Federal records show that the Liberal government’s ArriveCan app cost almost $20 million to develop.
The expenses were disclosed in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the Commons by Tory MP Chris Warkentin, asking “how much money did the government spend developing the application?”
“$19,783,494,” said the Canada Border Services Agency in its response to Warkentin, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
Expenses included billings by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Shared Services Canada, the IT department responsible for providing digital services to federal organizations.
Launched as a voluntary app in April 2020, ArriveCan was made mandatory on Nov. 21 of that year for travellers boarding flights to Canada. In March 2021, the app was extended to include travellers arriving at land border crossings, requiring them to submit electronic proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to arrival in Canada….