You and all other Canadian taxpayers did not get the best bang for your money from the ArriveCAN app because of the many gaps and weaknesses the auditor-general claims to have found.

 

 

”The Canada Border Services Agency’s documentation, financial records, and controls were so poor that we were unable to determine the precise cost the the ArriveCAN application,” Karen Hogan says.

”Using the information that was available, we estimated the cost at approximately $59.5-millon.”

The auditor-general’s just not sure.

”There could be amounts there that should not be linked to ArriveCAN but there also could be amounts that are linked to ArriveCAN that were not flagged in the books, and linked to that project.”

Hogan says the lack of information to support spending and decisions has compromised accountability, leaving many questions that politicians and Canadians are asking that cannot be answered.

The app was launched in April 2020 to track health and contact information for those entering Canada during the pandemic, and to digitize customs and immigration declarations.