Senator Gold: I guess I cannot get tired of responding to these allegations of fraud and corruption, which are not founded on the facts. ArriveCAN cost far too much, and the real problems have been revealed and are being explored. It was used by 60 million Canadians during the pandemic to facilitate their travel across the borders.

Again, I will continue to answer questions so long as it continues to serve your purposes.

Hon. Claude Carignan: My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Last week, we learned that another company, with just two employees, was awarded $7.9 million in contracts to develop the notorious ArriveCAN app. Can the leader explain how two people can be awarded $7.9 million in contracts?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): The answer is no, I have no explanation. That’s why the contracts of several companies involved in the development of ArriveCAN have been suspended. It’s also why an investigation is under way within the department to shed some light on what happened. If any illegal activity is found to have taken place, a police investigation will follow.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): I’m not in a position to answer that question. I think the government is pleased that the investigation is under way, as it is with all the other investigations. Once again, colleagues, politics aside, the situation that we now understand took place with the development of ArriveCAN had so many problems and flaws, as the Auditor General properly pointed out in her report, including lack of documentation, which makes it even harder — impossible, in some cases — for her to get to the bottom of the matter.

These are things that should never have happened and will not happen again if all the measures that are put into place are followed through as they should be.