ArriveCan flop casts shadow over future projects, experts say

Some experts say the ArriveCan flop is eroding public trust in the federal government's ability to develop tax-funded programs in an accountable manner, putting the feasibility of Canada's «digital government» agenda at risk.

Earlier this week, Auditor General Karen Hogan released a damning report on the pandemic-era border tool, telling Canadians it was impossible to know its final cost because of poor financial record-keeping.

Her report said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada «repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development and implementation of the ArriveCan application.»

«This is probably the first example that I've seen such a glaring disregard for some of the most basic and fundamental policies and rules,» Hogan told the House public accounts committee on Monday.

Concern for future projects

Sahir Khan, vice-president of the University of Ottawa's Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, cited a raft of other federal projects aimed at digitizing government.

«It's worth talking about while there's still chances to make adjustments,» he said.

Khan said projects with well-publicized difficulties «will chip away at public confidence,» and said those concerns are compounded because the Liberal government is in its third term.

«Any government in its third term will naturally be subjected to a lot more rigour around expectations of rigour and execution,» he said. «You're beyond the kind of aspiration and hope that a first-term government has.»

Proponents of digital government initiatives say they'll make public services more accessible at a lower and more standardized cost.

«With the track record of