Leading indicator of cross-border traveller volume, October 2020
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Released: 2020-11-12
Highlights
The number of American residents and returning Canadians crossing the border from the United States by automobile remained low in October as restrictions on non-essential travel continued throughout the month.
The 64,700 US travellers entering Canada by automobile through land ports with electronic sensors was down 93.5% compared with October 2019.
Similarly, the 159,500 Canadians returning from the United States by automobile through these ports dropped 92.1% in October 2020 compared with the same month a year earlier.
Travel restrictions continue
Restrictions on non-essential travel across the Canada–US border, which initially took effect in March, have been renewed until at least November 21, 2020 to contain the further spread of COVID-19.
Arrivals from the United States remain low
In October, 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 93.5% from the 994,100 trips taken in October 2019.
The largest year-over-year percentage declines were recorded at IPIL ports in Quebec (-95.5%), New Brunswick (-95.2%) and Ontario (-94.8%).
In 2019, an upsurge in crossings occurred the weekend beginning on Friday, October 11 just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. No such increase occurred in October 2020. October 2 was the busiest day of the month with 3,013 US residents crossing into Canada in US-licensed automobiles. Conversely, the lowest daily arrivals by car was on October 25 when 1,088 US residents crossed the border into Canada.
Infographic 1
United States residents entering Canada in US-licensed automobiles, October 2019 and October 2020
The number of returning Canadians continues to be flat
In October, there were 92.1% fewer Canadian residents returning from the United States in Canadian-licensed automobiles via 111 IPIL ports compared with October 2019. During the month, the number of returning Canadians fell to 159,500 in 2020 from 2.0 million last year.
The largest year-over-year percentage declines were recorded in Yukon (-98.4%), British Columbia (-96.9%) and Quebec (-94.8%).
In 2019, the daily high was recorded on Monday, October 14 (Thanksgiving Day) as Canadian residents returned home during the holiday weekend. This year, no such escalation occurred around the holiday due to restrictions on non-essential travel.
The number of returning Canadian residents reached a high on October 2 when 6,386 returned, while the lowest daily arrivals by car was registered on October 25 when 2,790 Canadian residents returned.
Infographic 2
Canadian residents returning from the United States in Canadian-licensed automobiles, October 2019 and October 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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