ArriveCAN costs

Background

During the pandemic, ArriveCAN was an effective and necessary tool to collect mandatory health information while facilitating travel. Travellers saved about 5 minutes in line each time they crossed the border by using the app compared to the time it would have taken if officers had to ask all the health questions and review the travellers documents.

The app was downloaded more than 18 million times and was used by more than 60 million travellers.

The app is now an optional tool for travellers who want to expedite their border experience. The Advance Declaration feature of the app can be used to make your customs and immigration declaration in advance and save time at the participating airports.

ArriveCAN costs (actual expenditures)

From April 1, 2020 through to March 31, 2023, $55 million was spent to enforce public health measures with ArriveCAN. The forecast amount was $54 million.

• $8.5 million for more than 70 releases of the app and website over a period of 2.5 years to meet changing public health rules. Development and support of 3 versions of the application: one for iPhones, one for Androids and a website for users without smartphones. This cost includes $80 thousand to create the initial version of ArriveCAN on Android and iOS.
  • Forecast: $8.8 million
• $6.1 million for the Service Canada call centre which answered, on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the CBSA, calls and emails from travellers on COVID health measures.
  • Forecast: $7.5 million
• $7.9 million for data management, which was needed for PHAC and CBSA to collect, report, monitor and ensure compliance with COVID border measures.
  • Forecast: $5.2 million
• $1.8 million in indirect costs associated with payments to Shared Services Canada (SSC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) for internal project-related activities and for employee benefits, accommodations, and payments to SSC.
  • Forecast: $4.9 million
• $4.9 million to develop a proof of vaccination credential to authenticate and verify, in real time, using the industry standard “Smart Health Card,” the traveller's proof of vaccination delivered by provinces and territories, as well as international ones.
  • Forecast: $4.6 million
• $6.4 million for data storage and cloud services to handle 18 million downloads and 60 million travellers over 2.5 years.
  • Forecast: $4.6 million
• $5.4 million on IT support for airlines, airports and travellers for the application.
  • Forecast: $4.5 million
• $4.4 million to integrate ArriveCAN information into other CBSA systems that were built, modified and maintained to support the border health measures with real time linkages to core border administration systems.
  • Forecast: $4.5 million
• $2.4 million on security to ensure ArriveCAN meets Government of Canada standards on cyber security.
  • Forecast: $2.3 million
• $2.3 million on accessibility to make the application and website accessible for users with disabilities.
  • Forecast: $1.7 million
• $0.9 million for program and project management, including program, policy and project coordination; and legal services.
  • Forecast: $1.6 million
• $2.4 million for readiness for return to public health measures, including removal of existing public health code. Government decision to ensure readiness to restore the public health functionality of the app in the event it requires it following the removal of public health code in October 2022.
  • New item related to activities undertaken
• $1.7 million for data migration to PHAC systems, including preparations for data transfer to PHAC, automation of data deletion procedures, to adhere to the requirements of the federal Privacy Act and Privacy Regulations.
  • New item related to activities undertaken

Additionally, $6.8 million was spent on changes to core CBSA IT systems, a cost unrelated to ArriveCAN, to manage health measures, such as random testing and contact tracing as prescribed by Orders in Council.

CBSA budget and expenditures will continue to be available in publicly disclosed documents, including the Quarterly financial reports and Financial statements.

Note The spent amount is a rounded total and may not be equal to the sum of rounded line items listed above.