A long-sought internal ArriveCan investigators’ report has been sealed by a federal court order — at the request of Cameron MacDonald, a former Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) director briefly suspended over the $63 million program.“The allegations each side makes against the other are most serious,” wrote Justice Henry Brown, per Blacklock’s Reporter. “They deserve a full hearing.”Brown issued a temporary injunction against “distributing or disseminating” the report into ArriveCan irregularities. The document was completed February 11, according to court records..MPs vote to ban ArriveCan contractors for life.MacDonald in testimony at parliamentary committee hearings admitted to drinking with federal contractors but denied responsibility for inside dealing that made millionaires of favoured ArriveCan suppliers.“The applicant attests he was not involved in the procurement process,” wrote Brown.“This is contested.”“The underlying facts in this case are heavily contested.”“The parties dispute the timeline, purpose, merits and procedural fairness of this investigation and report.”.AG says feds didn't follow procurement protocol with ArriveCan contractor.An internal Preliminary Statement of Facts completed in 2023 by the CBSA has never been made public. In 2024 excerpts were read into the record of the Commons government operations committee by Conservative MP Larry Brock (Brantford-Brant South, Ont.).“I have the information right before me,” Brock said at the time.“It is very clear.”The Statement of Facts alleged “serious employee misconduct, so serious that you required the RCMP to investigate at least two criminal charges, fraud and bribery,” he said.“I can read it,” said Brock.Page 10 of the report alleged an ArriveCan contractor “solicited a bribe.” Documents also suggested a federal manager attempted to destroy thousands of ArriveCan records sought by investigators.Auditor General Karen Hogan in a June 10 report Professional Services Contracts With GC Strategies Inc. said irregularities in ArriveCan contracting raised suspicions of serial lawbreaking.“I have no reason to believe this is unique,” she said..Committee to pursue destroyed ArriveCan emails.MacDonald is a former director general with the Canada Border Services Agency. In 2024 testimony at the government operations committee, he denied any role in cost overruns or irregularities.“I delivered a detailed costing of $6.3 million,” said MacDonald. He was “not responsible for the $60 million budget,” he said.“Are you saying that is the cost of the app?” asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville, Ont.).“The $6.3 million was the aggregate cost I was tracking over the first year,” replied MacDonald. Auditors to date have not explained the 900 percent cost overrun.
