In fact, without the app, Alghabra said processing arrivals “would take longer.” “ArriveCAN does not contribute to congestion. In fact, ArriveCAN is a useful tool to help verify a person’s vaccination status before they reach our border,” he told a committee meeting. “If we didn’t have ArriveCAN, processing arrivals would take longer because it would have to be done manually.” 1:56 ArriveCAN app praised by transport minister, says it ‘helps reduce congestion’ ArriveCAN app praised by transport minister, says it ‘helps reduce congestion’ Story continues below ad
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Alghabra made the comments while appearing before the House of Commons transport committee, where he had been asked to face questions about airport delays that have affected customers across the country this summer. A number of factors have contributed to the delays, from staff shortages to airlines’ refusal to reduce flights to match their reduced capacity, experts told The Canadian Press. The delays caused widespread flight cancellations, baggage delays and long lines, particularly at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. However, airport and airline delays are not the only problem travelers face. The government’s mandatory ArriveCAN app has come under fire from data and privacy experts for its technology, which is considered a “trade secret,” according to the app’s Algorithmic Impact Assessment. 2:16 Critics call for feds to scrap ArriveCAN app Critics call for feds to scrap ArriveCAN app – July 8, 2022 Meanwhile, a bug in the app earlier this month sent fully vaccinated travelers wrong messages saying they should be quarantined. The problem affected more than 10,000 people, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Story continues below ad Global News has learned that the government took 12 days to notify travelers of the error. In addition, businesses near the Canada-US border have said sales are still below pre-pandemic levels. “We definitely feel the difference,” said Jeff Butler, vice president of a Thousand Islands Duty Free store in Lansdowne, Ont. “We’re one of the few places that can only sell to people who cross the border. If people don’t cross the border, we can’t make sales — and that’s where we are right now.” The duty-free association, as well as some of the businesses it represents, are blaming reduced sales on the feet of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions — specifically, the ArriveCAN app. 2:08 Canada’s transport minister blames frustrating airport delays on pandemic Canada’s transport minister blames frustrating airport delays on pandemic “The movement is not happening because of the ArriveCAN application,” Barbara Barrett, FDFA’s executive director, told Global News. “It hurts businesses and it hurts the communities of border towns.” Story continues below ad
Read more: Experts warn ArriveCAN app may violate constitutionally protected rights
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman criticized the app during the committee meeting, saying it adds time to customs, does not keep up with health restrictions and has raised privacy concerns. “In the face of overwhelming evidence of its problems and criticism, why isn’t the government abandoning the mandatory use of ArriveCAN?” Algabra asked. The Transport Minister replied that “ArriveCAN is actually helping to process arrivals much faster and helping to reduce congestion”. Transport Canada says in a recent statement that it is working with industry partners to improve conditions at airports and reported fewer cancellations and delays in the first week of August compared to a month ago. — with files from The Canadian Press, Global News’ Irelyne Lavery and Global News’ Brian Hill © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
