NDP calls for inquiry into Alberta pandemic response

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — Amid some concerns about the delayed release of a report examining the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, the official opposition said a thorough examination is needed.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro said on Tuesday that the report would be made public later in the week, following media reports that it would be withheld because it is not relevant to the current situation in the province.

Recently, there have been some media reports that the KPMG report on the pandemic response will not be released, this is incorrect.

The media response to the reporter said the interim report only reflected the pandemic response to the first wave. pic.twitter.com/Pc35de2na3

— Tyler Shandro ???????? (@shandro) August 3, 2021

The Alberta NDP has its own doubts about that report, and even if it is made public as promised they want to go a step further.

“Enough is enough,” said Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman. “(We are calling for) a full public inquiry into the UCP government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Hoffman said this is a decision they don’t make lightly, but they feel the provincial can’t be trusted.

She added that the most recent decision to roll back many of the remaining COVID-19 protocols is further motivation to call for an inquiry and identify any mistakes made during the response.

“A full public inquiry is necessary because it allows Albertans to understand what happened over the course of this pandemic, and to plan for the future so we don’t make the same deadly decisions again when face another pandemic or another emergency.”

Terms of reference for the proposed inquiry are also being released, as Hoffman was hopeful this could help the government get started on the work immediately

https://twitter.com/Tommy_Slick/status/1422616548921921538

If the government does not launch the inquiry, Hoffman said the NDP would do it if they win the next provincial election.

“It’s up to the government whether they actually want to act on that, or if they want to continue putting their earplugs in, putting their blinders on and ignoring the people of Alberta and the things so many people are calling for,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said it would be important for the inquiry to be performed by an impartial person — such as a retired judge as she suggested — and for it to also be done in full public view

Hoffman accused the UCP of hiding details of the pandAmid some concerns about the delayed release of a report examining the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, the official opposition said a thorough examination is needed.emic response and she also has doubts the first wave report is impartial as it was conducted by a third party hired by the government.