The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Canada on behalf of 11 Canadians who were fined for not using ArriveCan or were ordered to quarantine for 14 days after returning from abroad. .“The Justice Centre has heard from thousands of Canadians who have been negatively impacted by the federal government’s mandatory requirement to use ArriveCan,” said JCCF lawyer Eva Chipiuk in a Wednesday press release. .“Thousands of law-abiding citizens have been fined egregiously simply for returning to their home country.”.The release said all the applicants received fines of up to $8,500 and were ordered to disclose private medical information in ArriveCan. The legal challenge seeks to strike down the mandatory use of ArriveCan and declare unconstitutional the 14-day quarantine policy for people who do not fill out the app. .One of the applicants in the case is traveller Matthew Leccese, who went to the United States for 25 minutes to pick up vehicle parts. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) demanded Leccese submit his proof of vaccination into ArriveCan upon returning. .He refused to comply because he had privacy concerns, but he offered to show a paper copy of his proof of vaccination. The CBSA did not take his paper copy and issued him a $7,210 fine for not using ArriveCan. .Another applicant is traveller Amanda Yates, who returned to Canada from a land crossing. Yates’s husband used ArriveCan on their behalf, but a glitch in the system sent them to secondary screening. .Yates refused to disclose her vaccine status and was fined and required to quarantine for 14 days. Her husband disclosed his vaccine status and did not have to quarantine, despite living in the same house as her. .A glitch with ArriveCan sent an automated message to more than 10,000 fully vaccinated Canadians, requiring them to quarantine for 14 days. It took the Canadian government 12 days to inform these people the app had malfunctioned..ArriveCan continues to face major criticism for creating long delays at international crossings. Toronto Pearson International Airport was ranked the worst airport for delays in July, and there have been significant delays reported at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in the last few months..US Rep. Elise Stefanik said Thursday the Canadian government should eliminate ArriveCan, claiming it continues to “negatively impact US and Canadian border communities.” .READ MORE: US congresswoman calls on Canadian government to end ArriveCan.“As you know, the US and Canada’s unique partnership is critical to the success of the communities on both sides of our border and dependent on valuing and maximizing the people-to-people relationship,” said Stefanik. .“We should be working to further develop our partnership, not inhibit its success with misguided burdens such as the Canadian government’s mandated use of the ArriveCan app.” .Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCan, saying it's vital in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Alghabra said ArriveCan has not caused the ongoing travel backlog, despite CBSA agents saying it is. .The JCCF filed a notice of application against the Canadian government and is waiting on a trial date.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Canada on behalf of 11 Canadians who were fined for not using ArriveCan or were ordered to quarantine for 14 days after returning from abroad. .“The Justice Centre has heard from thousands of Canadians who have been negatively impacted by the federal government’s mandatory requirement to use ArriveCan,” said JCCF lawyer Eva Chipiuk in a Wednesday press release. .“Thousands of law-abiding citizens have been fined egregiously simply for returning to their home country.”.The release said all the applicants received fines of up to $8,500 and were ordered to disclose private medical information in ArriveCan. The legal challenge seeks to strike down the mandatory use of ArriveCan and declare unconstitutional the 14-day quarantine policy for people who do not fill out the app. .One of the applicants in the case is traveller Matthew Leccese, who went to the United States for 25 minutes to pick up vehicle parts. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) demanded Leccese submit his proof of vaccination into ArriveCan upon returning. .He refused to comply because he had privacy concerns, but he offered to show a paper copy of his proof of vaccination. The CBSA did not take his paper copy and issued him a $7,210 fine for not using ArriveCan. .Another applicant is traveller Amanda Yates, who returned to Canada from a land crossing. Yates’s husband used ArriveCan on their behalf, but a glitch in the system sent them to secondary screening. .Yates refused to disclose her vaccine status and was fined and required to quarantine for 14 days. Her husband disclosed his vaccine status and did not have to quarantine, despite living in the same house as her. .A glitch with ArriveCan sent an automated message to more than 10,000 fully vaccinated Canadians, requiring them to quarantine for 14 days. It took the Canadian government 12 days to inform these people the app had malfunctioned..ArriveCan continues to face major criticism for creating long delays at international crossings. Toronto Pearson International Airport was ranked the worst airport for delays in July, and there have been significant delays reported at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in the last few months..US Rep. Elise Stefanik said Thursday the Canadian government should eliminate ArriveCan, claiming it continues to “negatively impact US and Canadian border communities.” .READ MORE: US congresswoman calls on Canadian government to end ArriveCan.“As you know, the US and Canada’s unique partnership is critical to the success of the communities on both sides of our border and dependent on valuing and maximizing the people-to-people relationship,” said Stefanik. .“We should be working to further develop our partnership, not inhibit its success with misguided burdens such as the Canadian government’s mandated use of the ArriveCan app.” .Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCan, saying it's vital in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Alghabra said ArriveCan has not caused the ongoing travel backlog, despite CBSA agents saying it is. .The JCCF filed a notice of application against the Canadian government and is waiting on a trial date.