The New Democrats are calling for an independent public inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 preparedness and response under the federal Inquiries Act..“Throughout the pandemic, New Democrats identified the eventual need for a fully independent, comprehensive and penetrating review of Canada’s COVID-19 preparedness and response,” said NDP Health Critic Don Davies. .“With the emergency pandemic conditions behind us, now is the time to act to ensure transparency and accountability from government and to make sure lessons are learned for any future pandemics.”.The MP for Vancouver Kingsway, BC said from the onset of the pandemic, Canada was not well-equipped to handle the strain it caused. A public inquiry could answer questions about various aspects of the country's COVID-19 response, including issues around protective equipment shortages and securing vaccines..Davies added it was "unacceptable" that the Liberal cabinet has repeatedly deferred questions about conducting a COVID-19 inquiry. “We can’t put politics above public health. Instead of papering over the federal government’s inadequacies and failures, we must leave no stone unturned to learn from past mistakes and prepare for future threats.”.Many prominent public health and security experts have been calling for the federal government to launch an independent inquiry into its pandemic response, including Dr. David Naylor, former chair of the federal review of the 2003 SARS epidemic..Under the Inquiries Act, cabinet can establish Commissions of Inquiry to impartially investigate issues of national importance and provide findings and recommendations. These commissions can subpoena witnesses, take evidence under oath, order the production of documents, and retain the services of technical advisors and experts. .Davies is not the only one seeking an inquiry into Canada's pandemic response. On Nov. 3, former Conservative MP Preston Manning announced there would be a National Citizen's Inquiry (NCI) into Canada's response to COVID-19..The public-led inquiry will examine how all levels of governments' pandemic measures harmed Canadians in four categories: health, fundamental rights and freedoms, social well-being and economic prosperity..READ MORE: Vaccine-injured to testify at citizen's inquiry into 'unprecedented' government response to COVID.Manning cited concerns with only having a government-lead inquiry, claiming that the federal government would be investigating itself for wrongdoing.."If the Liberal government took the initiative, the public would say 'this is a whitewash.' But if the opposition gets too militant on it, people would say 'this is a witch hunt.' So it's best to keep the parties not directly involved," Manning said.The Liberals, according to Davies, only seek to produce the "illusion" of oversight and accountability for their COVID-19 response, by conducting "inadequate" internal reviews. But Davies also slammed Manning for his proposed inquiry, claiming the Conservatives want to "play political games with a partisan pandemic panel led by Preston Manning.""New Democrats want a full, fair and public COVID-19 inquiry led by independent experts," Davies said. "Canadians deserve no less.”
The New Democrats are calling for an independent public inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 preparedness and response under the federal Inquiries Act..“Throughout the pandemic, New Democrats identified the eventual need for a fully independent, comprehensive and penetrating review of Canada’s COVID-19 preparedness and response,” said NDP Health Critic Don Davies. .“With the emergency pandemic conditions behind us, now is the time to act to ensure transparency and accountability from government and to make sure lessons are learned for any future pandemics.”.The MP for Vancouver Kingsway, BC said from the onset of the pandemic, Canada was not well-equipped to handle the strain it caused. A public inquiry could answer questions about various aspects of the country's COVID-19 response, including issues around protective equipment shortages and securing vaccines..Davies added it was "unacceptable" that the Liberal cabinet has repeatedly deferred questions about conducting a COVID-19 inquiry. “We can’t put politics above public health. Instead of papering over the federal government’s inadequacies and failures, we must leave no stone unturned to learn from past mistakes and prepare for future threats.”.Many prominent public health and security experts have been calling for the federal government to launch an independent inquiry into its pandemic response, including Dr. David Naylor, former chair of the federal review of the 2003 SARS epidemic..Under the Inquiries Act, cabinet can establish Commissions of Inquiry to impartially investigate issues of national importance and provide findings and recommendations. These commissions can subpoena witnesses, take evidence under oath, order the production of documents, and retain the services of technical advisors and experts. .Davies is not the only one seeking an inquiry into Canada's pandemic response. On Nov. 3, former Conservative MP Preston Manning announced there would be a National Citizen's Inquiry (NCI) into Canada's response to COVID-19..The public-led inquiry will examine how all levels of governments' pandemic measures harmed Canadians in four categories: health, fundamental rights and freedoms, social well-being and economic prosperity..READ MORE: Vaccine-injured to testify at citizen's inquiry into 'unprecedented' government response to COVID.Manning cited concerns with only having a government-lead inquiry, claiming that the federal government would be investigating itself for wrongdoing.."If the Liberal government took the initiative, the public would say 'this is a whitewash.' But if the opposition gets too militant on it, people would say 'this is a witch hunt.' So it's best to keep the parties not directly involved," Manning said.The Liberals, according to Davies, only seek to produce the "illusion" of oversight and accountability for their COVID-19 response, by conducting "inadequate" internal reviews. But Davies also slammed Manning for his proposed inquiry, claiming the Conservatives want to "play political games with a partisan pandemic panel led by Preston Manning.""New Democrats want a full, fair and public COVID-19 inquiry led by independent experts," Davies said. "Canadians deserve no less.”
