Leading indicator of cross-border traveller volume, September 2020
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Released: 2020-10-13
Highlights
The number of American residents and returning Canadians crossing the border from the United States by automobile was low in September as restrictions on non-essential travel remained in effect throughout the month.
The number of US travellers entering Canada by automobile through land ports with electronic sensors was down 94.3% compared with September 2019.
Similarly, the number of Canadians returning from the United States by automobile through these ports dropped 93.1% in September 2020 compared with the same month a year earlier.
Travel restrictions continue
Restrictions on non-essential travel across the Canada-US border, that initially took effect in March, will remain in effect at least until October 21, 2020 to contain the further spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Arrivals from the United States remain low
In September, US residents made 64,700 trips to Canada in US-licensed automobiles through 111 land ports equipped with the automated Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL), down 94.3% from the 1.1 million trips taken in September 2019.
The largest year-over-year declines were recorded at IPIL ports in Yukon (-96.4%), New Brunswick (-95.8%) and Quebec (-95.5%).
September 4 was the busiest day of the month with 3,030 US residents crossing into Canada in US-licensed automobiles. Conversely, the lowest daily arrivals by car was on September 13 when 1,280 US residents crossed the border into Canada.
Infographic 1
United States residents entering Canada in US-licensed automobiles, September 2019 and September 2020
The number of returning Canadians continues to be flat
In September, there were 93.1% fewer Canadian residents returning from the United States in Canadian-licensed automobiles via 111 IPIL ports compared with September of 2019. During the month, the number of returning Canadians fell to 151,900 from 2.2 million last year.
The largest year-over-year percentage declines were recorded in Yukon (-99.1%), British Columbia (-97.3%) and Quebec (-96.4%).
The number of returning Canadian residents reached a high on September 3 when 6,250 returned, while the lowest daily arrivals by car was registered on September 20 when 2,720 Canadian residents returned.
Infographic 2
Canadian residents returning from the United States in Canadian-licensed automobiles, September 2019 and September 2020
Note to readers
Counts of cross-border travel by automobile through 111 land ports equipped with the Integrated Primary Inspection Line (IPIL) system are available by the traveller's state or province of residence and by the province of entry into Canada, based on the licence plate of the automobile used to enter Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses various data sources to collect information on travellers entering the country. The IPIL system accounts for the largest share of travellers entering Canada by automobile.
The IPIL data exclude automobile travellers who cross the Canada–US border using a NEXUS card and at ports that are not equipped with the IPIL system. These counts also exclude US travellers entering Canada in automobiles with Canadian licence plates and Canadian travellers returning to the country in automobiles with US licence plates.
As such, the IPIL data represent only a subset of Canadian and US residents entering Canada by automobile. In 2019, for example, the 111 IPIL ports covered by this indicator captured approximately 80% of cross-border automobile traffic between Canada and the United States.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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