It害羞草研究所檚 time for Canadians to find out how well the federal government handled COVID-19 with a public inquiry into Canada害羞草研究所檚 pandemic response, says the NDP.

With the final federal public-health restrictions having been lifted in September, NDP health critic Don Davies said it害羞草研究所檚 about time for the government to look back at whether appropriate actions were taken to manage the crisis.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 time to have a proper, comprehensive, full examination of the federal preparedness and response. And the only way to do that is by calling an official inquiry,害羞草研究所� he said in an interview.

Davies said it was clear at the onset of the pandemic that Canada was not well-equipped to handle the strain caused by COVID-19. He said a public inquiry can answer questions about everything from the early detection of the virus to personal protective equipment shortages and domestic vaccine production capabilities.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 to hold those who made decisions accountable, to learn from this unprecedented experience and to be better prepared for the future,害羞草研究所� he said.

The first cases of COVID-19 were detected in Canada at the end of January 2020 and the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic two months later in March.

Since then, public health restrictions have ebbed and flowed with pandemic waves, and have included vaccine mandates for public servants, workers in federally regulated industries and travellers, border closures and mandatory COVID-19 tests for travellers.

The government also offered financial support to people who could not work or lost their jobs during the pandemic, and to businesses that suffered financial losses when people were told to stay at home to prevent the spread of infection.

The NDP wants to see a review that is broad in scope, conducted in public and at arm害羞草研究所檚-length from government.

In a news conference on Monday, Davies said everyone who had a role in decision-making should be heard from.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no Canadian that is exempt from being answerable to the Canadian public,害羞草研究所� he said.

NDP and Conservative MPs recently asked the country害羞草研究所檚 chief public health officer about a possible review of the government害羞草研究所檚 handling of the pandemic, at a meeting of the House of Commons health committee.

Dr. Theresa Tam told them the decision is not up to her, but said it is important to learn from the biggest pandemic of the current era.

害羞草研究所淚t is very important to take note of lessons learned and be as objective as we can,害羞草研究所� Tam told the health committee on Oct. 18.

害羞草研究所淭he inputs from a variety of experts on what went well, as well as what could be improved, are important to set us up well for our response going into the future, given that pandemics will occur again.害羞草研究所�

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has also spoken about the importance of a review, but has not said when it would happen, or whether it would be independent from government. His office did not immediately provide a response to the NDP害羞草研究所檚 proposal Monday.

Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning announced plans on Nov. 4 for what he called a 害羞草研究所渘ational citizen害羞草研究所檚 inquiry害羞草研究所� into the pandemic response of provincial, federal and municipal governments on behalf of a not-for-profit organization called Citizen害羞草研究所檚 Inquiry Canada.

The organization has been established to receive and disburse donations to finance the inquiry.

害羞草研究所淭he magnitude of these interventions demands a comprehensive, transparent and objective inquiry into the appropriateness and efficacy of the measures imposed,害羞草研究所� Manning was quoted as saying in a press release.

Manning has said that inquiry would begin next year, with public hearings held in cities across the country.

Davies panned that proposal, saying in a written statement that the Tories 害羞草研究所渨ant to play political games with a partisan pandemic panel led by Preston Manning,害羞草研究所� and accusing the Liberals of trying to give the 害羞草研究所渋llusion of oversight and accountability害羞草研究所� with internal reviews.

Laura Osman and Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press

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