(Ottawa) The Information Commissioner says she is launching a systemic investigation into the controversial ArriveCan application, highlighting allegations relating to the destruction of documents that were subject to access to information requests.
In a statement Friday, Canada’s Information Commissioner said there would be an investigation “regarding matters relating to the requesting or obtaining of records relating to ArriveCAN between March 2020 and February 23, 2024.”
Commissioner Caroline Maynard says she is aware that there are other investigations underway into these allegations, but she has decided to take the initiative to conduct her own independent investigation into the matters that fall within her jurisdiction.
Under the Access to Information Actthe Information Commissioner can herself initiate a complaint if there are “reasonable grounds to believe that an investigation should be carried out into a matter relating to the request or obtaining of documents », Underlines the press release.
Mme Maynard points out that the law contains strict confidentiality provisions to protect the integrity of such investigations.
The federal government launched ArriveCan in April 2020 to track the health and contact information of people entering Canada during the pandemic, and to digitize customs and immigration declarations.
Canada’s Auditor General said earlier this month there had been a “blatant disregard” for fundamental management and contracting practices during the development and implementation of ArriveCan.
The watchdog claimed that the government’s use of exclusive external contractors had driven up the price of the app, and that those costs were not properly tracked.
“There have been investigations underway for months on this issue. This is obviously something of great concern and we expect to have answers and transparency from those who awarded these contracts and those who received the money,” declared the first minister Tuesday, during a press conference in Vancouver.