GC Strategies, the company behind the scandal surrounding the ArriveCan app, has been banned from participating in federal procurements with security requirements.

This is the second step in addition to the November 2023 decision taken by the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to suspend GC Strategies Inc.'s participation in PSPC purchases.

According to a statement issued by the ministry today, Wednesday, "PSPC has suspended the security status of GC Strategies Inc. and the company is prohibited from participating in all federal procurements with security requirements. The comments are effective until further notice."

The government introduced the ArriveCAN program in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The app became mandatory for travelers entering Canada and aims to retain users' contact information, travel plans, and vaccination proof.

Since its launch, things have not gone well for ArriveCAN, as it faced countless user complaints and public feedback, especially regarding the huge $59 million cost of developing the app.

ArriveCAN was also at the heart of an ongoing government scandal, with a report recently published by the Canadian Auditor General revealing countless issues and oversight failures in spending, contracting, and management.

A class action lawsuit was launched against the app due to the unlawful quarantine of thousands of travelers at the Canadian border.

In a statement by the Canadian class action law firm, it said, "The ArriveCan app, which was contracted, developed, and implemented negligently, led to more than 10,000 travelers being subjected to illegal quarantine upon arrival at the port of entry, due to problems with the app.

The firm seeks to represent anyone who traveled to Canada between November 21, 2020, and October 1, 2022, who used or attempted to use the ArriveCAN app and was incorrectly directed to isolate themselves and monitor COVID symptoms, despite being exempt from quarantine as they provided or attempted to provide the required documentation to the Canada Border Services Agency.