The calls to scrap the ArriveCAN app are growing as the federal government continues to be under pressure to further ease COVID restrictions at the border.
All travellers coming to Canada, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, still have to use the ArriveCAN app to submit their health information before arriving in Canada.
Travellers must submit their information within 72 hours before arrival at a port of entry.
Kenora MP Eric Melillo says, “I think it’s time to get rid of all the federally imposed mandates that are in place right now. Canada really is an outlier among the G7, among our allies, and even looking at the provinces, what’s in their jurisdiction, mandates are broadly being removed across the country.”
Melillo adds, “With ArriveCAN and some of those other mandates it still is making it difficult for people to travel and it’s going to be difficult on our tourism sector that we need badly to have a very strong, positive year.”
He is pleased the government has decided to end vaccine requirements when travelling within the country.
The tourism marketing group, Destination Northern Ontario, feels the continued use of ArriveCAN is a deterrent for many American visitors wanting to come to northern Ontario.
Executive Director David MacLachlan says, “There was a time and place but we just need to look at what we can do to remove restrictions where we can and get people moving again.”
MacLachlan says tourist operators across the region report $100 million in lost revenue in May from Americans cancelling because of restrictions at the border.
He notes tourism in our region won’t rebound until Americans have easier access at the border.
McLaughlin notes border crossings this year remain 50% lower than what they were in 2019.
Meantime, the union representing Canada’s customs officers says the ArriveCAN App is contributing to long wait times at our land borders.
President of the Customs and Immigration Union Mark Weber admits it is impacting officer’s time.
“Port of entry we processed 60 cars per hour previously. We’re now looking at about 30 cars an hour, if not less. At land borders as far as traveller operations go, this means cars waiting for hours and sometimes even being redirected to other ports further away.”
Weber says there are also fears an expanded use of the travel App will lead to more jobs at the borders being eliminated.
(With files from Randy Thoms)
