A senator says outstanding fines related to the ArriveCan app should be cancelled after revelations that the RCMP is probing alleged misconduct in an outsourced government contract.
“Yesterday we learned that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the outsourcing of a Canada Border Services Agency contract involving the same companies at the centre of the $54 million ArriveCAN boondoggle,” said Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos during debate at the Senate on Oct. 5.
He was referring to three technology firms—GCStrategies,, and Coradix—as reported by the G&M on Oct. 4. All three are based in Ottawa and involved in work related to the ArriveCan app. The app, initially projected to cost $80,000, ballooned to $54 million, becoming the subject of criticism by opposition parties.
In his remarks addressed to Sen. Marc Gold, who is the Government Representative in the Senate, Mr. Housakos said heavy fines were levied against Canadians when the app was implemented in full force during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the same boondoggle that saw Canadians, who were exercising their right to return home, slapped with fines as high as $8,500. Then they were threatened with more fines if they were caught breaking the quarantine—as high as $750,000.”
He alleged that the whole arrangement was “more like a deliberate get-rich-quick scheme” for those “with connections to the Trudeau government.”
“Given the latest news regarding it, will your government finally do the right thing and cancel the outstanding fines that were issued as a result of this deeply flawed and—as we now know—fraudulent app?” Mr. Housakos said.
Resource:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/canada