Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has defended Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the country having a higher death rate compared to other industrialized nations. In a press conference, Freeland acknowledged that there were lessons to be learned but emphasized that Canada had performed well overall. She credited the success to the “Team Canada approach” which involved collaboration and cooperation between various stakeholders.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine’s Coronavirus Resource Centre, Canada had a pandemic death rate of 135.2 cases per 100,000 population, surpassing countries like New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Norway. While the numbers indicate that Canada’s response was not as effective in preventing deaths as these other nations, Freeland remained optimistic and highlighted the tragedy of every COVID-19 death.
The federal government introduced a new bill, Bill C-293, titled “An Act Respecting Pandemic Prevention,” which received a second reading in the House of Commons on February 8. MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who sponsored the bill, promised to establish an advisory committee to review the federal pandemic management. However, the proposal was stalled by the Commons health committee on April 20 after Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed dissatisfaction with an internal review instead of a public inquiry.
New Democrat MP Don Davies criticized the proposed internal review, stating that it lacked independence and transparency. Many MPs believed that a public inquiry was necessary to thoroughly examine the government’s pandemic response and identify areas for improvement.
Despite the claims by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada was well-prepared for emergencies, multiple disclosures revealed that federal agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Public Health Agency of Canada, struggled to maintain an adequate supply of medical equipment, particularly personal protective equipment (PPE). An internal staff email from the PMO on March 30, 2020, highlighted the shortage of PPE and the need to make difficult choices regarding its distribution.
An internal audit conducted in 2021 further criticized the Public Health Agency of Canada for its handling of the pandemic. The audit identified confusion within the agency and a lack of necessary expertise to effectively respond to the crisis. The agency had gone through four presidents in just 28 months, and there was a lack of clear understanding when it came to compiling critical data.
These revelations have raised concerns about the government’s preparedness and response to the pandemic. Despite Canada’s higher death rate, officials continue to defend the country’s overall performance and emphasize the collaborative approach taken throughout the crisis. However, calls for a public inquiry persist as MPs and the public seek a comprehensive and transparent assessment of the government’s actions and decisions during this challenging time.
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