Brittany Powassin and Jessica Kempenich, members of Animakee Wa Zhing #37, live on Windigo Island, which forms part of their community’s reserve. CBC News
Canada Border Services Agency will shut down its Remote Area Border Crossing program across northern Ontario and replace it with mandatory phone reporting by September 2026. The agency says the change will strengthen border security and create a single, consistent way for travellers to report when entering Canada from remote locations.
“The CBSA’s decision was based on an internal review of the Remote Area Border Crossing Program, which considered security, operational efficiency and the evolving risk environment at Canada’s border,” the agency said in a statement.
How the Current System Works
The Remote Area Border Crossing, known as RABC, allows approved travellers to enter Canada through isolated border points without stopping at a staffed crossing. Permit holders still must declare any goods they bring into the country.
Under the new rules, travellers entering through areas that now fall under RABC will need to report every crossing. They must either stop at a port of entry or use a designated telephone reporting site.
Anyone who fails to report may face fines, seized goods or vehicles, and possible criminal charges under the Customs Act.
Areas Affected by the Change
The shutdown will affect several remote regions, including the Northwest Angle, the Pigeon River through Lake of the Woods, the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, the upper lock system in Sault Ste. Marie, and Cockburn Island.
The agency will officially end the RABC program on Sept. 14, 2026. Current permits will remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2026.
The CBSA says the new phone system mirrors reporting methods already in place in other parts of Canada and better matches how travellers report to U.S. border officials in remote areas.
Concerns From Northern Communities
Roughly 11,000 people hold RABC permits each year, and about 90 per cent of them are American. Many residents in border communities say the change will disrupt daily life.
Brittany Powassin, a councillor for Animakee Wa Zhing #37, lives on Windigo Island, about 52 kilometres south of Kenora, Ont. Residents must travel through Minnesota by boat and road to reach essential services in Canada.
“It causes a little bit of panic out here just because on our side, we do have a lot of people that are diabetic and we have people that do have medical needs that sometimes they need to get to the hospital or medical centers quicker than they're able to,” she said.
Powassin said phone reporting already creates delays.
“It's so time-consuming to call in because sometimes they're waiting there from 20 minutes to almost an hour per call with an officer just to get let through,” she said. “There are at least five to 10 car lineups per booth waiting. So, it takes a while.”
Impact on Indigenous and Local Workers
Powassin said the RABC program plays a key role for Indigenous residents and commercial fishers.
“I really wish that they would consider the communities here in the Northwest Angle because there are a lot of status members that have qualified for that program as well as commercial fishermen,” she said. “I just really feel for the people who rely on those programs to ensure that their businesses are flowing smoothly.”
Consultations Planned Before Launch
The CBSA said it will share more details soon and plans to add more phone reporting sites before the program ends.
“The location of the new telephone reporting sites will be decided in the coming months in consultation with Indigenous communities, local businesses, and law enforcement partners,” the agency said.
