Question Period Note: Arrivecan

N/A

ArriveCAN was launched in April 2020 to support the digital submission of mandatory public health information required from travellers coming into Canada. ArriveCAN evolved in lockstep with the border measures to expedite the processing of travellers at all of Canada’s ports of entry including at the very beginning of the pandemic before vaccines and when little was known about the emerging variants.
Key Messages
• In the context of a global pandemic, the need to take timely action drove innovation. ArriveCAN evolved with the pandemic, mirroring the changes adopted through the Orders in Council and reflecting the advice and trajectory of the pandemic.
• It was the best way to collect and share traveller information to operationalize the measures and enable compliance and enforcement while avoiding crowding at Canada’s ports of entry.
• Since October 1, 2022, travellers no longer have to submit information through the ArriveCAN app/website. However, if they choose to, they can continue to use the optional Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN before arriving at Toronto-Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, or Vancouver international airports. Travellers choosing to do this can use either the free ArriveCAN mobile app or the website.
• Our measures have evolved and they could change again. We need to remain ready to respond quickly with a fully accessible, secure app and web-based tool for data collection that is respectful of both official languages, so we can protect Canadians from new significant emerging public health threats.
If pressed on using GPS or location data
• The ArriveCAN app did not collect any location data. There is no location data stored in any database.
• When an app is registered in the app store, there are services listed that the app “may” use. ArriveCAN uses a software that allows the app to easily look up an address to make it easier for travellers to enter their travel destination information.
• This software can also be used to allow people to use their location by default, however, ArriveCAN does not, and has never, used that feature. But because the software is there, the app stores show that the app “may” use location data.
• Let me be clear, ArriveCAN does not, and has never collected any location data from users.
If pressed on the findings in the Privacy Commissioner’s Special Report
• The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s investigation on ArriveCAN, found that the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency acted in accordance with the Privacy Act with regard to the collection, use, disclosure, and retention of personal information.
• Throughout the pandemic, the Public Health Agency of Canada consulted its internal privacy experts to ensure that the Government of Canada’s use of data followed best practices.
• Overall, the collection of personal information under the Emergency Orders by both agencies was determined to be necessary and proportional.
• Despite these findings, gaps were identified. The Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to considering and implementing the recommendation that it examine and document less privacy-intrusive alternatives against its objectives in the event that the Agency considers similar mandatory collections of data to address future pandemics.

To support the administration and enforcement of the Quarantine Act and Emergency Orders made under it, CBSA and PHAC developed ArriveCAN, an integrated digital solution that enables real-time collection of information at Canadian Ports of Entry (POE) for all incoming travellers. ArriveCAN enabled travellers to provide their information digitally as was previously required by law under the Quarantine Act, to support compliance and enforcement and public health measures.
ArriveCAN first launched in April 2020 and is available as a mobile app on the Apple App and Google Play stores or by signing in online at Canada.ca/ArriveCAN.
Development of the ArriveCAN app and sign in online platform
In February 2020, Canada began collecting mandatory information from travellers who had been in specific geographical locations in the previous two weeks, such as Hubei province in China, Italy and Iran. Travellers submitted this information via the Coronavirus Form.
The Coronavirus Form was modified to become the Traveller Contact Information Form to support the first Mandatory Isolation Order in late March 2020. The form was made available digitally via a website in March 2020.
The ArriveCAN app was first developed to digitize the paper Traveller Contact Information Form used at Canadian POEs. Heavy reliance on the paper form led to a number of inefficiencies, including inaccurate or incomplete submissions and lengthy digitization processing that led to delays in sharing the information with the provinces and territories. The app and sign-in online platform reduced points of contact at POEs, improved processing times at the border and reduced crowding, and allowed for faster sharing of information with provinces and territories.
On April 30, 2020, ArriveCAN Phase I was launched which digitized the mandatory collection of information occurring via the paper form and the website. ArriveCAN Phase I allowed travellers to enter information in advance, but they could only submit at the border upon entering a token. No information was collected from exempt travellers.
On July 20, 2020, the federal government released the full launch of ArriveCAN Phase II, including the accessible sign-in online platform. The same information was collected in Phase II – the personal contact and travel information, symptom self-assessment, and quarantine plan questionnaire.
A few functionalities to note:
- Phase II allowed travellers to submit their information 48 hours in advance of their arrival to Canada (previously, travellers could only submit at the border upon entering a token).
- Starting June 30, 2020, CBSA asked exempt travellers for information. Exempt travellers were encouraged to use ArriveCAN to reduce processing times at the border and to receive important public health information.
- Phase II enabled travellers to use ArriveCAN to voluntarily check in to their place of quarantine or isolation, and to provide symptom self-assessment throughout their 14 days of quarantine.
Mandatory Digital Submission: ArriveCAN Phase III
ArriveCAN stopped being mandatory as of October 1, 2022.
Submission of traveller information using ArriveCAN was initially voluntary. However, on November 21, 2020, it became mandatory for air travellers to submit their information digitally in advance of arriving in Canada (i.e., before boarding the aircraft to Canada). At the time, travellers entering Canada by air accounted for approximately 20% of all travel. As of February 22, 2021, it became mandatory for travellers entering via land to submit their information through ArriveCAN prior to arriving at the border crossing. Travellers entering Canada by land accounted for approximately 78% of total travel.
Travellers were not denied boarding their aircraft for failing to comply with the digital requirements; however, they faced potential enforcement actions upon entry ranging from a verbal warning to a $5,000 fine.
Once in Canada, it was mandatory for non-exempt travellers from all modes (air, land, marine) to provide information digitally, including daily symptom self-assessments, throughout their 14-day quarantine, and confirm that they have reached their place of quarantine through ArriveCAN or the toll-free number.
Although exempt travellers were mandated to provide contact information in advance if travelling by air or land, they were exempt from post-border reporting as they were exempt from the mandatory isolation order. Approximately 75% of travellers were exempt from the mandatory requirement to quarantine, including travellers who entered Canada for the purpose of performing cross-border work, medical support, essential services, or trade or transport.
During the period when the mandatory requirements were in effect, usage of ArriveCAN for air travellers was consistently at or above 85% and above 80% for land travellers since January 2022. Information provided through ArriveCAN was shared with provinces and territories and law enforcement agencies for public health follow-up and to verify compliance with the Quarantine Act. ArriveCAN was part of a broader suite of activities and tools supporting Canada’s evolving border policies throughout COVID-19.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to explore how digital tools can further support Canada’s public health data needs.
Privacy Commissioner’s Report
In the first months of 2022, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) received several privacy complaints about the collection and use of traveller data via the ArriveCAN app and website. The Privacy Commissioner’s Special Report, tabled in Parliament on May 30, 2023, indicates that these complaints were not well-founded.
In particular: the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and disposal of information by CBSA and PHAC for the purposes of administering and enforcing the COVID Emergency Orders was compliant with the Privacy Act and all related complaints are not well-founded.
 

• In the context of a global pandemic, the need to take timely action drove innovation. ArriveCAN evolved with the pandemic, mirroring the changes adopted through the Orders in Council and reflecting the advice and trajectory of the pandemic.
• It was the best way to collect and share traveller information to operationalize the measures and enable compliance and enforcement while avoiding crowding at Canada’s ports of entry.
• Since October 1, 2022, travellers no longer have to submit information through the ArriveCAN app/website. However, if they choose to, they can continue to use the optional Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN before arriving at Toronto-Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, or Vancouver international airports. Travellers choosing to do this can use either the free ArriveCAN mobile app or the website.
• Our measures have evolved and they could change again. We need to remain ready to respond quickly with a fully accessible, secure app and web-based tool for data collection that is respectful of both official languages, so we can protect Canadians from new significant emerging public health threats.