During a Commons public accounts committee meeting on April 3, CBSA Vice-President and Chief Information Officer Darryl Vleeming revealed that it is shockingly easy for employees at the Canada Border Services Agency to permanently delete emails. This came in response to questions about allegations that former Chief Technology Officer Minh Doan had deleted approximately 1,700 emails related to the ArriveCan app.
Conservative MP John Nater inquired about the ease of permanently deleting emails without leaving a trace, to which Mr. Vleeming admitted that it is a straightforward process. He explained that Shared Services Canada is responsible for email management and retention policies, allowing individuals to delete their emails, which are then retained for 30 days before permanent deletion.
Mr. Nater expressed his shock at the inability of the federal government to preserve Mr. Doan’s emails, especially in light of ongoing investigations surrounding ArriveCan. He emphasized the concern when crucial documents disappear during criminal investigations.
The CBSA is conducting an internal investigation into ArriveCan, including efforts to recover the deleted emails. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also confirmed its own investigation into the ArriveCan app.
Developed during the pandemic to verify the vaccination status of travelers entering Canada, the ArriveCan app has faced scrutiny due to its high cost and lapses in management and documentation practices. Several government committees have been delving into the app’s development and procurement processes, particularly focusing on the selection of GC Strategies, a two-person IT company, to work on ArriveCan.
GC Strategies received $19.1 million for its work on the app, but the auditor general’s investigation highlighted a lack of documentation regarding the company’s selection. Former CBSA President Minh Doan and other employees have been at the center of controversy, with conflicting accounts of who chose GC Strategies and allegations of email deletions to cover up actions related to ArriveCan.
MPs have taken steps to uncover the truth behind the deleted emails, ordering the disclosure of internal federal investigations into the matter. The ongoing investigations and testimonies shed light on the complexities surrounding ArriveCan and the challenges of accountability within the CBSA.
Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The company’s profits have increased significantly over the past year.”
“The company has seen a substantial increase in profits over the last year.”
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