At the heart of the ArriveCan controversy, a key figure claimed that the deletion of emails was accidental, attributing it to file corruption on his computer. However, Conservative MPs on the Public Accounts Committee expressed skepticism towards this explanation.
Former Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employee Minh Doan, who served as the vice-president and chief information officer during the launch of ArriveCAN, testified on June 5 that the loss of emails was due to a file corruption issue while transferring data to a new laptop.
The Auditor General Karen Hogan’s report on Feb. 13 highlighted significant concerns regarding the financial management of ArriveCan, stating that Canadians did not receive value for the money invested in the app. Subsequently, the RCMP initiated an investigation into GC Strategies, one of the contractors for the application.
Mr. Doan informed the committee that even though he accidentally deleted approximately 1,700 emails from his laptop, copies were retained on Shared Services Canada servers. He emphasized that the emails still existed elsewhere and could not be permanently erased.
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Conservative MP Michael Cooper questioned the credibility of Mr. Doan’s explanation regarding the emails, suggesting that it seemed too convenient for him. Mr. Doan defended himself by stating that file corruption issues were common and that there was no benefit to him in losing the emails.
When asked by Conservative MP Garnett Genuis about his intentions, Mr. Doan reiterated that the file deletion was accidental and not an attempt to conceal information from the IT department.
Liberal MP Majid Jowhari raised concerns about Mr. Doan’s decision to transfer files personally instead of seeking IT support. Mr. Doan explained that due to the busy nature of the IT department, he opted to handle the file transfer himself.
Unresolved Questions Regarding GC Strategies
One of the key inquiries surrounding ArriveCan is the involvement of GC Strategies in the app development process. Questions remain about who at CBSA authorized the hiring of GC Strategies and the subsequent outsourcing of the project to multiple contractors.
Mr. Doan’s emails are believed to contain crucial information related to the agency’s interactions with GC Strategies. While Mr. Doan denied responsibility for choosing the company, conflicting testimonies from other individuals suggest otherwise.
Despite ongoing investigations, the exact decision-making process behind selecting GC Strategies remains unclear. Allegations of misconduct and questionable practices continue to surround the development and implementation of ArriveCan.
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