System Failure Exposes Weakness at the Border
A major systems outage at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has triggered fresh questions about the country’s border security and IT resilience, after officers were unable to access crucial security lookout databases for nearly two days.
The failure, which began on September 28 during scheduled maintenance, forced border officers across the country to manually verify traveller information and process declarations — a time-consuming procedure that led to significant delays at several ports of entry.
Truck drivers reported wait times of up to 38 hours at crossings between Ontario and New York, while officials scrambled to implement contingency measures.
According to the CBSA, the technical issue was not the result of a cyberattack but rather an unforeseen breakdown in system connectivity during maintenance. The agency said “safety and security standards were upheld” throughout the outage.
Officers Say Security Lookouts Were Missed
However, border officers and union representatives paint a more troubling picture. Without access to real-time lookout data — alerts that flag travellers or shipments that could pose security threats — agents say some potentially risky entries may have gone unnoticed.
“We’d get that information once the system is back up and running, which could be well after the truck has already been allowed in,” said Mark Weber, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, which represents thousands of front-line border staff.
Security experts warn the outage illustrates a deeper vulnerability in Canada’s border management infrastructure. Kelly Sundberg, a former CBSA officer and now a professor at Mount Royal University, called it a “big red flag” for national security.
“Without question, people came into our border during those periods that should not have come in,” Sundberg said. “It shows we lack the resources and systems needed to ensure the integrity of our border.”
Supply Chain Disruptions Mount
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) said the outage caused widespread disruptions across the supply chain.
“Drivers were delayed up to 38 hours at the border,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “That loss of productivity ripples through the economy — from factory output to store shelves.”
The alliance has long urged Ottawa to upgrade border IT infrastructure, saying outdated systems have made Canadian trade more vulnerable.
“Investing in the IT that facilitates Canada–U.S. trade is a nation-building exercise,” Laskowski said. “It’s just not as flashy as other priorities, but it’s essential.”
Experts Call It a Warning for the Future
Cybersecurity analysts and academics say the outage underscores the fragility of Canada’s digital backbone. Christian Leuprecht, a national security expert at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University, said the length of the downtime reflects a system “not fit for purpose in the 21st century.”
“The fact that we’re working with antiquated systems — and that it took nearly 48 hours to restore them — shows Canada’s national security posture is far behind where it should be,” Leuprecht said.
He added that simply increasing budgets won’t fix the problem unless the government recruits and retains top-tier IT talent. “We need a fundamental rethink of how government handles digital infrastructure.”
CBSA Promises Review
The CBSA confirmed it has more than a dozen IT modernization projects underway, with a combined budget nearing $1 billion. The agency said it will file a formal report on the outage with the Minister of Public Safety within 30 days.
While officials insist security protocols were maintained, the incident has reignited debate about how Canada balances speed, technology, and safety at its borders.
For now, the outage serves as a stark reminder that a single system failure can ripple across national security, trade, and public trust — and that Canada’s borders may be only as strong as its servers.
