Your browser is not supported

Your browser is too old. To use this website, please use Chrome or Firefox.

Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Send a message to your federal representative!

Alternately, you may copy the email address for your representative and use our message body below:

I am writing to express my desire to see the ArriveCAN app scrapped.

Since international travellers already have to prove vaccination status, the app only adds time and confusion to border crossings and does little for public safety.

Repeatedly pushed for data indicating a positive impact from the app, the government has provided none.

The app has frequently been criticized as difficult to use, particularly by travellers not comfortable with the technology. It is a deterrent to new and returning visitors. Niagara depends on its tourism industry; we cannot afford anything that will turn tourists away for a third consecutive year.

On behalf of our community, I ask that you raise this matter in Parliament and with cabinet ministers.

What is this campaign?

We believe that the ArriveCAN app is no longer needed, and is nothing more than an impediment to Niagara’s tourism industry.

We are asking you to send a message to your Member of Parliament indicating your support to scrap the app.

We’ve made it easy, as we know your time is valuable, with a pre-written message you can send right from this page. If you want, you can customize it or write your own instead.

Why is this important?

Niagara depends upon its tourism industry. Between 40,000 and 60,000 local jobs are supported by tourism. Tourists generate around $2 billion in annual economic activity for our region.

After two restricted seasons caused by the pandemic, the tourism industry has emptied cash reserves and taken on significant debt to survive. Now, it is challenged by labour shortages, supply chain problems, and inflation.

We believe that the Government of Canada should not add additional burdens for tourism at this time. Although the government has promised to review the app on June 30, we believe that’s too late, when only two months will remain in the 2022 tourist season.

What’s the problem with the app?

All travellers are already required to prove their vaccination status.

The app is an additional layer of bureaucracy that has to be completed within 72 hours of travel, regardless of whether travellers are comfortable with app technology, of whether they have internet access at their destination, and so on.

Travellers have widely reported that it is difficult to use, and it is a deterrent to those visiting Niagara from the United States and overseas.

The Government of Canada has repeatedly been asked to provide data showing that the app increases public safety. To date, they have not.


Latest News

Daily Update: November 20, 2024

In this edition: Four Niagara restaurants among OpenTable’s 100 best in Canada Alectra earns global recognition at 2024 WE3 Digital… more »

Upcoming Event: Lunch & Learn: Investing in the AI Age: Ethics, Deadlines & DIY

Explore RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA updates, the disruptive impact of AI on investing and social media, the dangers of misinformation,… more »

Daily Update: November 19, 2024

In this edition: Rate of inflation accelerates to 2%, higher than expectations St. Catharines launches core services review survey FirstOntario… more »