Saying he would have thought it was a joke, Windsor-West MP Brian Masse is taking the federal government to task for insisting runners in the upcoming Detroit Free Press Marathon use the ArriveCAN app.
"I write to you again about the most outrageous chapter in the application of ArriveCAN and its impact on Windsor-Essex residents," starts the letter from Brian Masse. "I would have expected this story to be covered in the Beaverton, not mainstream media, so I remain hopeful this is not correct."
Joke or not, organizers of the Detroit Free Press Marathon have posted a reminder on the event's webpage that runners need to fill out the app before re-entering Canada.
"It's a requirement for travel into Canada. You will need to have either a digital or paper copy of your ArriveCAN receipt on your person during your race on Sunday, October 16," read the reminder. "If you're participating in any of the following events, ArriveCAN is required: Marathon, International Half-Marathon, Supreme or Wonder Challenge Series, or Legs 1 and 2 of the Marathon Relay."
Organizers also emailed the reminder to participants on Wednesday.
Thousands take part in the 2014 Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle.)
"As you are aware," wrote Masse, "this app has already created difficulty at our land border crossings, having had a significant impact on tourism."
Business leaders, tourism operators, and border city mayors have decried the continued use of ArriveCAN, saying it is hurting economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada says road trips by Americans into Canada over the past two months are down by 45 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
"After a two-year pause, the race is back to running internationally, as this cross-border marathon is a unique component of the race," Masse reminded the government.
Just over a week ago, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra told reporters in Windsor the ArriveCAN app is helping border travel rather than hurting it.
"The process of verification would be manual, and it would be much more complicated, and it would take longer," he said. "It really does enhance efficiency."
Alghabra said his office continues discussions with stakeholders, including MPs.
Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk told reporters that same day he expressed the frustration constituents have with the app.
