QUESTION PERIOD — Transport
COVID-19 Pandemic--Travel Restrictions
June 16, 2022
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Senator Gold, from its inception, your government’s mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app has caused problems for Canadians because of its inefficiency and unreliability, oftentimes resulting in people ending up in two weeks of forced quarantine because the app simply wasn’t working properly. It’s a tool that never lived up to its hype, and should never have been mandatory to begin with.
Senator Gold, when will your government get rid of this intrusive, ineffective tool, or will they get rid of it at all? Could it be that this isn’t the temporary measure your government claimed and promised that it would be?
Well, thank you for the question. The government does not share your view of the utility or efficacy of this app. It continues to be an essential and intuitive tool to protect Canadians as we open our borders and fire up our economy. Through the app, our government has streamlined the reopening process. I’m advised that travel is up 707% from peak pandemic as a result.
ArriveCAN only takes a few minutes for vaccinated travellers to complete. Over 99% of air and marine travellers, and 94% of land travellers, have been compliant and, therefore, have provided for increased efficiency.
Senator Gold, I know your government doesn’t share my views. That’s why we have huge backlogs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, enormous lineups at Canadian passport offices and, of course, the only thing your government has really unleashed is terrible inflation that we have not seen in 30 years.
Senator Gold, Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson, remains paralyzed because of the doubled processing times caused by the mandatory use of ArriveCAN. At the same time, we have tourism industry representatives and mayors of Canada’s border towns calling for its discontinuation because of its negative impact on tourism across the border.
Your government claims it invoked the Emergencies Act over concerns for economic reputation. What about the damage to our economic reputation over the petulant insistence of your government to hold on to this ridiculous app? Is that of any concern to you and your government?
The government, of course, is concerned that visitors to Canada have an experience that is a good one and enjoy all the wonderful delights that this country has to offer. As we have heard before in this chamber, tourism is up and travel is up. In that regard, the government is very pleased with the progress that we’re making in returning to pre-pandemic levels and hope that this increase in tourism, activity and travel benefits the travel and hospitality industries that paid a heavy price, as we all know, during the pandemic.
