Liberal MP Calls for ‘Comprehensive Review’ of His Government’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith looks on during a news conference in Toronto on July 22, 2016. Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press

A Liberal MP wants a “comprehensive review” of his government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as more “accountability and transparency” are needed to answer to Canadians when it comes to implementing measures that affect the whole country.

“We need a greater level of accountability and transparency. And so in this case, we need the health minister ideally to identify the key drivers of pandemic risks, describe how Canadian activities contribute to that risk, and then put in place measures to mitigate that risk,” said Nathaniel Erskine-Smith in an interview with the National Post, reported on Oct. 7.

Erskine-Smith said he doesn’t have any specific failure in mind that he wants the review to focus on, but would rather leave it to experts with the right experience and knowledge to judge the government’s response.

“In a perfect world, we’d be striking a committee of people who are much smarter than me and with relevant expertise to answer that very question,” he said.

Former Health Minister Patty Hajdu suggested last April that a “full investigation” into Canada’s response will be required at the “appropriate time.” To date, the Liberal cabinet has yet to launch a task force with specific timelines and plans on how the issue will be discussed.

In an email to The Epoch Times, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos’ office said reviews are already underway through the auditor general and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

“The Government of Canada has committed to a COVID-19 response review, and more information will be communicated in due time,” spokesperson Anna Maddison said.

‘Learning the Lessons’

Erskine-Smith said in the interview that the federal government should take the opportunity to learn from COVID so that the country is better prepared for future pandemics.

“Learning the lessons to inform those best efforts going forward is, I think, where the greatest value is,” he said.

In June, the Liberal MP put forward a private member’s bill calling for a “comprehensive review” of the federal response to the pandemic.

Specifically, the bill requires Duclos to set up an advisory committee to review the pandemic response “in order to reduce the risks associated with future pandemics and inform a pandemic prevention and preparedness plan.” It also requires the health minister to consult other ministers in creating the new plan.

“Finally, it amends the Department of Health Act to provide that the Minister of Health must appoint a national pandemic prevention and preparedness coordinator from among the officials of the Public Health Agency of Canada to coordinate the activities under the Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act,” the bill said.

The bill completed its first reading on June 17, with a second reading pending. According to the Parliament of Canada’s website, the bill has been placed in the Order of Precedence since June 20.

“There is a worry that we don’t learn the appropriate lessons, and one of those lessons has to be that we have stronger public accountability for all future governments, whatever political stripe,” Erskine-Smith said.

‘I’m Skeptical’

This isn’t the first time the Liberal backbencher voiced his opinion about his party’s approach in handling the pandemic.

In a speech on Feb. 21, Erskine-Smith said he had concerns about the invocation of the Emergencies Act by his government and the extension of its measures for 30 days.

“I’m skeptical that the strict legal test was met for the Act’s invocation, and I’m not convinced that the emergency measures should continue to exist beyond today,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, using it as a means to quash the protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by truckers and their supporters in Ottawa and across the country.

In May, Erskine-Smith criticized his party’s travel restrictions, saying the vaccine mandates were “no longer justified.”

On Sept. 26, the government announced it was ending federal COVID-19 entry rules, and the use of ArriveCan became optional on Oct. 1. The decision was made based on the “latest evidence, available data, operational considerations, and the epidemiological situation, both in Canada and internationally,” a government news release said.

Editor’s note: This article was updated to add comments from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.