The form itself is not checked against any system but the passport or other travel document is. The forms are sent daily/weekly to Statistics Canada where some highly paid data entry clerk enters them into a super dooper computer/database. The Govt can then release statistics on how many people have travelled etc.
In extreme cases the form can be used as evidence in cases where criminal charges are laid against a person who contravenes the Customs Act or another Act of Parliament.
I will resist the urge to repost the thread entitled E311 card for dummies

You can read the official memorandum on the card at this link

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...2-5-7-eng.html

I wonder if it would be possible to have a keypad at each IO booth where this information could be entered by the defendant - sorry, visitor - while the IO is scanning the passport and asking the "where have you come from" questions?

Would save millions of cards per day, not to mention the costs of printing them, shipping them to each and every CBSA location, and then back again to the the data entry clerks in Stats Canada.

Take that one to your boss, you can have it for free.

Thanks but nobody listens to me anyway
Im not putting your idea down in flames but the thought of having a keyboard at Primary makes me cringe at the potential to have even longer lines and wait times. People have trouble answering a simple question on a form and expecting them to type it out on a keypad is a recipe for disaster.
Unfortunately as much as people hate answering certain questions on the form or why they are even asked the Govt in their wisdom find it necessary to have these questions answered regardless of how stoopid and offensive some find them.

Its pointless trying to justify why certain questions are asked by CBSA officers as people either dont want to listen or refuse to accept the reasons why as its all about them.
If I am examining a passport and for example see numerous entry stamps into Colombia or Jamaica might my spidey senses begin to tingle? If I ask the question so how come you visit X country so many times or what is your occupation and the person says "I work for X company and we have a manufacturing facility and I go down for business and audits" then chances are my spidey senses have now been negated and no further questioning is needed.

As much as people dont like these types of questions you always have the option of complaining. Of course when we let the bad guys in these are the same people complaining and asking so why were they not questioned
We just cant win so we carry on.

Surely passengers could just scan their boarding card at Primary? That would give name, arrival date, city of departure and flight no. Passport and TWP/PR card or whatever gives name, address etc. The only information not already available is the Yes/No questions about what you're bringing in, which could easily be done on a keypad - or at a separate line for the very few people who declare any "Yes" answers.

Think of the sheer volume of those absolutely unnecessary E311 cards, or whatever they're called. I bet they cost far more to administer than they raise in taxes collected.

Er, I was married to a non-EU citizen for twenty odd years. We have a variety of children who travel on non-EU passports. Obviously we went to the UK hundreds of times. I've also been back and forth to the UK with various Americans numerous times. I've heard no complaints about interrogation on entering the UK; they all bitch about the bloody card in Canada though, having to put it in your mouth because your hands are full, having to wait while every second person has to unload their stuff and search for the card they've filed away.

Now thats a better idea however people lose their boarding cards Chances are its in the seat pocket in front of you. For direct flights yes it could be done i.e. Heathrow to Toronto. For connecting flights such as Heathrow to Chicago to Winnipeg then probably not. The new ABC machines currently in YVR, YYZ & YUL are attempting to speed up this process but its a machine. If you miss a question or it cant read or decipher the answer then it rejects it.
Lots of other Govt agencies rely on paper forms which also could be replaced but lets face it in some aspects we use more paper than ever. Werent computers supposed to cut down on paperwork?
When I go to renew my driving licence I have to fill a form out which asks several questions. Why doesnt the agent pull up a screen verbally ask the questions and enter the Yes or No answers. No form needed.

Why are your hands full? One piece of carry on baggage usually means one hand FREE

This is how it works in Ontario. It's been at least ten years since a form was needed for driving licenses and plate stickers.

Green line, red line is the most efficient way to do it.

You don't hand in the card until after collecting your checked baggage. Passengers new to Canada don't realise that they're going to have to produce the card so, when they get the checked bag, they shove the card into a pocket in it. When they're asked for the card they have to set everything down and search while the officials look on smugly and the passengers who've been here before (and have their cards in their mouths) stand behind them fuming.

Now I dont know what airport you normally use but at mine I can vouch that all officers at the Primary Booths after scanning your passport say words or a phrase which goes
" Put your passport away, collect all bags and show this card to the officer at the exit"

Theres a clue in that phrase and in case anyone missed it

SHOW THE CARD TO THE OFFICER AT THE EXIT.
If only people would listen
Why put it away if you have to show it again

Not so. One piece of carryon + one personal item. So that's my wheeled suitcase (carryon) and laptop rucksack over one shoulder. Not to mention the duty free I picked up on the way over. Is it any wonder the card has to go in my mouth?

Exactly.

A typical person would not imagine that such an arcane system exists and so even if told to keep the card to hand would likely not do so. It would seem to silly to be true.

I don't think though that officers do tell every single person to keep the card out. I think schadenfreude is a big part of the satisfaction in the job; not saying anything ensures that the passenger will be inconvenienced, embarassed and possibly squished by a trolley at the exit. I can't think why else, after decades of seeing daily chaos, the airport staff have made no effort to improve things.

When I have a day where its a lets piss the public off and Im working at the exit collecting those dreaded cards and wearing latex gloves thereby protecting my hands from the gob, snot and other items on the card it goes something like this.
Hi declaration card please.
The officer kept it
No I think you will find they gave it you back
No they kept it
By this time the line up is getting longer and the passenger more frustrated.
No the officer gave it you back.
At this time I have the choice of telling them to move off to the side or if really wanting to piss them off keep them in line.
Have you checked all of your pockets and bags?
Now waits for passenger to search his/her pockets and the dreaded black hole commonly known as the handbag.
With my 23 yrs of experience Im 99% certain they folded up and put it inside their passport but Im not going to reveal that tidbit just yet.
By this time the line is getting impatient and the traveller is now swearing.
No I haven't ****ing got it your officer ****ing kept it.
Where is your passport I ask?
Now searches for passport
Produces passport and hands it to me.
I open the passport and low and behold there is the declaration card neatly folded up contrary to the request in RED letters on the card saying DO NOT FOLD.
I then unfold it and say "See the officer gave it back to you"
Traveller swears and storms off in a huff followed by that well known Canadian phrase " HAVE A NICE DAY"
And so it begins again
Hi declaration card please.