Cabinet is finalizing terms of its own internal pandemic management review, said Sen. Marc Gold (QC)..Opposition MPs have sought a judicial inquiry including investigations of COVID contracting, according to Blacklock's Reporter..“I am advised some of this work is in fact already underway through internal reviews by the Public Health Agency,” Gold told the Senate during Question Period..“More can be done and that is why I am advised the government will in fact have a COVID-19 response review in a format yet to be determined that will be announced when the details are finalized." .“Does the government intend to establish a commission of inquiry into the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic?” said Senator Marty Deacon (ON)..“The government knows it is very important for us to take stock of the lessons that we learned,” said Gold..Conservative MPs proposed a public judicial inquiry into pandemic management in 2021..“Companies with Liberal-friendly lobbyists or close connections to the prime minister or his inner circle received preferential treatment in the awarding of contracts,” said former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole. .O’Toole described pandemic management as “slow and confused,” faulted the Public Health Agency of Canada for mishandling a national stockpile of medical supplies, said Health Canada was “late at the border, late on securing rapid tests, late now on vaccines,” and questioned contracts approved without competitive bidding..“When the pandemic is over, we need answers,” said O’Toole..“We need to know what worked and what didn’t." .Internal federal polling concluded Canadians grew weary of federal pandemic management..“Several felt the federal approach at present lacked direction,” said a Privy Council report. .Researchers conducting focus groups nationwide identified a “large number who believed the Government of Canada’s management of the virus had worsened as the pandemic went on." .Researchers said the public soured on once-popular COVID programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit that offered $2,000 monthly cheques to jobless tax filers. Many Canadians were disappointed with “perceived inefficient management” of the program, said the report..“Several expressed frustration at what they felt to be lack of oversight related to the distribution of financial supports throughout the pandemic, believing ineligible individuals had been able to receive financial assistance,” said the report. .“Some also were of the view that benefits such as the CERB had contributed to what they believed to be a labour shortage in many Canadian communities, stating many of those who had accessed the CERB and other financial supports no longer desired to return to work.”
Cabinet is finalizing terms of its own internal pandemic management review, said Sen. Marc Gold (QC)..Opposition MPs have sought a judicial inquiry including investigations of COVID contracting, according to Blacklock's Reporter..“I am advised some of this work is in fact already underway through internal reviews by the Public Health Agency,” Gold told the Senate during Question Period..“More can be done and that is why I am advised the government will in fact have a COVID-19 response review in a format yet to be determined that will be announced when the details are finalized." .“Does the government intend to establish a commission of inquiry into the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic?” said Senator Marty Deacon (ON)..“The government knows it is very important for us to take stock of the lessons that we learned,” said Gold..Conservative MPs proposed a public judicial inquiry into pandemic management in 2021..“Companies with Liberal-friendly lobbyists or close connections to the prime minister or his inner circle received preferential treatment in the awarding of contracts,” said former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole. .O’Toole described pandemic management as “slow and confused,” faulted the Public Health Agency of Canada for mishandling a national stockpile of medical supplies, said Health Canada was “late at the border, late on securing rapid tests, late now on vaccines,” and questioned contracts approved without competitive bidding..“When the pandemic is over, we need answers,” said O’Toole..“We need to know what worked and what didn’t." .Internal federal polling concluded Canadians grew weary of federal pandemic management..“Several felt the federal approach at present lacked direction,” said a Privy Council report. .Researchers conducting focus groups nationwide identified a “large number who believed the Government of Canada’s management of the virus had worsened as the pandemic went on." .Researchers said the public soured on once-popular COVID programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit that offered $2,000 monthly cheques to jobless tax filers. Many Canadians were disappointed with “perceived inefficient management” of the program, said the report..“Several expressed frustration at what they felt to be lack of oversight related to the distribution of financial supports throughout the pandemic, believing ineligible individuals had been able to receive financial assistance,” said the report. .“Some also were of the view that benefits such as the CERB had contributed to what they believed to be a labour shortage in many Canadian communities, stating many of those who had accessed the CERB and other financial supports no longer desired to return to work.”