | 2023 | 92% | Met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 95% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 95% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 5% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $44.7M | $28.4M |
| 2019-20 | $62.7M | $36M |
| 2020-21 | $47.8M | $38.3M |
| 2021-22 | $45.2M | $41.5M |
| 2022-23 | $68.9M | $44.3M |
| 2023-24 | $67M | $46.9M |
| 2024-25 | $106M | $48.5M |
| 2025-26 | $71.9M | — |
| 2026-27 | $99.2M | — |
| 2027-28 | $103M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $105M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 121 | 122 |
| 2019-20 | 120 | 134 |
| 2020-21 | 134 | 121 |
| 2021-22 | 130 | 126 |
| 2022-23 | 113 | 134 |
| 2023-24 | 185 | 140 |
| 2024-25 | 209 | 131 |
| 2025-26 | 149 | — |
| 2026-27 | 162 | — |
| 2027-28 | 210* | — |
| 2028-29 | 211* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $44,711,553 | $47,606,570 | $36,969,627 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $62,749,266 | $42,547,389 | $39,756,812 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $47,813,319 | $35,859,242 | $36,668,379 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $45,215,548 | $47,802,296 | $51,647,314 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $68,867,711 | $59,788,969 | $65,458,068 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $67,026,606 | $83,979,321 | $46,876,093 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $105,649,383 | $52,500,121 | $46,664,682 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $71,907,002 | $94,222,441 | $100,024,286 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $99,185,233 | $102,673,489 | $105,392,789 | ||||||||
| Actual | $28,355,591 | $35,962,254 | $38,287,863 | $41,452,846 | $44,292,692 | $46,937,281 | $48,509,847 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
