A Liberal Senator said the Public Health Agency twice told him they could handle the COVID-19 pandemic despite the fact they “lacked everything,” says Blacklock’s Reporter..“I was told twice, not just once but twice, you had enough resources on hand to deal with the pandemic,” said Senator Éric Forest (Que.), told the Senate national finance committee..“The Agency lacked everything. There was mention of a lack of capacity and many shortcomings, lack of expertise, lack of management experience.”.Forest cited a confidential audit published by Blacklock’s January 22 that pointed to disarray and mismanagement at the $675 million Public Health Agency..“Some of these ongoing challenges included confusion,” said the audit..“We learned the Public Health Agency had limited expertise with regard to having enough epidemiologists and other experts at the upper levels of the Agency,” said Forest..“I know this pandemic is unprecedented, but I can’t help but note there was a huge gap between the perception the government had at the time on its state of preparedness and the reality as depicted in the audit.”.The Agency in an internal memo to cabinet boasted it was so prepared for a national emergency that all rush orders for medical supplies could be filled in a day..The memo was dated September 16, 2019, three months before the coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China..“The target timetable to deploy assets is within 24 hours,” said the memo .It was only after a pandemic was announced last March 11 did the Agency admit it had “only relatively small amounts of personal protective equipment.”.Auditors cited lack of “required skills and expertise,” “limited public health expertise including epidemiologists” and “no clear understanding” of how to compile data..“Data are critical as key players involved in the COVID-19 response rely on data to inform their decisions,” said the report..“While skills exist within the Agency in a variety of areas, the capacity required to address the vast number and range of Covid-19 activities far exceeds the current capacity of the Agency.”.The president of the Agency, Tina Namiesniowski, abruptly resigned last September 18 after receiving a copy of the then-secret audit..“I need to take a break,” Namiesniowski emailed staff..Namiesniowski was appointed a $273,700-a year senior advisor to the Privy Council two days later. Cabinet on February 26 again reassigned Namiesniowski to a new job as senior assistant deputy minister of employment at her current salary..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
A Liberal Senator said the Public Health Agency twice told him they could handle the COVID-19 pandemic despite the fact they “lacked everything,” says Blacklock’s Reporter..“I was told twice, not just once but twice, you had enough resources on hand to deal with the pandemic,” said Senator Éric Forest (Que.), told the Senate national finance committee..“The Agency lacked everything. There was mention of a lack of capacity and many shortcomings, lack of expertise, lack of management experience.”.Forest cited a confidential audit published by Blacklock’s January 22 that pointed to disarray and mismanagement at the $675 million Public Health Agency..“Some of these ongoing challenges included confusion,” said the audit..“We learned the Public Health Agency had limited expertise with regard to having enough epidemiologists and other experts at the upper levels of the Agency,” said Forest..“I know this pandemic is unprecedented, but I can’t help but note there was a huge gap between the perception the government had at the time on its state of preparedness and the reality as depicted in the audit.”.The Agency in an internal memo to cabinet boasted it was so prepared for a national emergency that all rush orders for medical supplies could be filled in a day..The memo was dated September 16, 2019, three months before the coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China..“The target timetable to deploy assets is within 24 hours,” said the memo .It was only after a pandemic was announced last March 11 did the Agency admit it had “only relatively small amounts of personal protective equipment.”.Auditors cited lack of “required skills and expertise,” “limited public health expertise including epidemiologists” and “no clear understanding” of how to compile data..“Data are critical as key players involved in the COVID-19 response rely on data to inform their decisions,” said the report..“While skills exist within the Agency in a variety of areas, the capacity required to address the vast number and range of Covid-19 activities far exceeds the current capacity of the Agency.”.The president of the Agency, Tina Namiesniowski, abruptly resigned last September 18 after receiving a copy of the then-secret audit..“I need to take a break,” Namiesniowski emailed staff..Namiesniowski was appointed a $273,700-a year senior advisor to the Privy Council two days later. Cabinet on February 26 again reassigned Namiesniowski to a new job as senior assistant deputy minister of employment at her current salary..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
