We don't live in a police state.
c'mon bro! The app is evolving:
While ArriveCan was created for COVID-19, it has technological capacity beyond that to really shrink the amount of time that is required when you're getting screened at the border.
for example, {optionally, today}, at select air border crossings (Toronto's Pearson airport, Vancouver and Montreal), one can use the app to fill out a customs declaration form before arrival.