Travellers who cannot access the government's ArriveCan app, or simply forget to fill it out, may soon be allowed to skip it entirely, according to new instructions from Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
Those looking to cross into Canada are required to check in using the ArriveCan app regardless of how long their trip outside the country was. The app collects information such as where the traveller has been, the purpose of their trip, their contact information, vaccination information, pre-travel COVID-19 test results, and their quarantine plan once they are in Canada.
Foreign nationals who do not provide the information via the app have until now been barred from boarding planes into the country. Canadians, permanent residents and others with right of entry have been subject to two weeks of quarantine if they fail to offer their information on ArriveCan.
On 06DEC, members of Parliament brought up concerns over inaccessibility and unreliability of the app.
"The ArriveCan app has crashed for some users. Many can't access it from poor cell service. Many seniors don't have smartphones. For others costly data plans are out of reach for them," said critic Raquel Dancho during question period in the House of Commons.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told the House that there will be additional guidance for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to allow travellers to provide similar information in person at the border check-in instead of through the app.
"With regards to ArriveCan, I want to assure my colleagues that I've spoken with the (Canada Border Services Agency) so that there's additional guidance to provide the opportunity for travellers to provide the information that is necessary on ArriveCan in person at the borders," he said.
