ArriveCAN 2.0: Who created the border app and why stay here

Travelers hate it. Border guards say it's a waste of time. Even some doctors say it should go.

Whether you like it or not,ArriveCANis a digital beast that never dies.

This app is to ensure that everyone who enters Canada during theCOVID-19outbreak follows the government's strict 14-day quarantine rules. It was considered a short-term solution.

Read more: The Border Union claims that government statistics on the Arrive CAN app are "absolutely wrong"

Launched in April 2020, it became mandatory in November of that year.

However, as vaccination rates increased and other public health measures declined, the app quietly changed to something else.

And anyone who wanted the app to disappear sooner could be disappointed with the results.

"Arrive CAN was originally created for COVID-19, but it has more technical capabilities." , Marcomendicino, Minister of Public Security, said in June. 28 Press conference.

Mendocino's remarks Shows plans to use ArriveCAN as part of the Free Government's efforts to "modern borders" and "reduce time" to pass through customs.

A recent update to the app released by the government without fanfare allows passengers arriving at Toronto Pearson Airport and Vancouver International Airport to fill out a customs declaration before landing in Canada.

This may not seem like a big change, but it's a fundamental change from what the app originally intended to do: collect public health data.

"This is a bait and a switch," said Bian Kawaii, a technical expert and partner at Digital Public. "We need to advocate getting rid of it, and at least make sure it turns into a voluntary technology."

Read more: Air Canada, Pearson ranks first again, lagging behind all over the world. Montreal check-in freezes

The app's new "options" feature replaces the old paper forms and digital kiosks you're used to at Canadian airports. The government says this feature will be extended to Tordeau International Airport in Montreal and other airports in the future later this summer.

However, if past concerns about the functionality and usefulness of the app are any sign, this latest iteration of ArriveCAN is another headache for travelers who are already stressed and tired. There is a possibility of becoming.

"The fact that the government is experimenting during the public health crisis is a problem, not a full investment in what we know will work," Wiley said. Said. "If the technology isn't working as expected, you'll need to shut it down."

In response to questions about the app, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) said that when a pandemic occurred, the government He said the development of a border modernization strategy is already underway.

This strategy includes plans to use a mobile app that allows travelers to file customs declarations before they arrive in Canada, which has been scrutinized and approved by the Federal Privacy Commissioner. CBSA says.

"Because Canadians are familiar with ArriveCAN apps and have a widespread connection to boundary processing, CBSA has a pre-declared component under development rather than an envisioned individual application. We chose to incorporate it into the platform, "said CBSA spokeswoman Rebecca. Purdy.

"When travel and public health measures are no longer needed, those who choose digital interaction at the border will continue to use ArriveCAN. You can. "

Who designed the Arrive CAN?

It's important to return to Canada, but there's virtually no publicly available information about who designed ArriveCAN and what the government is doing to maintain it. ..

An online search of the government's database listing public contracts with private companies did not find any specific mention of the app.

There is no information about who created it on the government website, Google Play, or the downloadable Apple App Store.

Read more: Removed travel rules for the ArriveCan app, border mayor urges Otawa

In response to a request to provide information on the origin of ArriveCAN, CBSA has established BDO Canada, TEKSystems, Coradix Technology Consulting, Dalian Enterprises and GC Strategies. He said he developed the app in partnership with five private companies.

All companies except GC Strategies have existing contracts with the government and were selected for this job because of the faster app builds.

"These contracts are not specifically set for the development of ArriveCAN, but are necessary to enhance and accelerate the development of ArriveCAN to accommodate the rapidly changing pandemic environment. It was used at some point, "said CBSA spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy.

In total, CBSA has spent $ 24.7 million on developing and maintaining the app, Purdy said. An additional $ 2.2 million was spent on advertising.

She says the app has been used more than 21 million times to upload essential health information, and when used as a pre-customs screening tool, the initial data is at the border. He added that it suggests that the processing of is 30 times faster per person. St.

Global News has contacted each company hired to develop the app.

Coradix President Colin Wood said his company and Dalian Enterprises jointly provided cloud and mobile app development services to the government.

Trend Story

Read more:No more, Air Canada says in an ongoing airport delay

He describes the app as "success" and the government builds it "incredibly tight" He said it should be acknowledged by launching under the "Timeline"

"I hope the (this) part of the story isn't overcooked," he said. ..

Wood also stated that due to the "delicate nature of the project" and the non-disclosure agreement with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), it is not possible to provide specific details about the work done by the company. I did.

GC Strategies provided a similar answer, but TEK Systems said it would help CBSA move applications to the cloud and upgrade Internet security and technology. BDO Canada did not provide an answer.

Transparency Concerns

Why and how these companies were chosen to design ArriveCAN are some specialties Related to the house.

This is a government facing a rapidly evolving public health crisis developing and developing companies with existing relationships. Because I chose to keep it. An app rather than starting an open and transparent competitive bidding process.

"The government can't just sit down and say,'Well, these are the suppliers we used. Just because we've used them in the past, we'll continue to use them." Said Gillian Kohler, a professor of public health at the University of Toronto.

Read more: Most countries have failed to crack down on corruption, a new report states — including Canada

Koehler, his research focuses on transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption in the pharmaceutical sector, and the purchase of goods and services by the government is the "maximum of corruption" for all government functions. It brings the risk of ".

That's why it's so important that the process of choosing a government contractor is open and transparent, she said.

In the case of ArriveCAN, there are no signs of damage, but there are rules governing how contracts are awarded so that public funds can be used wisely.

"It's alarming to see in Canada given the lack of an open and competitive process for ArriveCAN," said Kohler.

Read more:Canada expands COVID-19 border measures to the next traveler

Mr. Koehler said that if ArriveCAN is used for any purpose in the future, the government must allow other companies to compete for these contracts. He said he had to.

She also relies on the fact that the government was acting in an emergency to justify an ongoing relationship with these companies if the same public health risks no longer apply. Said he couldn't.

"It doesn't fly in this era," she said.

The usefulness of the app.

There is no accurate way to measure the effectiveness of the app, but government data can at least shed light on its usefulness as a public health tool.

According to the Canadian Public Health Agency (PHAC), the data collected through the app is used to complete approximately 700,000 face-to-face quarantine inspections.

These visits appear at the homes of private guards or people contracted with the government and confirm them. It was done by one of the bailiffs. I was following the rules.

The number of face-to-face inspections represents about 14% of the total 4.7 million travelers who were forced to quarantine after entering Canada during the pandemic.

PHAC also uses data collected through the app for those who test positive on a government-mandated arrival test. I will contact you.

PHAC states that of the approximately 100,000 people who tested positive since the start of the pandemic, approximately 60% were contacted using this method. The remaining 40% could not be reached.

According to the December 2021Auditor's General Report, the app is an improvement over the previous paper-based method of collecting personal information from international travelers. did.

Prior to ArriveCAN, health officials reported that about 20% of travelers missed contact details. Says. This number dropped to about 8% after the app became mandatory.

Read more: Otawa does not know if 75% of the air that arrived complies with the hotel's quarantine rules, AG reports. It states

"This is not a success story," said auditor Karen Hogan at a press conference in December 2021. According to the

report, due to "errors or inconsistencies in collecting traveler contact information", approximately 80,000 on-arrival test results and 57,000 post-arrival test results are presented in ArriveCAN Traveler Data. Could not match with.

This often means that the government was unable to contact people to follow up on test results or inform them of quarantine requirements.

Canadian health agencies do not know if 75% of the air that arrives complies with hotel quarantine regulations. AG Report

We also found that there is little follow-up for non-compliant travelers. Even after the involvement of law enforcement agencies, public health officials were almost unaware of what the police did.

PHAC flags police as "priority referral" as it may violate quarantine rules Of the approximately 140,000 people, the agency didn't know anything. If so, about 57,000 cases have been enforced.

Auditors said this was a failure as it reduced the government's ability to effectively monitor and implement quarantine measures.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, less than 600 tickets have been issued for violating quarantine conditions.

An additional 8,000 tickets have been issued to refuse transfer to "Government Approved Accommodations" and an additional 3,500 tickets to appear at the border without completing the pre-arrival COVID-19 test. It was issued.

End date not visible

Another concern raised about ArriveCAN is when or how the government will stop using the app. It is not clear about. Phase out mandatory public health components.

At a press conference on June 14, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the app would be international. Said that it is a "very useful tool" for. Travelers are completely vaccinated.

He also found it useful to maintain the app in the event of another wave of viruses warned by some public health experts, including Dr. Teresatam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. I said there is.

Read more:COVID-19 rules still enforce cross-border tracker vaccine requirements

However, Argabra did not provide the specific benchmarks used by the government to determine when the vaccine obligations for international travelers will be lifted and when ArriveCAN will no longer be mandatory. please give me.

"ArriveCAN is a tool used by public health and CBSA to ensure and confirm that the next traveler has the necessary vaccination evidence," Alghabra said. I am saying.

Technology expert Wiley I'm having a problem because it suggests that the government has no plans on how and when to make the app voluntary.

She also forced millions of people to download and then diverted the app, I am worried that it may undermine public confidence in similar technologies in the future.

"These apps are damaging confidence in the government," she said.

© 2022 GlobalNews, Corus Entertainment Inc. One division