The Public Health Agency spent more than $43 million hiring security guards to make house calls on returning cross-border travelers, records show..Private security firms completed almost 600,000 “door knocks” to enforce quarantine rules..The agency in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons said it hired four security companies “for the purposes of compliance verification visits or door knocks” to ensure recently arrived travelers were complying with the Quarantine Act. Security guards paid a total 593,446 “compliance visits.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, those costs totaled $43.3 million. The figures were requested by Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK.)..When asked, “what recourse is the agency making available to individuals who are harassed or mistreated by a private security officer or firm acting on behalf of the agency?” the Inquiry replied: “All complaints regarding treatment or conduct during a compliance verification visit that have been received are reviewed.”.The agency said it knew of 38 complaints including “failure to identify as a Public Health Agency officer” and “aggressive or unprofessional behaviour.” It did not elaborate..The agency in an earlier November 4 Inquiry Of Ministry disclosed it levied $14.9 million in fines on cross-border travelers for failing to comply with quarantine rules. Of 3,614 tickets issued, the largest number was for entering Canada without proof of a negative COVID-19 test (45%), “refusal to answer relevant questions asked by an agency officer” (36%) and refusal to complete a second test on arrival (6%)..All Quarantine Act enforcement was suspended Oct. 1. The complete cost of the program has not been detailed to date..Auditor General Karen Hogan in a report last Dec. 9 described quarantine enforcement as a costly failure..“I am concerned the Public Health agency is unable to show us whether or not these border measures are effective,” Hogan told reporters..An audit report Enforcement Of Quarantine And COVID-19 Testing Orders: Public Health Agency put partial enforcement costs at $614 million. Expenses included $342 million for COVID-19 tests and $200 million to operate quarantine shelters..The 2021 audit counted about 200,000 house calls by security guards, less than half the number detailed in the Inquiry Of Ministry..“Security officers from these companies conducted more than 200,000 visits in more than 400 cities across the country,” wrote auditors..The audit concluded ticketing was “uneven” and compliance with quarantine rules was typically haphazard despite the expense..“This is not a success story,” said Hogan.
