The requirement for travellers to use the government's ArriveCan app to enter Canada has caused stress for many -- and two weeks of quarantine for some. But the Public Safety Minister now says border officials have now been told to allow people to provide their travel details in person.
Until now, Canadians, permanent residents and others with right of entry have been subject to two weeks of quarantine if they fail to offer their information to the app, or are unable to complete the process.
ArriveCan is used by travellers to give information about where they've been, the purpose of their trip, contact information and a quarantine plan once in Canada. Vaccination records and pre-travel COVID-19 test results have to be uploaded to the app.
Canadian Press reports that Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho said Monday during question period that MPs have received hundreds of complaints about the policy.
"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," she said.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino defended the measures the government has taken to protect Canadians at the border, but then revealed a change in policy.
"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.
Foreign nationals who fail to give their information through ArriveCan have been barred from boarding planes into the country. It's not clear if that will change.
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