An audit conducted by the Auditor General of Canada has revealed significant mismanagement in the development and implementation of the ArriveCAN app by various Canadian government agencies. The report, released following a motion passed by the House of Commons, highlighted a series of failures that led to the project not delivering the best value for taxpayer dollars, estimating the cost at a staggering $59.5 million.

Launched in April 2020 to collect contact and health information from travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, ArriveCAN now primarily serves for customs and immigration declarations. The audit uncovered poor documentation and financial records, making it impossible to determine the exact cost of the app. It also criticized the decision to rely on external resources for its development, significantly increasing costs.

Further findings include deficiencies in contract management and errors in application releases that led to incorrect instructions for travelers. The absence of clear roles and responsibilities between government agencies further exacerbated poor project management practices.

The Auditor General made several recommendations to address these issues, including maintaining accurate financial records and improved compliance with contracting policies. However, it’s clear that there was a glaring disregard for fundamental policy rules and controls in this case.

From an initial budget of $80,000 to at least $60 million or more, it’s uncertain how much exactly taxpayers were charged for this project. The lack of transparency regarding expenses and contracting decisions is concerning and raises questions about accountability.

The mismanagement discovered through this audit is a cause for concern as it reflects poorly on government accountability and fiscal responsibility. It’s imperative that corrective measures be implemented to prevent similar occurrences in future projects.