Vlad Tepes
In a scathing report released on Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan unveiled egregious mismanagement and exorbitant spending surrounding the development of Canada’s ArriveCAN app. Initially intended to streamline customs processes and enforce the government’s authoritarian Covid pandemic-related restrictions, the app’s development spiraled out of control, leaving taxpayers on the hook for over $59 million.
The ArriveCAN app, launched by the hard-left Canadian government in the spring of 2020, aimed to collect vaccination and travel information [vaccine-passport] from individuals entering or leaving Canada. However, Auditor General Hogan’s investigation revealed a litany of issues, ranging from poor documentation to lack of financial oversight.
“The records of its development are the worst the Auditor General has seen in ‘decades,'” Hogan stated, highlighting the shocking disregard for basic management and contracting practices within the project.
One of the most alarming findings was the staggering cost overrun. Initially budgeted at a modest $80,000, the development costs skyrocketed to a staggering $59.5 million. The true extent of the expenses remains uncertain, as inadequate documentation and financial records hindered precise cost determination.
Hogan emphasized the lack of transparency in the procurement process, noting that many contracts were awarded without competitive bidding. Furthermore, she revealed that contractor invoices and time sheets often lacked essential details, raising concerns about the validity of the services rendered.
Critics have lambasted the controversial Canadian Prime MInster Justin Trudeau and his radical government for its mishandling of taxpayer dollars, with the ArriveCAN debacle serving as a glaring example of bureaucratic incompetence. Conservatives have pointed to the report as more evidence of the government’s penchant for wasteful spending and mismanagement.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blamed Trudeau for the mismanagement of Canadians’ tax dollars.
“He’s taken 60 million of your tax dollars and given it to a corrupt app, ‘ArriveScam,’ that doesn’t work, that we didn’t need, and that went 750 times over budget,” Poilievre said.
New Democratic Party (NPD) Leader Jagmeet Singh said this procurement “debacle” is just the latest example of Liberal mishandling.
“What is very clear is that at a time when Canadians are very squeezed in their budget, the Liberals are so out of touch that they think it’s okay that $60 million went unaccounted for,” Singh said. “Spent on an app that no one uses and still doesn’t work.”
It should be noted that Jagmeet Singh leads the NDP, which is propping up the Trudeau minority government. Mr. Singh could force an election anytime he wants by dissolving the coalition.
The exorbitant costs and poor oversight associated with the ArriveCAN app have reignited debates surrounding the efficacy of top-down government initiatives and the need for greater accountability in public spending. As Canada grapples with economic uncertainties and pressing social challenges, the revelations surrounding the ArriveCAN app provide yet another staggering example of what increasingly looks like corruption within the Trudeau government. Especially when added to the numerous ethical committee violations he has already been convicted of.
In response to the damning report, government officials have “pledged” to address the deficiencies highlighted by the Auditor General and undertake measures to enhance transparency and accountability in future projects. However, skepticism remains very high, with many questioning the government’s ability to rectify systemic issues that have plagued its management of taxpayer funds.
Watch the English parts of the February 12, 2024, press conference with the Auditor General, where she delivers her report on the Trudeau Government’s handling of the costs of this app.
At one point during the Q&A, the Auditor General indicated that some aspects of the scandal would be or had been referred to the RCMP.
Amy Mek
RAIR Foundation
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blamed Trudeau for the mismanagement of Canadians’ tax dollars.
Seen Pierre speak on video a few times. He doesn’t lisp like Truedope. Doesn’t wear tight pants either. If I were Canadian, that would be the guy I would put in charge of things. He’s pretty funny too, like our senator Kennedy. Good amount of snark in him.