The RCMP and both the border agency’s internal-affairs division and its internal auditors are probing allegations by the chatbot company’s co-founders, the Canada Border Services Agency said. Botler’s claims that it was baited into dealing with the federal government through “pass-through” contractors that took cuts for little work were first reported by The Globe and Mail. (The Logic, The Globe and Mail)

Talking point: One of the top-level contractors allegedly involved is GC Strategies, which got a large contract to build the border agency’s ArriveCan app and then subcontracted much of it to others. The company bills itself as a general contractor for public-sector technology by assembling skilled teams. The CBSA referred the complaints from Botler for formal investigations, spokesperson Guillaume Bérubé told The Logic by email, but has already increased oversight and ordered employees with contracting authority to re-take certification courses. The federal Justice Department has funded a Botler chatbot that guides victims of sexual harassment and violence through the possible reporting mechanisms. The company has also worked on a tool to help with immigration applications.