ArriveCAN App Might Destroy a 100-Year-Old Ontario Golf Club: Report

According to a report from the National Post, the federal government’s ArriveCAN app might end up putting the Grenadier Island Country Club in Ontario’s Thousand Islands out of business.

The golf club has been operating for almost 100 years now. However, its American members aren’t all that enthusiastic about making the trip down from Alexandria Bay in the U.S. these days because ArriveCAN has told several of them to quarantine for 14 days after entering Canada despite being fully vaccinated. U.S. citizens comprise 45% of the Grenadier Island Country Club’s 180 members.

“The club was started by seven Americans in 1927 and membership used to be 50:50. But a lot of the American members are threatening to leave after being hassled by these ridiculous rules,” said Herbert Gibson, the establishment’s chair of membership. Gibson added that if their American members started leaving, “we’re done, the club would have to fold”

One American member who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, both booster shots included, recently played tennis at the club. She said she was contacted by Health Canada the day after her visit and asked to quarantine for 14 days. “It’s a little disheartening. We did everything legally. I love going to Canada but Canada is prohibiting me from doing that,” she said.

“To me, it seems like a glitch in the system. But if I can’t go for the rest of the season, I won’t continue my membership. Why would I?”

All international travellers are required to use the ArriveCAN app when crossing into Canada, although many are asking why it is still in use when the country has already eased up COVID-19 restrictions.

There have been many cases of the ArriveCAN app erroneously ordering fully vaccinated individuals to quarantine after crossing the border. The government has acknowledged that such an issue exists but maintains that it has been resolved despite reports coming in as recently as earlier this week.

Conservative MP Tony Baldinelli, who represents Niagara Falls, recently said the ArriveCAN app is harming businesses in border communities.

The government continues to downplay concerns regarding the ArriveCAN app, but even border agents aren’t fans of it. Last month, the union that represents Canada’s border agents said the app is causing delays and has reduced officers to tech support.

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