The Department of Health has released only one of more than 20 internal audits and reports that revealed “critical weaknesses” in its pandemic management, according to a memo obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.
“The pandemic revealed critical weaknesses and gaps in Canada’s emergency preparedness and management posture,” the Nov. 1 memo said. “A preliminary analysis of key reports and studies identified key themes which point to areas of improvement.”
The memo, dubbed “Ministerial Briefing Volume 1,” said more than 21 “relevant internal Public Health Agency audits, evaluations and reports” had been completed. Only one has been released thus far.
The internal audit, which was presented to the Commons health committee in September of 2020, said the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) lacked “the needed breadth and expertise to lead complex files.”
Tina Namiesniowski, president of the agency at the time, resigned 12 days before the “Lessons Learned From The Public Health Agency Of Canada’s Covid-19 Response” audit was completed.
The authors of the report said Namiesniowski lacked the “timely key information she needed to oversee and administer agency activities and responses,” according to Blacklock’s. They also said she lacked “clear prioritization” as well as “a clear understanding of who is leading which file.”
The report said there was “confusion” at PHAC as well as “limited public health expertise” and “no clear understanding” of how to properly compile data.
The report described it as “critical“ that ”key players involved in the COVID-19 response rely on data to inform their decisions.”
The Auditor General said in a March 2021 report that PHAC “underestimated the potential impact of the virus” and continually played down the risk.
Records revealed the PHAC sent millions of masks, medical gowns, and other supplies intended for safekeeping to the landfill prior to the pandemic. The report said the PHAC also misled cabinet on its ability to handle emergencies.
Despite reports detailing a variety of issues and mistakes in the handling of the pandemic, Liberal MPs on the House of Commons Health Committee have rejected the idea of a public inquiry.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith proposed an amendment to Bill C-293 that would see cabinet “establish an advisory committee” to conduct a two-year review of COVID-19 pandemic management.
On Oct. 23, Liberal MPs on the health committee rejected the amendment five votes to two, with Conservative MPs abstaining, saying the bill was flawed.
Cabinet has instead opted to have a closed-door review, performed by advisers to Health Minister Mark Holland.
