Canadian Scouts stranded in Switzerland after ArriveCan breakdown
A group of Canadian Boy Scouts between the ages of 12 and 14 stranded in Zurich due to problems with the government’s ArriveCan app.
According to CTV News, six of the group, including four teenagers, were unable to board a scheduled flight back to Canada after an application error failed to register the passengers.
Before the problem could be resolved, the group’s flight had already departed.
“It was a great experience until it was time to come home,” said Karina Vega, mother of a stranded 14-year-old Scout.
“Once they sorted everything out, the check-in counter was closed. They literally saw their flight take off.”
According to Vega, Air Canada is refusing to cash in on its travel insurance policy, which the scouts paid for.
“Air Canada will not respect their travel insurance policy, which they purchased at an additional cost and includes missed flights,” Vega said.
“All of our children are Canadian citizens. They are scared, tired and very stressed. We just got a call that the embassy is involved.”
According to Air Canada, Air Canada is aware of the issue but could not comment on whether travel insurance would cover this situation.
“Because they booked through a travel agent, someone has already reached out to their travel agent to help,” a spokesman said.
Conservative transport critic MP Melissa Lantsman has blown up The Liberals via ArriveCan are calling on the federal government to immediately abolish the obligation to travel.
“People don’t want to come, and the regulations are certainly redundant,” Lantsman said.
“There are a lot of things we expect our American friends to do that they are not willing to do. That hurts us.”
With the help of the Canadian Embassy, the remaining Scouts were able to find a return trip to Canada.
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