CIIT Committee Report

Whereas the transitional measure the Canada Border Services Agency’s Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system, which allowed importers to use their customs broker's financial guarantee for the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program, expired on May 20, 2025;

Whereas this situation has resulted in delays at the border, warehouses at full capacity, goods being returned to the shipper and financial burdens for Quebec and Canadian companies; Considering that any commercial shipment over $3,300 not registered on the CARM portal and without a financial guarantee is refused, and that import sites have reached or exceeded their storage capacity;

Considering that importers report difficulties with the CARM portal, particularly in accessing it and posting guarantees, in addition to deploring that response times for assistance with the portal are several weeks;

That the Committee recommend that the Minister of Public Safety and the Canada Border Services Agency implement the following measures, as requested by several stakeholders:

1. Develop a contingency plan for all commercial shipments held in a warehouse for more than seven days, applicable to all goods;
2. Allow importers and customs brokers to submit payment for Type C entries online via CARM, to speed up the release of goods;
3. Establish a RPP waiver or exemption for companies importing low-value or low-volume shipments, to reduce administrative burdens for SMEs and help facilitate the movement of goods across the border;
4. Ensure transparency so that brokers can check whether an importer has obtained a bond, so that they can contact customers directly to ensure that everything is in place for efficient movement at the border;
5. Create an exemption or other financial guarantee mechanism, for example by allowing companies to use a credit card, to ease the financial pressure on small importers.