It’s ‘obvious’ that rules weren’t followed with ArriveCan development, Trudeau says
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/02/2024 (908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
VANCOUVER – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s “obvious” contracting rules weren’t followed during the development of the controversial ArriveCan app.
Trudeau says the app was developed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when everything was in question, but there is still a need to follow rules even in difficult times.
He says investigations are ongoing and there will be consequences for instances in which public servants did not abide by the rules.
The federal government launched ArriveCan in April 2020 to track health and contact information for people entering Canada during the pandemic, and to digitize customs and immigration declarations.
Canada’s auditor general said earlier this month there was a “glaring disregard” for fundamental management and contracting practices as ArriveCan was developed and implemented.
The watchdog said the government’s reliance on sole-sourced external contractors drove up the price of the app, and those costs weren’t properly tracked.
“It is obvious that the contracting processes and rules were not followed in this case,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference in Vancouver on Tuesday when asked if he would take responsibility for the problems.
“We need to make sure that there is accountability and transparency around that.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2024.
