Court waives $38K in ArriveCan fines on Amish

A provincial court has waived more than $38,000 in outstanding fines on Ontario Amish who were convicted in absentia during the Covid pandemic, and faced loss of their homes and farms. for not using the controversial ArriveCan app.

TDF secures new victory for Amish: over $38,000 in fines waived | The Democracy Fund (news release):

June 05, 2025 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) has achieved a significant legal victory for a group of Amish individuals convicted under the Quarantine Act for failure to complete the ArriveCan app. Following a May 22, 2025 court appearance, seven months of negotiations and numerous court appearances, TDF lawyers successfully had the group’s convictions set aside, resulting in over $38,000 in fines being waived.

"The Amish community, known for their traditional lifestyle and faith-based avoidance of modern technology, faced legal challenges after crossing the border at Niagara Falls. Their inability to use smartphones or interact with modern technology made it almost impossible to comply with the strict and continually-shifting COVID-19 regulations, particularly requirements involving the ArriveCan app. TDF took the position that the Amish did not receive proper notice of the offences, trial or conviction. They were convicted in absentia, and subsequently fined over $38,000. However, with the assistance of TDF, their cases were reopened, and through persistent advocacy, the convictions were ultimately set aside with fines being waived.

"For these Amish families, who depend on farming and community support, the prospect of paying such excessive fines was daunting. This resolution ensures that these legal entanglements do not threaten their livelihoods and properties.

"TDF Litigation Director Mark Joseph stated, 'This outcome is a testament to the importance of access to justice for all Canadians, regardless of their background or way of life. We are pleased that these families can now move forward without the burden of these oppressive fines. The Amish are extremely grateful for the support they've received from TDF donors.'

"While this case has been resolved, TDF continues to advocate for other members of the Amish community and other Canadians facing similar challenges with the legal system. The organization remains committed to defending constitutional rights and ensuring that all individuals receive fair treatment.

Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Read more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_secures_new_victory_for_amish

Lessons from Canada's Randy Scandal

Canada's Randy Scandal illustrates why DEI politics and government contracting should be kept separate. 

The Randy Boissonnault saga shows why identity politics and federal contracts shouldn’t mix | The Hub | Sabrina Maddeaux:

Randy Boissonnault in 2018. Photo by

Mack Male. CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikipedia Commons.

November 22, 2024 - "It takes more than your average scandal to get a cabinet minister removed from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.... But Randy Boissonnault, the now-former Employment minister, finally managed this practically unheard-of feat. On Wednesday, Trudeau announced Boissonnault would 'step away from cabinet effective immediately.' This comes after months of scrutiny on his former business Global Health Imports (GHI), which claimed to be 'Indigenous-owned' in bids for federal contracts even as Boissonnault’s Indigenous heritage claims shifted wildly.

"The saga and its fallout should extend far beyond Boissonnault and GHI, which are merely the most publicly recognizable tips of the iceberg that is the government’s Indigenous business procurement targets. These affirmative action style mandates should be scrapped, along with the very idea that government contracts should be awarded to favour certain identities.

"In 2021, Trudeau’s Liberals announced that a minimum of 5 percent of all federal department and agency contracts must go to Indigenous businesses. Even prior to these targets, a business’ inclusion in the government’s Indigenous Business Directory meant favourable treatment and limited competition for some contracts. However, like many well-intentioned, poorly executed diversity initiatives, ... such programs create perverse incentives to cheat the system, are practically impossible to audit at scale, and often fail to help the communities they claim to serve. Moreover, they fail to guarantee top value for taxpayer dollars....

"There have been other high-profile reports of alleged fraud and misrepresentations of Indigenous ownership that did result in major federal contracts. The most notable is the ArriveCan app, which saw a $7.9 million contract go to Dalian Enterprises Inc, self-described as 'Aboriginally owned, veteran operated.' The company has received more than $200 million in federal contracts since 2015, although it’s now suspended from working on existing contracts or bidding for new ones.... {I]t’s alleged Dalian, after securing a government contract, would [disburse] government funds and the work to other, non-Indigenous contractors. Indeed, when questioned by MPs about his firm’s work on ArriveCan, Dalian’s president and founder could barely articulate what his company did on the project and admitted to typically subcontracting out federal work to other companies. There have also been questions about the validity of his [indigenous] heritage claims.... 

"In 2016, it was discovered that Canadian Health Care Agency (CHCA), a major nursing contractor for remote and Indigenous communities, got itself listed on the federal Indigenous Business Directory by entering into a partnership with a one-person foot-care company owned by a First Nations nurse. However, the nurse had next to no say in the company and, worse, was eventually pinned with a $500,000 tax bill when the arrangement was audited. While CHCA was removed from the Indigenous Business Directory as of 2019, ... [i]t has since received at least 30 contracts from Indigenous Services Canada, totalling $131.7 million....

"Indigenous leaders themselves are ringing the alarm that the federal government’s Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) is deeply flawed. In September, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Chief Joanna Bernard told a House committee, 'There is currently no consistent way of verifying the legitimacy of Indigenous businesses, which creates a risk of false claims, tokenism … [and] exploitation [by] bad actors.'

"While some may argue for increased auditing or different methods of identity verification, the reality is neither are realistic solutions. The federal government simply doesn’t have the capacity to  —nor should it dedicate mass resources to — successfully audit a program that incentivizes fraud by being based on difficult-to-verify identity claims and ownership percentages.... We simply don’t know how much of the massive amount of public money earmarked for Indigenous contracts actually flows to Indigenous entrepreneurs.... The government isn’t able to assure the public their taxes aren’t going to frauds and frontmen, let alone that we get the best value and outcomes from the best companies for our money....

"Boissonnault’s time in cabinet didn’t end with the legacy he hoped, but it would be a shame for such a scandal to go to waste, used only for partisan barbs rather than a push for much-needed, common-sense reform. Procurement may be a typically wonkish topic, but it couldn’t be more vital to how Canadians experience government and access services. Federal policy must abandon its misguided adventures in identity politics to laser-focus on results."

Read more: https://thehub.ca/2024/11/22/sabrina-maddeaux-the-randy-boissonnault-saga-shows-why-identity-politics-and-federal-contracts-shouldnt-mix/

Ontario judge reopens Amish ArriveCan cases

The Democracy Fund has convinced an Ontario court to reopen the cases of five Amish fined for crossing the Canada-U.S. border without using the Trudeau government's controversial ArriveCan app.  

Court reopens Amish tickets: TDF lawyers secure significant legal victory | The Democracy Fund (news release):

October 09, 2024 - ""The Democracy Fund (TDF) has successfully reopened a number of ArriveCan tickets for five Amish clients. These individuals received tickets in 2021 and 2022 for allegedly failing to complete the ArriveCan app but had not received any notification of court dates or convictions, leading to outstanding fines being sent to collections and, in some cases, liens placed against their family farms. 

"These individuals, due to their faith, avoid modern technology. They do not use any form of electricity and have little to no experience using a telephone, much less navigating an app on a modern smartphone.

"TDF recently filed documents with the court seeking to have these tickets reopened. The court has now granted this request, which will allow the clients to receive a Notice of Trial and, eventually, set a trial date. Adam Blake-Gallipeau, Senior Litigation Counsel at TDF, remarked{:} 

It was clear that these clients did not receive adequate information regarding their tickets. The Amish are a vulnerable religious minority and have limited engagement with modern legal systems. In cases where their properties have liens registered on title, it makes it difficult to obtain loans or to transfer farms to the next generation. We are pleased that the tickets have been reopened and look forward to arguing our case in court.

"TDF lawyers will now request and review disclosure, engage with Crown counsel, and, if necessary, proceed to trial. Although this is an initial victory, the real work of having these tick[:ets stayed, withdrawn or resolved at trial now begins. TDF has a number of additional Amish clients who require help and have since learned that there may be other Amish communities impacted by outstanding liens and fines. We're committed to advocating for the rights of the Amish and ensuring they receive fair treatment.

"If you'd like to support the Amish community in their fight, please consider making a tax-deductible donation on this page.

https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/court_reopens_amish_tickets_tdf_secure_legal_victory

"Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Trudeau Liberals take aim at peaceful Amish community over ArriveCan compliance | Rebel News | September 26, 2024:

Amish fined for not downloading ArriveCan app

Members of the Amish community in Chatsworth, Ontario (who do not use electricity or smartphones) have been hit with almost $400,000 in fines for not downloading the Canadian government's ArriveCan app.  

Amish community fined $400,000 for failing to download ArriveCan app | Rebel News 

August 15, 2024 - "In the serene countryside of Chatsworth, a community of Amish farmers lives as if in the 18th century, adhering strictly to their faith and traditions. Their simple way of life — without electricity, telephones, or the internet — sets them apart from the rest of the modern world. Yet, this peaceful community is now grappling with a problem no one would have expected.... 

"The problem began with the Canadian government's enforcement of the ArriveCan app during the COVID-19 pandemic. This app was mandatory for anyone entering Canada, requiring travellers to submit their health information digitally. The Amish, however, do not use smartphones, let alone apps. They also have religious exemptions from vaccinations, making the use of such technology unnecessary and intrusive for them. Yet, despite these clear exemptions, the government insisted on compliance, leading to severe penalties....

"The Amish community in Chatsworth has been slapped with nearly $400,000 in fines for not using the ArriveCan app. This is a community that doesn’t use electricity, let alone digital applications. The fines were not just a bureaucratic oversight — they were a targeted action. The government even went so far as to place liens on their properties, effectively freezing their ability to obtain loans and transfer land titles within families. 

"These punitive measures have left the Amish community in a state of shock and despair. Imagine being a farmer in need of a loan to buy cattle, only to be told that your property has a lien on it because of fines related to an app you cannot even use.

"This situation is not just an attack on the Amish economy; it’s a direct assault on their religious freedoms. The government’s actions have created an uneven playing field, where a community that lives without modern conveniences is being punished for not participating in a digital system....  

"Fortunately, The Democracy Fund has stepped in. They’ve begun taking up the cases of these Amish families, working to overturn the unjust fines and remove the liens placed on their properties. However, the road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, especially given the unique nature of the Amish community’s way of life.

"The Amish may not fight back themselves — they are pacifists by nature — but they have welcomed the help of others who see the injustice in what’s happening. This is not just a fight for the Amish; it’s a fight for religious freedom and the right to live according to one’s beliefs without government interference."

Read more: https://www.rebelnews.com/amish_community_under_attack_over_digital_mandates_they_didnt_know_existed

Amish community fined $400,000 for failing to download ArriveCan app | Rebel News | August 15, 2024:

RCMP investigating federal gov't contracting

Canada's RCMP has at least six ongoing investigations into irregularities in federal government procurement contracts, its commissioner has told the House of Commons.    

RCMP Has ‘Multiple’ Open Investigations on Federal Contracting Irregularities, Commissioner Says | Epoch Times | Matthew Horwood:

June 19, 2024 - "The RCMP currently has over six investigations open into irregularities around federal procurement, its commissioner confirmed during committee testimony on its investigation into the ArriveCan app.

“'This committee, and Canadians, are looking for answers and accountability around ArriveCan,' RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme testified before the public accounts committee on June 18. 'The RCMP has multiple investigations underway into these matters,' he added.... Mr. Duheme said the force has 'more than six' investigations open in regard to irregularities around federal procurement. 'That'd be as precise as I can get,' he said.

"When Conservative MP Garnett Genuis asked how many police investigations there were into government corruption, Mr. Duheme did not answer the question directly, but said it was 'too early' to refer to the cases as corruption. 'We are currently investigating several files that are looking at the procurement process that could lead to an element of corruption. But at this point in time, I’m not saying that we’re anywhere close to that. And again, I don’t want to get into any details,' he said.

"There have been months [of] committee hearings into the ArriveCan application, which was used to check the COVID-19 vaccination status of travellers crossing the Canada-U.S. border. 

"A report by the auditor general in February found that the application cost an estimated $59.5 million to develop, but that record-keeping was 'so poor' that the precise cost of it could not be determined. The report also found that agencies like the Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada failed to follow 'good management practices' in the contracting, development, and implementation of ArriveCan.

"Back in October 2023, the RCMP confirmed it was conducting an investigation into the potential misconduct of three companies that worked on the ArriveCan app — GC Strategies, Dalian, and Coradix — but not ArriveCan specifically.... On April 16, the RCMP raided the home of GC Strategies managing partner Kristian Firth as part of its investigation into allegations from Botler AI, a tech company that did not work on ArriveCan but was contracted for a separate project through GC Strategies. Mr. Firth was admonished by the House of Commons the next day for his failure to answer a government committee’s questions on the app."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/rcmp-has-at-least-six-open-investigations-on-federal-procurement-irregularities-commissioner-says-5671414

Government refers suspected contractor fraud to RCMP, more cases could be coming | CBC News: The National | March 26, 2024:

Auditor-General puts ArriveCAN cost at $59 Million

Canada's Auditor-General estimates that the ArriveCAN travel app, originally expected to cost $80,000, actually cost almost $60 million, but addthat poor record keeping makes it impossible to determine the true figure. 

Total cost of ArriveCan 'impossible to determine' due to poor record-keeping, AG report finds | CBC News } Darren Major:

February 12, 2024 - "The final cost of the controversial ArriveCan app is impossible to determine due to poor financial record-keeping, a new auditor general report has found. It is just one of the findings that Canada's Auditor General Karen Hogan highlighted in a damning report about the pandemic-era tool....

"Hogan found that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada 'repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development and implementation of the ArriveCan application.' 'This is probably the first example that I've seen such a glaring disregard for some of the most basic and fundamental policies and rules,' Hogan told the House public accounts committee on Monday.

"'I have to say I am deeply concerned by what this audit didn't find,' she told MPs on the committee. 'We didn't find records to accurately show how much was spent on what, who did the work, or how and why contracting decisions were made — and that paper trail should have existed."

"CBSA said previously the development and operation of the app cost an estimated $54 million. Hogan estimates the project cost was $59.5 million — but, as the report notes, she was only able to arrive at that figure based on the information available to her.

"'We found that financial records were not well-maintained by the Canada Border Services Agency. We were unable to determine a precise cost for the ArriveCan application because of [the agency's] poor documentation and weak controls,' the report says.... 18 per cent of invoices submitted by outside contractors that worked on the app didn't have 'sufficient supporting documentation' to accurately determine the cost of the project.

"Hogan told the committee that the government 'paid too much' for the project and that poor record-keeping compromised accountability. The report also notes that the CBSA has estimated that $12.2 million of the $59.5 million estimate could have been unrelated to ArriveCan. Hogan said she was unable to determine what was included in spending on the app and what wasn't.

"CBSA depended heavily on third-party contractors to develop the app. The report cites that reliance as a major factor in its ballooning costs. Hogan's report suggests that a reduction in the use of outside contractors could have lowered costs.... As an example, the report estimates that the per diem costs for external ArriveCan contractors was $1,090, while the average daily cost of an equivalent internal position is $675.

"The CBSA said in a statement Monday that it's implementing the recommendations Hogan made in her report. The agency also argued that the app needed to be rolled out quickly at the start of the pandemic.... Hogan told MPs on Monday that seeking outside help for the app at the start of the pandemic was 'reasonable.' But she said she would have expected less reliance on outside contractors as the project continued. 'We didn't see that transition, whether it be that the public service take over some of the operations of the application or that there be a transfer of some knowledge or skill,' she said.

"Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blasted the government over the app's costs and accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of 'wasting [taxpayers'] money.' He promised to cut back on third-party outsourcing if his party forms government after the next election. 'Public servants do the work more accountably and they do it more affordably,' Poilievre told reporters outside the House of Commons on Monday. 'We're going to save money by reversing Trudeau's doubling of outsourcing.'"

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/auditor-general-report-arrivecan-1.7111043

ArriveCAN app was a hot mess: auditor general report | About That | CBC News | February 13, 2024: