Page 6 - D18567 - LBMAO - Reporter - Sept-Oct 2022 - web optimized

Message from the PRESIDENT

the inefficiencies of the arrivecan app

(from personal experience)

david campbell t the time of this writing, as we move into fall, it was not have been flagged. I was told just to ignore the
LBMAO President Aannounced by the federal government that most robocalls but every day they called; not a real person
restrictions on travel - such as wearing masks on planes
but a computer. The message indicated that I HAD to
and trains as well as the ArriveCAN App - will no longer quarantine or risk fines and imprisonment and law
be mandatory. This reversed the policy announcement enforcement may be contacted. So of course, I boarded
made during the summer that the CBSA will maintain up the house, waiting for the SWAT team to arrive.
the ArriveCAN App as a safety precaution towards So, what do we do? We had planned to go over to
identifying unvaccinated travellers or those with Niagara Falls, NY the following weekend and we did. On
symptoms of COVID. returning, I was unable to fill out the ArriveCAN App as
We have weathered the past two years and agreed it said I was supposed to be quarantining. So, when we
with the policies introduced by our federal and got to the border and the CBSA agent (a very pleasant
provincial governments to mitigate the effects of COVID young lady) asked why we had not filled it in, I told her
on our health and health care system and workers. our story. She looked at our certificates of vaccination
Unprecedented and confining restrictions on travel and indicated that I should never have been flagged
with quarantines were implemented and none of us, and she would indicate so on their database. However,
including our health care professionals and government we had not uploaded a copy of the vaccine certificate
officials, had experience handling a pandemic of this on the App and that is why I was flagged; we had shown
nature. the customs agent our certificates and were passed
We are now moving into a more normal, pre- through. I also told her that we had crossed several
pandemic life. However, they had planned to continue times by land and by air using the App without incident.
some of the restrictions such as the She shook her head and suggested the communication
ArriveCAN App, much to the chagrin between Health Canada and CBSA was not very up-to-
"I am a citizen of MPPs and officials of certain cities date.
in the U.S. They correctly pointed So, back into Canada and on the last day of my
of Canada, fully out the inefficiencies of the App and quarantine, I received a call from a REAL person from
how it was restricting commerce and Heath Canada. “I AM THE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE
vaccinated and negatively affecting the economies of OFFICER FOR HEALTH CANADA CALLING TO ENSURE
should not have these important tourist areas. YOU ARE QUARANTINING AS PER THE ORDER!” in a very
At the beginning of the pandemic, official voice. “Nope, I am not”, I responded. “WELL,
been flagged." the ArriveCAN App made sense in YOU HAVE TO. YOU COULD BE ARRESTED, FINED, AND
identifying unvaccinated travellers. IMPRISONED!” he responded. So, I explained why
However, most travellers today not and that I had travelled several times across the
are fully vaccinated and COVID is border previously. “WELL, THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE
becoming much more manageable. HAPPENED AND I DON’T KNOW WHY IT DID!” Well,
To demonstrate how ineffective the App was, I must it did. Then I asked why they needed the uploaded
tell you about my own experience using the App. My copy of the certificate as the information is recorded
partner and I recently returned from a short holiday on the profile of each traveller. He tells me that he
to the U.S., returning by air to Pearson airport (and yes does not have the ArriveCAN App as he has never
they did screw up our baggage!). We had filled out the travelled outside of Canada in the past 2 1/2 years...so,
ArriveCAN App as we have done several times while he is not familiar with the App. Hmm, is he living in his
travelling in the past 18 months. mother’s basement to keep safe from those dreaded
Two days after arriving home, I got the email of travellers...???
DEATH from Health Canada indicating that I had recently So, a week and a half later the federal government
arrived in Canada showing no symptoms of COVID but announced that the ArriveCAN App will no longer be
I was unvaccinated and would have to quarantine for mandatory! Thank goodness we live in a democracy
fourteen days. I knew this was incorrect since I have had where elected officials can be influenced by public
four vaccinations. I immediately contacted their general opinion and common sense - regardless of how long it
inquiries line and talked to an agent explaining that takes...and minority governments can be thrown out!
I am a citizen of Canada, fully vaccinated and should

6 LBMAO Reporter -September-October 2022 www.lbmao.on.ca