COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date:  July 29, 2021
Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location:  Videoconference

Summary

The nineteenth and  final meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council sought Council’s approval of the interim report on Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a Government Service), as well as feedback on the third and final report (COVID Alert as a Public Health Tool).  A data analysis of COVID Alert performance metrics was presented, alongside an update on the app and the metrics.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed the Council and thanked them for their guidance and advice on the COVID Alert app provided over the last year.

2. Pillar 2 Interim Report

HC officials sought Council’s approval of the Pillar 2 interim report and outlined the work underway towards finalizing the third and final report.

The Council asked that the final report provide more clarity on the influence and future uses of the exposure notification technology.

3. Data Analysis – Key Findings 

Dr. Derek Ruths and his research team presented their analysis of the COVID Alert metrics which included an overview of the methodology and highlights.

Council noted that the uneven uptake of the app by provinces and territories was a critical factor in achieving less than desired adoption, promotion and use rates of COVID Alert, which will serve as a significant lesson for the next public health crisis.

Council and Dr. Ruths noted that the limited timeframe of metrics collection significantly influenced the analysis. They concluded that in the future, data modeling is a critical factor required in the design of digital solutions to support public health.

4. Conclusion of Meeting

HC officials noted that the metrics are anticipated to be available publicly in the coming weeks and thanked Council for their active engagement in the meetings and the advice they provided throughout their service.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: June 29, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The seventeenth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council with an overview of the interim report on Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a Government Service). An introduction to the COVID Alert data analysis and an update on engagement about new app features was also provided.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) welcomed Council and reiterated the importance of their guidance and advice as work on the COVID Alert app continues.

2. Pillar 2 Interim Report

Health Canada (HC) officials provided information for key sections of the Pillar 2 interim report.

Council provided feedback including a request for further comparative data analysis with other countries with similar exposure notification apps. Council also requested that the report be refined to include further clarification of terminology used.

3. Data Analysis

Dr. Derek Ruths provided an overview of the methodology and work plan for the COVID Alert data analysis.

Dr. Ruths intends to produce a report using a similar methodology as the one used in the United Kingdom app report noting that a number of unique variables will results in variances between Canada and the United Kingdom methodology.

Council noted that geography could have an impact on the results.

4. Update on Core Features

HC officials provided an update on metrics and QR codes. HC and Canadian Digital Service (CDS) informed Council that work is underway to publish the metrics that have been collected through COVID Alert.  A context piece and a GitHub blog post will accompany released information.

HC officials discussed engagement efforts that are underway to assess province and territories’ capacity and interest in addressing OTK distribution issues and in the adoption of QR codes.

HC officials then engaged Council on three forward looking questions with respect to exposure notification tools and Pillar 3 (COVID Alert as a Public Health Tool);

• Are close-contact notifications still a relevant public health tool?
• Should a privacy-first approach remain a central component in the event of a future public health crisis?
• Could a pan-Canadian approach as opposed to a PT-optional approach have improved uptake and effectiveness of the app as a public health tool?

Council agreed that COVID Alert remains relevant in the current health context even if vaccination rate is increasing in Canada and pointed out that OTKs were the biggest missed opportunity.  Acknowledging the novelty of the service, Council noted that lessons learned will prove valuable for future digital tools, particularly close-contact notification and its potential to help combat other public health events.  The Council recommended that the OTK process be assessed to determine a better solution for the future to ensure it is used to its full potential.

The Council affirmed that a privacy-centric approach was the most appropriate strategy and helped to build trust with Canadians. While more analysis would be needed to determine if a pan-Canadian approach would have improved effectiveness, Council affirms that a collaborative approach continues to be favored.

HC officials thanked Council for active engagement in the meeting and the advice they provided through discussions. The Council was asked to provide detailed comments on the Pillar 2 interim report over the following week.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date:  June 7, 2021
Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location:  Videoconference

Summary

The sixteenth meetingof the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council with general updates on metrics and QR code project and sought Council’s feedback the second interim report on Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a government service) structure and content.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) welcomed Council and provided an overview of the agenda.

2. Data and Metrics

Health Canada (HC) officials provided Council an update on action taken by HC with regards to the recommendations provided by Council at the fifteenth Advisory Council meeting on metrics.

 - HC sought feedback from Statistics Canada on the COVID Alert metrics.

 - HC shared a narrative thatdescribes the privacy-first approach, the data aggregation limitations and technical fixes to complement the metrics.

Dr. Derek Ruths, Council member, briefed Council on his plan to conduct an independent assessment on the efficacy of COVID Alert.  HC and Canadian Digital Service (CDS) to support Dr. Ruths to ensure he has the information he needs to complete his analysis.

3. Features and Functionalities

Council received an update on the QR Code service.  Council recommended that business associations be leveraged to communicate information about QR codes.  Council also encouraged government to clearly state that privacy considerations are addressed in public communications about QR codes.

4. Second Interim Report

The Council reviewed an outline of the information that will comprise the second interim report and the Table of Contents. The Council agreed that the report’s structure provides a logical narrative, and indicated their interest in proceeding with a full draft of the report.

5. Conclusion of Meeting

HC officials thanked Council for their continued engagement and recommendations. 

COVID Alert Advisory Council Meeting Notes

Date: May 26, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The fifteenth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council engaged Council on performance measurement, which fostered further discussion of the challenges and opportunities related to data collection and in-app metrics in assessing the effectiveness of the app.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed the Council. The Council noted the continued importance of discussing performance metrics as a critical basis to ground their ongoing advice.

2. Pillar 3: Performance Measurement and Data

   HC officials provided Council with an update on technical issues that have affected the notification feature of the app for some users and subsequently affected the collection of metrics. The Canadian Digital Service (CDS) provided an update on exploring technical options to address these issues and focus on a communication strategy whereby users would be informed to open the app daily towards better functionality.  The Council recognized the technical issues associated with the app and advised to exercise care in providing relevant context to enable accurate and meaningful interpretation when communicating metrics.

   CDS provided Council with a walkthrough of the GitHub repository. The repository is a platform used to collaborate with HC and CDS to publish the application code and track changes made to the application. CDS is working towards organizing the data, making it accessible and easy to use. The Council appreciated the work towards refining the available data, and again emphasized their important role to review information critical to the app's performance as a key and necessary precursor to inform Council's ongoing advice.

   Finally, HC provided Council with an overview of the key data elements of the server and in-app metrics. The Council again expressed that it will be important for the Government to clearly indicate what the data mean and provide sufficient context to help with interpretation.

3. Closing Remarks

   HC officials closed the meeting by thanking Council for advice, noting Council will continue to be updated on in-app metrics. 

COVID Alert Advisory Council Meeting Notes

Date: May 11, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The fourteenth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council engaged Council on performance measurement framework considerations, noting the challenges and opportunities related to data collection and in-app metrics in assessing the effectiveness of the app. A presentation and discussion on QR Code implementation  was also provided.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed the Council. The Council noted on the importance of discussing performance framework and metrics as a critical basis to ground their ongoing advice.

2. Pillar 3: Performance Measurement Framework

   HC officials provided Council with a presentation and overview of the performance measurement approach for the COVID Alert app including the logic framework and the key performance indicators and the status of in-app metrics

   Officials from the Canadian Digital Service (CDS) advised Council that issues with specific Android phones that could affect overall app functionality were identified. In effect, some Android have implemented battery saving technology that can inhibit the full functionality of the app in a significant number of devices, affecting not only the exposure notification service but also the quality and accuracy of in-app metrics.  Dialogue with Apple and Google to troubleshoot remedy the issue is ongoing.  Both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, having experienced similar efficacy issues with their app, found QR Codes helped alleviate some of these problems.

   Council expressed concern about the current state and functionality of the app, and discussed various ways in which the Government of Canada could release information related to in-app metrics and how to improve app functionality and messaging for affected users and devices in an open and transparent manner.

   Council emphasized the critical importance of Council to review information critical to the app's performance as a key and necessary precursor to inform Council's ongoing advice.

3. Pillar 3: QR Codes

   Health Canada officials provided an update on the QR Code pilot in Ottawa, which will be rolling out in the next several weeks. HC officials advised that no current opportunities to amend the regulations that would enable Ontario businesses to utilize COVID Alert QR Code functionality as a replacement for manual information gathering to fulfill contract tracing requirements. The position of the Ontario government may change depending on the pilot's results.

   CDS officials provided the Advisory Council with an overview of QR code functionality from the perspective of individual users, who would be utilizing the COVID Alert app to check-in at a participating venue. Officials from CDS intend to undertake a beta test on QR code functionality in the near term.

   Council was also provided with a presentation on the HC communications strategy regarding QR codes. Council advised that the Government of Canada should take steps to continually engage with community animators in marginalized communities in order to develop  community-specific messaging.

   To help guide the provision of advice at future meetings, Council requested that the Government of Canada specifically outline items for which they require Council's advice and insight, and which items are designed to inform Council.

4. Closing Remarks

   The Council meeting concluded with Secretariat officials thanking the Council members for their advice, and pledging to continue updating the Council on QR Codes and in-app metrics.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: April 20, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The thirteenth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council with next steps regarding QR Code implementation, as well as general updates on one-time key (OTK) distribution and aggregate metrics collection.  

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed Council and advised that HC is regularly debriefing senior officials on COVID Alert, noting the interest and importance of implementing QR Codes.

2. Pillar 3: New Features and Functionalities – Expected Outcomes for QR Codes

   HC officials provided an update on the upcoming launch of a QR Code pilot within the Province of Ontario. HC will continue regular engagement with the public health authority on the appropriate launch date. HC officials also advised Council that engagement continues with multiple provinces and territories that have expressed interest in the COVID Alert QR Code functionality.

   Council suggested that governments endorse the COVID Alert QR code functionality over third party applications due to the enhanced privacy protection of COVID Alert.  The COVID Alert QR code usage should also act as an acceptable replacement, where possible, for manual contact information record keeping in required businesses.

   Members discussed expected outcomes of the QR Code pilot, specifically on the collection of metrics to determine public health impacts and reduced contact tracing burden. Council will be apprised of ongoing developments and lessons-learned, which will help inform the broader pan-Canadian rollout of QR Code functionality.

3. Pillar 3: General Updates on COVID Alert

   HC officials provided general updates on the COVID Alert app, including: engagements with select provinces to update their IT infrastructure to streamline user access to One-Time Keys (OTKs); the development of new scripts at contact tracing centres that specifically reference and streamline OTK provisions; and the expansion of OTK provision in select provinces via third party health care providers that support contact tracing efforts.

   HC officials also noted new communications and marketing products, including an update on future communication strategies for implementation in spring 2021, which was informed by public opinion research and tailored towards low income and marginalized communities. Council reiterated the importance of making communication and marketing products available in multiple languages.

4. Conclusion of Meeting

   HC officials closed the meeting by advising Council that forward planning was underway to schedule the remaining meetings under the third pillar of work. Council requested to receive information regarding metrics and that metrics be added to each subsequent meeting as a standing item.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: March 29, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The twelfth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council Members with general updates on One-Time-Key (OTKs) distribution efforts, the rollout of aggregate metrics, as well as considerations and next steps regarding QR Code implementation. Council also discussed key elements of Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a government service), with an aim to initiate the drafting of the second interim report.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed Council and asked them to reflect on their key advice and recommendations to the Government of Canada on evaluating Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a Government Service), specifically related to OTKs, aggregate metrics, QR Codes, and wearables.

2. Pillar 2: General Updates and New Features / Functionalities

   Officials from HC provided an update to Council Members regarding on-going efforts to engage with provincial and territorial governments at multiple levels on the importance of OTK distribution. An update on the collection of aggregate metrics was provided by representatives from the Canadian Digital Service.

   Council was provided an update on QR code implementation, including on outreach to provincial and territorial governments as well as public health authorities on potential QR code pilots projects.  After a review of QR code materials, a discussion followed that touched on the following issues: clarity of poster language for accessibility purposes; and advice on privacy protocols related to the capture of QR code information. 

3. Pillar 2: Discussion on Draft Framework for Interim Report #2

   Council discussed and shared their views on the framework of the second interim report. Council provided insight into the framework for the second interim report, including: the structure of the report, requesting a focus on efficacy and outcomes; the impacts of QR codes as a potential replacement for manual recordkeeping by Canadian businesses; and ensuring that the next interim report is anchored to the work plan with clear goals and objectives laid out explicitly.

4. Pillar 3: Evaluation of the COVID Alert App

   The third pillar of discussions of the COVID Alert app, which will focus on assessing COVID Alert as a public health tool, kicked off with a presentation by representatives from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on an overview of the evaluation and assessment of the COVID Alert app. PHAC officials outlined the scope of the evaluation which will include evaluating adherence to the privacy principles, the app efficacy, and the governance mechanisms supporting decision-making.
   

5. Conclusion of Meeting HC officials thanked Council for continued engagement and the thoughtful discussion. Officials noted their intention to engage with Council to propose a forward agenda for discussion topics and deliberations to close off the third and final pillar of the work plan of the Council.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: March 12, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The eleventh meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council members with an update on activities related to the optimization of One-Time-Keys (OTK) distribution, as well as complementary work underway at the Industry Roundtable on Testing and Contact Tracing. Council members also discussed potential integration points between COVID Alert and a variety of wearable devices.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed and thanked Council for their ongoing contributions. Officials outlined for Council the actions that the Government of Canada was undertaking in the optimization of OTKs, including proactive engagement with responsible provincial and territorial partners.

2. Pillar 2: General Updates on COVID Alert

   HC provided updates on logistics and communications opportunities for Council regarding the publication of the first interim report. Council was asked to provide input and commentary on topics discussed and those remaining under Pillar 2 – COVID Alert as a Government Service – in advance of closing Pillar 2 discussions and capturing Council’s advice and recommendations in a second interim report. Council members commented on the importance of the rollout of aggregate metrics, and requested regular briefings on insights and observations informed by the metrics during successive Council meetings.

3. Pillar 2: Optimization of One-Time-Keys

   HC provided further insight into engagements with provincial and territorial partners, including an overview of proposals to ensure that all test-positive cases receive an OTK (e.g. SMS notification). Council reiterated the importance of this issue, and expressed a view that insufficient OTK distribution hinders the effectiveness of the app in accomplishing its core function.

4. Pillar 2: Industry Roundtable on Testing and Contact Tracing Report

   HC advised that the Industry Roundtable on Testing and Contact Tracing is expected to publish a report related to the app with recommendations related to QR codes. Date of publication is still to be determined.

5. Pillar 2: New Features and Functionalities

   HC provided Council an update on QR code implementation, including on engagements on pilots, app customization and continued outreach to business and industry associations to ensure this new function will meet their needs. The Council conveyed that the value proposition for COVID Alert to adopt QR code functionality – a privacy-protecting, venue-specific technology that could ease the burden of provincial and territorial contact tracing efforts – is a concrete and persuasive message, and recommended that clear communication lines be developed to this effect.

   A presentation on the potential integration of wearables was provided to Council, including examples of wearables and potential use cases where mobile device usage is known to be prohibited or limited. A discussion followed with Council advising on point to consider including: interoperability of wearables and the COVID Alert app; question regarding the actual addressable market that would be targeted through wearable integration; and privacy-related considerations.

6. Conclusion of Meeting

   HC officials thanked the Council for the discussion and their engagement, and advised Council that a joint evaluation is proceeding with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to examine adherence to the privacy principles of the app, and to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the app and governance structures. Council will be asked to provide insight to inform this evaluation.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: February 22, 2021
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The tenth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council continued discussions on Pillar 2 - COVID Alert as a Government Service.  The meeting focused on One-Time-Key (OTK) distribution, and included a presentation on QR codes as well as an overview of QR code functionality that will enhance COVID Alert's contact tracing capability while maintaining user privacy.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed and thanked Council members. Officials reiterated the importance of aggregate metrics as well as the continued engagement with provincial and territorial governments (PTs) to streamline the distribution and usage of OTKs. Officials noted the recent experience of Newfoundland and Labrador in expanding their communications approach on social media regarding the importance of downloading the app and entering OTKs. This approach yielded positive results during the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

2. Pillar 2: General Updates on COVID Alert

   Officials from HC provided Council with a status update on engagements with PTs on streamlining OTK distribution to users, including:

   • the usage of SMS messages; and,
   • harmonizing scripts for public health workers to provide OTKs to test-positive users during contact tracing interactions.

   Council members discussed issues that could possibly hinder or assist in OTK distribution, notably as new variants and pockets of escalating caseloads are being observed across the country. The Council recommended that the Government of Canada consider viable options to ensure all positive cases are systematically provided with an OTK to enter into the app.

3. Pillar 2: Presentation on New App Functionalities and Features

   HC officials provided the Council with an overview of a workplan on QR Code implementation, and discussed the important complementary role that QR codes can play to assist efforts in contact tracing. Officials also noted international engagements on best practices with countries that have experienced success with QR codes within their respective exposure notification apps. Initial feedback on QR code implementation from Canadian business organizations and industry associations has been favourable.

   Following a presentation on QR codes, the Council discussed the possibility for QR codes to augment or replace manual contact tracing while simultaneously ensuring the app remains voluntary. It was noted that QR Code implementation discussions are continuing across Canada, and a phased approach is expected.

4. Conclusion of Meeting

   HC officials thanked the Council for their continued engagement and insight. The meeting concluded with Council re-iterating their recommendation that the Government of Canada, along with their provincial and territorial partners, urgently explore solutions to ensure OTKs are provided to all positive cases at the time of diagnosis.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: January 21, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. (EST)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The ninth meeting of Canada's COVID Alert App Advisory Council focused on Pillar 2 - COVID Alert as a Government Service. The meeting launched discussions on optimization of one-time key (OTK) distribution and QR codes followed by an update for council members on in-app metrics and additional languages to be added to the app.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed participants and noted that the first interim report by the advisory council will be posted on the council's website in the upcoming weeks. Officials highlighted the importance of the interim report as a tool for communicating the council's advice to the government and for demonstrating transparency to Canadians regarding the council's work on COVID Alert.

2. General updates on COVID Alert

   Canadian Digital Service (CDS) provided an update on recent minor changes within the app such as:

   • new screens and instructions for users who entered a one-time key but have not yet shared their exposures, and
   • the ability to notify people of multiple exposures.
3. New features and functionalities

   One-time keys

   HC gave an overview of current processes for OTK distribution and reminded the council that each province and territory has its own distribution system.  The council was presented with options for optimizing OTK distribution that could be considered for discussion.

   The council discussed additional ways to increase the public's understanding of the importance of requesting an OTK from the public health unit if one is not offered when a positive diagnosis is communicated as well as the importance of entering OTKs into COVID Alert. Council members highlighted the need for provinces and territories to ensure easy and timely access to OTKs for positive cases and the need to prioritize the review of existing processes.  Council members also raise the importance of ongoing communications and marketing, at both the federal and provincial/territorial level, so Canadians use the app to its fullest potential as a means to provide exposure notifications by entering OTKs. Council members will be provided with additional data on OTKs in order to support the council's further advice on the optimization of OTKs.

   QR codes

   HC presented a proposal for using QR codes to enable faster, more efficient location-based services while respecting the privacy of users. HC shared information on discussions with the United Kingdom and New Zealand, both of which have implemented QR codes to support safe reopening of their respective economies. The council discussed how this new feature would be more effective at safeguarding the privacy of Canadians than the current practice of businesses using physical media to record the names and phone numbers of their patrons. Using QR codes would also enhance the efficacy of contact tracing procedures within public health units.

   In-app metrics and additional languages

   HC quickly provided an update on in-app metrics to be collected by COVID Alert and on additional languages that will be added to the app to increase accessibility.

4. Closing remarks

   HC officials closed the meeting by thanking the advisory council for its feedback and committing to provide council members with additional information on OTK distribution processes as well as QR code functionality as it continues to be further developed.  

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: January 13, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The eighth meeting of Canada's COVID Alert App Advisory Council focused on integrating feedback and obtaining approval from council members on the draft interim report on Pillar 1 of the advisory council's work plan: Social and Economic Determinants of App Adoption, Retention and Use.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed council members and thanked them for reviewing the first draft of the interim report and providing comments and feedback.

   Interim report – Social and Economic Determinants of App Adoption, Retention and Use

   The co-chairs provided an overview of the council's feedback on the report and sought consensus toward its finalization. Council members were invited to share their views.

   Council members noted that they were pleased with the work that had gone into the report but asked for some additional time to review the latest changes. As a result, the interim report is expected to be finalized once this final review is complete.

   Additional discussion points included the insertion of additional language to clarify the role and scope of the council's advice, a request to investigate benchmarking COVID Alert download metrics relative to COVID-19 cases within an on-boarded province or territory, and a request for clarification on the usability of the app for specific phone manufacturers and their related third-party app stores.

2. Pillar 2 (COVID Alert as a Government Service) – Update on additional in-app metrics to better assess effectiveness of the app

   HC representatives presented the council with a draft communications rollout plan regarding a future update of the COVID Alert app, which will enhance the Government of Canada's ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the app by collecting additional in-app metrics. HC restated that these additional metrics would not affect the privacy of users or collect any personally identifiable information and that the collection of these metrics would be at an aggregated level. Accordingly, HC officials noted proactive engagement with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, which raised no privacy-related concerns with the proposed metrics or their handling and use.

   Representatives from HC also provided an overview of the key messages and the approach to communicating the changes. This includes social media messaging, announcement details, integration with the upcoming COVID Alert Theme Day, and an overview of engagements with various federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners.

   HC representatives expressed to council the importance of communicating effectively to Canadians any changes to the metrics being collected in support of the COVID Alert app, considering the importance of reassuring Canadians that their privacy is protected.

   Overall, council members again agreed on the principle of collecting additional metrics to permit the Government of Canada to better evaluate the app's effectiveness.

   Several council members raised the importance of engaging focus groups on the messaging related to in-app metric collection and, in particular, engaging with communities that may want to better understand the objectives of data collection efforts.

3. Conclusion of Meeting

   HC officials thanked council members for providing their thoughtful insight and expert advice, and they committed to finalizing the interim report based on final feedback received by the council. The council was invited to submit final comments and approval by mid-January for publication of the interim report in late January.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: December 18, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The seventh meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council focused on receiving feedback from Council Members on the Draft Interim Report on Pillar 1 of the Advisory Council's work plan: Social and Economic Determinants of App Adoption, Retention and Use.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed Council members and thanked them for their engagement and expert advice in informing the Government of Canada's efforts to promote the COVID Alert app.

2. Interim Report – Social and Economic Determinants of App Adoption, Retention and Use

   One co-chair provided an overview of the report, speaking to the content of each section, and provided remarks and insight regarding the structure, narrative, and Council's advice. Council members were invited to share their views and initial reactions.

   Council members provided initial feedback to the Report, including: editorial changes, language and clarification of terminology inclusion of a foreword by co-chairs; and additional context and positioning regarding certain sections of the Report, including app downloads and One-Time Key (OTK) usage.

3. Theme Day

   Council members were provided with a brief description of the national COVID Alert "Theme Day" media and communications event currently planned for early 2021.

4. Conclusion of Meeting

   HC officials thanked Council members for providing their thoughtful insight and expert advice, and committed to revising the interim report based on feedback received during the meeting. Council members were invited to submit additional feedback over the next week. A revised Interim Report will be circulated to Council members for final approval by mid-January.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: December 10, 2020
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The sixth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided Council members with an update on metrics and data related to the efficacy of the COVID Alert app. A discussion followed on considerations and options regarding collecting additional metrics.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Health Canada (HC) opened the meeting by welcoming Council Members and thanking them for their participation in this intersessional Council Meeting.

2. Metrics and Approach

   A representative from HC provided insight on additional metrics that the Government of Canada is examining in addition to currently collected information on the total number of downloads and total number of one-time keys (OTKs). The additional metrics being considered would enable the Government of Canada to better monitor the effectiveness of the app and encourage uptake, and in particular be able to assess the number of notifications sent following the entry of OTKs.

   HC representatives explained that additional metrics would not affect the privacy of users or collect any personally identifiable information, and that collection of these metrics would be at an aggregated level. HC officials emphasized the importance of communicating effectively to Canadians any future changes to the metrics being collected in support of the  COVID Alert app, as there remains a risk of negative impact and perception from Canadians concerning the protection of their privacy. Officials further noted that there has been proactive engagement with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner on these additional metrics.

3. New Functionalities and Features

   Following the presentation, Council members were invited to discuss and provide comments and feedback. Overall, Council members were supportive of collecting metrics that will enable the Government of Canada to better assess the app's effectiveness, noting the importance of a communications strategy to communicate any changes to the collection of metrics of the COVID Alert app in a clear, concise, and easy to understand manner that will maintain trust and assure Canadians regarding their privacy protections.

   Council members observed that increased data collection might discourage uptake by Canadians who are already concerned over issues of surveillance. Some Council members recommended that the Government of Canada carefully consider the perceived impact to user privacy against the associated benefits of collecting additional metrics.

4. Closing remarks

   Senior Government officials thanked the Council for their feedback and active engagement, and welcomed further input as they continue to be engaged on this topic. Council members were reminded that their next meeting would focus on discussing the Council's first interim report.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: December 2, 2020
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The fifth meeting of the COVID Alert Advisory Council provided an update on follow-up actions discussed at the November 13 meeting in order to close the discussion on "Social and Economic Determinants of app adoption, retention and use". The meeting also launched the discussion of "COVID Alert as a Government Service", including a discussion of new app functionalities and features as well as the optimization of one-time key (OTK) distribution.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed and thanked members. Officials reiterated the importance of the COVID Alert app and the ongoing work and advice of the Advisory Council as Canada moves towards the deployment of the vaccine and the eventual recovery of social and economic activities.

2. Conclusion of Discussion: Social/Economic determinants of app adoption, retention, and use

   A representative from HC provided an update on follow-up actions discussed at the November 13 meeting, including: baseline and incremental rates of adoption; worker concerns and related policies; Indigenous Peoples and communities; and racialized communities.

   A Co-Chair advised Council members to deliberate on how the COVID Alert app could be optimized and promoted as a tool to support Canada as we transition to the deployment of vaccines.

3. New Functionalities and Features

   A representative from the Canadian Digital Service (CDS) provided details on two new app features for planned integration over the coming weeks: the ability to turn the app on and off for workers in high-risk situations who wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment; and the ability to clear the exposed state notification following a negative test result in order to be able to get new exposed notifications.

   A HC representative further noted ongoing engagement with CDS to consider various measures that could be considered to increase the accessibility of the app and expand its scope.

   The two measures discussed included: exploring languages, in addition to English and French, that could be added to the App; and the potential use of Quick Response (QR) codes to generate a user-controlled and managed digital log of user location history -- contained exclusively on a user's device --  to: 1) notify a user of a possible exposure from a public health unit-identified cluster outbreak, and 2) serve as a memory aid in any contact tracing discussions with a public health official following a user's positive Covid diagnosis.

4. Optimization of the Distribution of One-Time Keys (OTKs)

   A HC representative provided an overview of ongoing discussions with on-boarded provincial jurisdictions to map out their processes and best practices regarding the distribution of OTKs. Secretariat officials asked Council Members to reflect on broader actions that could facilitate easier or streamlined methods of obtaining OTKs.

   A discussion followed regarding OTK issuance. Discussion points included: sending SMS messages to users who test positive with a link that enables them to generate a OTK and related privacy considerations; jurisdictional considerations on health data; OTK issuance that reduces pressure on the public health system; and Google/Apple Exposure Notification framework requirements for checks and balances related to OTK issuance.

5. Closing remarks

   HC and ISED officials summarized the key discussion points and noted the intention to circulate a draft interim report on amongst Council members for review and input.

Meeting of Canada's COVID Alert App Advisory Council

Date: November 13, 2020
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The fourth meeting of Canada's COVID Alert App Advisory Council focused on identifying strategies to reduce barriers to the adoption, retention and proper use of COVID Alert, recognizing that some Canadians remain unaware of the app and its benefits.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada (HC) welcomed the participants and provided a recap of recent considerations related to the app, including accessibility, acceptability, measurement data, and emerging technologies that could be compatible with COVID Alert or represent additional options in the longer term.

2. Setting the stage for discussion

   HC offered an overview of its next phase of marketing and outreach activities, including targeting young demographics via social media apps and appealing to notable Canadians, celebrities, influencers, and organizations and businesses that could act as ambassadors for the app. HC added that, in support of these efforts, it has established a working group of behavioural scientists and other collaborators to build a better understanding of why some people are not downloading the app and to determine how best to promote its benefits and the use of one-time keys (OTKs) upon receipt of a positive test result.

3. Identification of strategies to reduce barriers to adoption, retention and proper use

   Council members discussed strategies to build on HC's marketing and outreach activities, such as identifying additional community leaders and influencers, for example, within Indigenous communities; targeting demographic groups that may not be downloading the app; increasing the visibility of federal, provincial and territorial policies in place to support Canadians who receive an exposure notification and are encouraged to get tested and self-isolate; discussing value-added information for app users who register a positive test result; developing focused strategies for Indigenous, low-income or racialized communities, as well as communities with clusters of positive cases; and emphasizing the importance of public messaging on the role that COVID Alert plays, in tandem with other tools, in helping fight COVID-19.

   In addition, council members discussed approaches that could be considered to more effectively measure and demonstrate the impact of the app on public health, which will be the focus of more in-depth discussions at future meetings.

4. Closing remarks

   HC and ISED summarized the key discussion points and the steps required to support the Council's next meeting. The members were invited to prepare for future discussions, which will focus on COVID Alert as a government service to Canadians. On this topic, thought will be given to how the app could be continuously optimized and could be adapted for future purposes, including, for example, to support the gradual resumption of social and economic activities as vaccines are made available across Canada.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: October 30, 2020
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The third meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert was a focused discussion on strategies to increase the accessibility of the COVID Alert app to vulnerable populations across Canada.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks

   Senior officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Health Canada welcomed and thanked members, and indicated their keen interest and support in Council's engagement on the first pillar of the work plan that focuses on the social and economic barriers to COVID Alert adoption, retention, and usage.

   A representative from ISED provided an overview of recent developments and presented the critical path forward for the Advisory Council to address the core pillars of the work plan over the next series of meetings.

2. Setting the Stage for Discussion

   A representative from the Canadian Digital Service (CDS) provided an overview of the technical features and/or updates confirmed, planned or being assessed for the COVID Alert app.

   Council members expressed support for the recent release of the updated notification exposure window, and recommended that CDS consider a broad range of implications when implementing or considering new features.

3. Identification of Strategies to Increase Accessibility for Specific Populations

   A detailed overview of the work plan and discussion paper was provided. The discussion paper was focused on the first topic within the first pillar of the work plan, and addressed the accessibility of the COVID Alert app for specific populations. The co-chair thanked Council members for their input into the work plan, and recognized the need to continually engage all Council members across all three pillars to ensure that the app meets the highest standards within the realms of public health, technology, privacy and security.

   A discussion followed that considered various options, strategies and models to increase the awareness of the COVID Alert and address issues of accessibility, including: engagement of communities through community development initiatives; targeting engagement on a priority basis to communities where outbreaks are prevalent; segmentation of vulnerable populations into targeted subgroups, and strategies for engaging each subgroup; and various public health measures and tools that could be leveraged in support of the COVID Alert app.

4. Closing remarks

   Summary of the key discussion points as a basis for further discussion at Council's next meeting, which will focus on app adoption, retention and use.

Meeting of Canada's COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council

Date: September 22, 2020
Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The second meeting of Canada's COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council briefly touched on advancements in, and uptake of, the app since its launch, followed by a focused discussion on the specific framework that the council will adopt to guide meaningful and effective advice to support the continued development and implementation of COVID Alert.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks

   Representatives from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Health Canada welcomed council members and thanked them for their participation in the technical briefings on four key elements: digital, privacy, security, and public health and measurement.

2. Looking back: Results achieved to date

   Representatives from the Canadian Digital Service and Health Canada provided updates on the onboarding of provinces and territories, marketing strategies, active engagements, user uptake, and the development of potential new features. Members of the advisory council highlighted the importance of outreach and engagement with younger demographics.

3. Looking forward: Focus and role of the council

   Health Canada representatives presented a proposed framework and work plan that aimed to guide the advice and work objectives for the council. This was followed by a discussion led by the co-chairs. Members of the advisory council discussed the work plan and provided recommendations. Other topics raised included measuring the impact of the app on public health workload systems and dealing with barriers to user adoption.

4. Closing remarks

   Discussion on the advisory council's critical path.

Meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert

Date: August 5, 2020
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Videoconference

Summary

The first meeting of Canada's Advisory Council on COVID Alert centred on a review of the council's Terms of Reference, introductory member remarks, an overview of the application and an initial discussion on how to encourage uptake.

Agenda

1. Opening remarks and council function

   Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister of Health, welcomed members and noted that the function of the advisory council is to ensure that the COVID Alert app meets the highest standards in terms of public health outcomes, technology and privacy.

2. Co-chair and member introductions

   Co-chairs Jean-François Gagné, Founder of ElementAI, and Carole Piovesan, Co-Founder of INQ Data Law, provided initial remarks. Council members then introduced themselves and highlighted the perspectives they bring to the table.

3. Overview of app

   Government of Canada officials from the Canadian Digital Service and Health Canada provided an overview of the app, including technical specifications and the user interface.

4. Delivering a world-class service to Canadians

   The council raised initial considerations on how to ensure the COVID Alert app meets the highest standards for Canadians, including a positive user experience from end to end, to help drive adoption rates in support of the ongoing reopening of the economy and broader society.

5. Closing remarks

   Discussion on next steps and organizational work of the advisory council.