ArriveCAN is a mobile app provided by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Introduced in April 2020, it allows travellers entering Canada to electronically submit travel documents and customs declarations.
 | |
| Developer(s) | Canada Border Services Agency; GC Strategies |
|---|---|
| Initial release | April 29, 2020 |
| Stable release | 3.6.7
/ January 3, 2024 |
| Operating system | Android, iOS, web browsers |
| Available in | English, French, Spanish[1] |
| Type | Customs declaration |
| Website | www |
The app was initially developed as a joint effort between the CBSA and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as part of the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was used to submit travel documents, health assessments, and declarations of plans for mandatory self-isolation. In July 2021, the app began to be used for submitting proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Use of the app was compulsory between November 2020 and October 2022 while COVID-19 travel restrictions were in effect.
ArriveCAN has faced scrutiny over its costs and who was subcontracted for its development—becoming the subject of a political scandal in 2024.
History
editArriveCAN was introduced by the federal government on April 20, 2020, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched on April 29, 2020.[2] The app was developed by a two-person[3] Canadian consulting firm, GC Strategies, through a pre-existing contract with the CBSA.[4] It would be used to submit health screenings, contact information, and declaration of plans for mandatory self-isolation per the Quarantine Act. In November 2020, use of the app or the CBSA website became mandatory.[5][6]
The purpose of the ArriveCAN app evolved with changes to federal public health orders. In July 2021, the app was repurposed for enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate; all travellers were required to submit proof of vaccination for COVID-19 via ArriveCAN, or be required to self-isolate on arrival.[7] This proof of vaccination functionality was built on the SMART Health Card framework, enabling the app to store, recognize and verify credentials from every province, territory and foreign country.[8][9] In July 2022 a glitch in the app on iOS erroneously instructed more than 10,000 travelers to quarantine, despite having submitted proof of vaccination.[7][10]
The federal government announced that the app would continue to be offered after the conclusion of COVID-19 travel requirements, with plans to add functionality for advance customs declarations.[10] In October 2022, all remaining COVID-19-related travel orders were discontinued.[11]
Controversies
editThere has been much scrutiny over how much the ArriveCAN app cost to develop and who was subcontracted for its development.[7] Contracts show that the federal government will spend close to $54 million with 23 separate subcontractors. A Parliamentary committee ordered federal departments to submit contracting documents related to the app but have been told that the names of subcontractors cannot be released citing issues of confidentiality.[7] In October 2022, two developers at two separate IT companies took part in a hackathon where they both developed duplicates of the ArriveCAN app in under two days, for an estimated cost of $250,000.[7]
On November 2, 2022, a motion was passed calling on the Auditor General of Canada to "conduct a performance audit, including the payments, contracts and sub-contracts for all aspects of the ArriveCAN app, and to prioritize this investigation." This was the second such motion to pass.[12][13]
In January 2024, the Procurement Ombudsman Alexander Jeglic released a practice review report on ArriveCAN, finding the government applied criteria that "were overly restrictive and favored" GC Strategies. The contracts were repeatedly won by outsourcing companies listing subcontractors who ultimately did no work.[14] The Chief Technology Officer of the CBSA, Minh Doan, was accused of "manipulating, destroying files at CBSA", a claim he denied.[15]
On February 12, 2024, the Auditor General of Canada released the report, finding that those involved in the contracting, development and implementation of the app showed a "glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices" and Canadians "paid too much" for ArriveCAN. The report estimated the project to cost around $59.5 million dollars, but it was impossible to know the final cost due to bad management.[16][17]
On February 21, 2024, the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates passed a motion to summon the two heads of GC Strategies, Kristian Firth and Darren Anthony.[18]
On March 1, 2024, it was revealed that David Yeo, a defence department employee and president of Dalian Enterprise, was involved in the ArriveCAN scandal. CBC News reported that his company had received over $200 million in government contracts since 2015, including $7.9 million for the ArriveCAN app. Following this disclosure, the government suspended all contracts with Dalian Enterprise and initiated an internal investigation to address the potential conflict of interest.[19][20]
Reactions
editConservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre requested that the RCMP expand the investigation, stating that the situation "reeks of corruption at the highest levels".[21] Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair said it "could be worse than the sponsorship scandal".[22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ArriveCAN". App Store. January 9, 2024.
- ^ Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (March 7, 2023). "Issues notes: Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Study on the ArriveCAN Application (November 14, 2022)". www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Major, Darren (February 21, 2024). "What is GC Strategies? A closer look at the company linked to the ArriveCan controversy". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Clark, Campbell (October 24, 2022). "Nobody knows what happened with ArriveCan, but it sure was lucrative for some". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Major, Darren (September 24, 2022). "The ArriveCAN app is about to become optional. Will anyone use it?". CBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Dunham, Jackie (March 25, 2020). "Travellers returning home must enter mandatory self-isolation: health minister". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Tristin, Hopper. "A programmer duplicated ArriveCan in two days, an app that cost Ottawa $54 million". National Post. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "ArriveCAN costs". Canada Border Services Agency. October 24, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Using Canada's COVID-19 proof of vaccination for travel". Government of Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. October 21, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Hill, Brian. "Recent ArriveCAN 'glitch' part of a growing list of concerns about the app". Global News. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Baxter, David. "Some travellers are still using the ArriveCan app. Here's why". Global News. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Aiello, Rachel (November 2, 2022). "Opposition MPs team up to pass motion calling for federal audit of ArriveCan". CTVNews. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Pihach, Michael. "How the ArriveCAN app went from costing $80,000 to $54 million". news.paxeditions.com. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Curry, Bill (January 29, 2024). "ArriveCan bids regularly listed subcontractors who never did work, procurement watchdog finds". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Curry, Bill (January 26, 2024). "Canada's chief technology officer accused of manipulating, destroying files at CBSA". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Aiello, Rachel (February 12, 2024). "'We paid too much': Canada's AG blasts CBSA over ArriveCan app". CTVNews. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Izri, Touria (February 15, 2024). "RCMP examining auditor general's report into ArriveCAN process failures - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Major, Darren. "Commons committee agrees to summon GC Strategies to testify on ArriveCan". CBC News. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ PressProgress (February 29, 2024). "People's Party Disavows Former Candidate Who Received $7.9 Million For ArriveCAN Vaccine Passport App". PressProgress. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Major, Darren (March 1, 2024). "Public servant's company received more than $200M in government contracts since 2015". CBC News Canada.
- ^ Tasker, John Paul (February 13, 2024). "Pierre Poilievre asks RCMP to expand investigation of ArriveCan app". CBC News. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ "Mulcair: the Arrivecan app could be worse than the sponsorship scandal". iHeart Radio. Média Bell. Retrieved February 18, 2024.