Canada’s Comptroller General is scheduled to conduct a performance audit of the $54 million ArriveCAN program, with a public release date scheduled for later this year.
The Office of the Comptroller General told the Epoch Times on March 1 that “the scope and timeline have not yet been confirmed,” and declined further comment.However, the department’s website does include an audit for ArriveCAN Future report Scheduled for 2023.
ArriveCAN was a controversial mandatory electronic tool used by the federal government to force travelers to upload health information and vaccination status during COVID-19 restrictions. It has been subject to a number of legal actions claiming it is unconstitutional and has become voluntary as of September 30, 2022.
The audit follows a Conservative motion on 2 November 2022, in which the NDP and Bloc Québecois voted 174 to 149 to join the Tories in asking the Comptroller General to conduct a performance audit, including a review of payments. I agreed to the request to do so. Contracts, subcontracts and prioritized research for all aspects of the ArriveCan App.
Motions in the House of Commons are not binding on the Comptroller General, but in general, votes on the Auditor General influence decisions the department considers.
In an earlier email to the Epoch Times, the Canadian Border Services Agency said that while ArriveCan should have cost just $80,000 to create, it would require additional needs such as technical support and ensuring the app meets federal cybersecurity standards. He said the total cost was higher due to poor service and “indirect costs.” to $54 million.
The audit put some travelers into mandatory quarantine despite having two sets of shots for COVID, in addition to months of talk about questionable contracts awarded to design the program. This is followed by the report of the problem that we drove into.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons on Oct. 19 that ArriveCAN is “the best use of taxpayers’ money,” with $54 million going toward additional services, IT services, updates, call centers, and future costs. said to be used for commission.
On 2 November 2022, Conservative Party leader Pierre Polivre tweeted: “Now call the auditors to find out the truth.”
After filing a motion for an audit, Poilievre called ArriveCan a “huge waste,” according to the Canadian tech company that cloned the app between Oct. 7 and Oct. 10. He said he could have developed it for less than $250,000 in a weekend. 2022.
Peter Wilson contributed to this report.