Government Bans ArriveCan App Developer from Federal Contracts for 7 Years Following Security Concerns

The federal government has imposed a seven-year ban on GC Strategies Inc., the primary contractor for the ArriveCan app, prohibiting the company from securing any new contracts or real property agreements with Ottawa. The decision follows an official assessment by Public Services and Procurement Canada, which found the supplier's conduct insufficient to maintain its eligibility as a government contractor.

GC Strategies Inc., previously responsible for significant work on the ArriveCan app, had already been under scrutiny since last year, when its security status was suspended. The Auditor General reported that more than $19 million in contracts related to ArriveCan were awarded to the firm. The app, introduced in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, served as a digital tool to collect health and contact details from incoming travelers and later expanded to include customs and immigration declarations.

The ban comes just ahead of a scheduled audit by Canada's Auditor General, Karen Hogan, who is set to release a report examining whether contracts and payments made to GC Strategies and other vendors represented good value for Canadian taxpayers. This audit is anticipated to further illuminate concerns over procurement processes during the rapid rollout of digital solutions in response to the pandemic.

Public Services and Procurement Canada emphasized that the government remains committed to strengthening the integrity of procurement practices. The agency stated that continued reforms are underway to ensure future contracts meet the highest standards of fairness and transparency, aiming to restore public trust in the wake of high-profile controversies.