The Train Wreck of the ArriveCAN App: A Detailed Analysis of Government Contracts and Procurement

🔎The Auditor General report reveals a glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices in the development and implementation of the ArriveCAN app.

💰The precise cost of the app could not be determined due to poor financial records and insufficient supporting documentation for expenses.

🤝The government collaborated with a consulting company, GC Strategies, which had questionable qualifications and received a significant portion of the project's funding.

🔒The security protocols of the app were lacking, with people hired to test its weaknesses not always having proper security clearance.

🌐There was a lack of coordination and governance structure between agencies involved in the development and implementation of the app.

What were the main findings of the Auditor General report?

—The main findings of the report include a disregard for basic management and contracting practices, unclear cost due to poor financial records, collaboration with a consulting company with questionable qualifications, lack of security protocols, and a lack of coordination and governance structure.

Why was the cost of the app unclear?

—The cost of the app could not be determined due to poor financial records and a lack of sufficient supporting documentation for expenses.

Who is GC Strategies and what was their role in the app's development?

—GC Strategies is a consulting company that was involved in the app's development. They had questionable qualifications and received a significant portion of the project's funding.

What were the security concerns regarding the app?

—The app's security protocols were lacking, with people hired to test its weaknesses not always having proper security clearance. This raised concerns about the protection of sensitive personal information.

Why was there a lack of coordination and governance structure?

—Despite being heavily involved, there was a lack of coordination and clear governance structure between the agencies responsible for the app's development and implementation.

00:00The Auditor General report describes a complete disregard for basic management and contracting practices in the development and implementation of the ArriveCAN app.

08:30The cost of the app could not be determined due to poor financial records and a lack of sufficient supporting documentation for expenses.

09:57The government collaborated with a consulting company, GC Strategies, which had questionable qualifications and received a significant portion of the project's funding.

10:22The app's security protocols were lacking, with people hired to test its weaknesses not always having proper security clearance.

10:48There was a lack of coordination and clear governance structure between the agencies responsible for the app's development and implementation.