Dr. David Walker knows sweeping inquiries into what went wrong in Ontario and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic are “inevitable.”
He believes now may be time to start that work, as Omicron recedes, restrictions lift and the pandemic hit the two-year mark on March 11, as declared by the World Health Organization.
“You don’t want to put it off forever,” said Walker, a professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., who chaired Ontario’s expert panel on SARS and Infectious Disease Control.
“Despite its tragedies, a pandemic like this does give us a look at the structure of how we provide this public service that is health-care delivery and reminds us … there are substantial gaps, and holes and weaknesses.”
Walker outlined many of those in his panel’s final report on SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that was released in 2004 and outlined a health-care system “crying out for change.”
Recommendations in these reports are non-binding. Some were acted on, like structural changes to public health. He said others, such as addressing hospital surge capacity, were ignored and have gone on to cause severe strain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. David Walker, a professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., chaired Ontario’s expert panel on SARS in 2004. He’s shown addressing reporters about the final report. Speaking recently about COVID-19, he says now may be the time to examine what went wrong and right. (CBC)
Walker expects this will come up again in any wider inquiries into COVID-19. He anticipates there will be multiple ones.
In Ontario during SARS, there was Walker’s expert panel and an Independent SARS Commission, led by Justice Archie Campbell. Federally, there was a review by the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health.
All put out reports with similar findings, but had differing timelines, scopes and levels of power. His advice is to focus on what we’ve learned.
“It is far more helpful to identify lessons learned about best practice and structural opportunities than it is to start pointing fingers.”
Ontario opposition parties want inquiry
Ontario has already had a commission on COVID-19 that was launched by the province.
The Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission found the province had no plan to address the pandemic or protect residents in long-term care. The investigation, which submitted its scathing final report last April, was limited in time and scope, solely focusing on one of the hardest-hit areas.
Ontario’s New Democrats, Liberals and Greens are in favour of a wider inquiry for the province, with the NDP and the Liberals specifically mentioning a public inquiry. These can take longer and give the power to summon more people.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath actually tabled a motion at Queen’s Park last year, calling for a public inquiry into COVID-19. It was dissolved when the Ontario Legislature dissolved and hasn’t been retabled.
“I suspect we could easily table another motion. I suspect it will go the same way as the other one went,” said Horwath. “We need to get the answers to what we did right, what we could have done better and how do we make sure we fix any problems that we faced before it happens again.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, chief medical officer Kieran Moore, right, and Health Minister Christine Elliott announce an easing of COVID-19 public health restrictions in January. The province would not say whether it supports a wider inquiry into COVID-19. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
The Ontario government didn’t respond yes or no when asked if it wants a wider inquiry, instead touting its response and the province’s low mortality rate, compared to other parts of the world.
“We will continue to incorporate the lessons learned from the pandemic to ensure the right infrastructure and capabilities exist to respond to emergencies in the future,” said the Ministry of Health in an email.
At the federal level, Health Canada says now’s not the right moment for an inquiry.
“The government of Canada is focused on getting Canadians through this global health crisis and has signalled its intention to review Canada’s pandemic responses at the appropriate time,” it wrote in an email.
‘Too big’ to ignore
John Callaghan wants any inquiry to stay apolitical. He served as lead counsel for Ontario’s long-term care commission during the pandemic and is a partner at Gowling WLG’s Toronto office.
“Blaming prior governments is an easy way to deflect our own responsibility as a society,” he said. “If you’re going to make it a political fight, people are going to tune out.”
Callaghan would like to see a national commission on COVID-19, looking at it both provincially and federally, that has more time and doesn’t have to rush. He thinks work, like gathering evidence, can start now.
Ontario long-term care commission report reveals lack of plan for COVID-19
11 months ago
Duration 1:59
In a scathing report, Ontario’s long-term care commission says the province did not prepare for the pandemic and that homes were neglected, resulting in deaths and suffering for residents and staff. 1:59
If SARS was the precursor to COVID-19, Callaghan worries what’s next. He thinks we owe it to future generations.
“We’re in a position like they must have been in the 1840s or ’50s before fire departments started. You know, I didn’t care because your house burnt down. Well all our houses are going to burn down if we don’t figure out how to deal with it now,” he said.
“It’s too big an issue frankly for them not to do it.”
Have questions about this story? We’re answering as many as we can in the comments.
VANCOUVER – Prince Harry is in Vancouver for the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of the Invictus Games among children and youth, one day after surprising Canadian football fans by appearing at the Grey Cup in the city.
The prince visited Vancouver-area elementary and high school students at Seaforth Armoury.
The visit comes as the Invictus Games launches a lessons program for students from kindergarten to Grade 12, making educational resources on the event’s history and purpose available online.
Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick veterans and other service personnel about a decade ago, and the games will next be held in Vancouver and Whistler in February.
After meeting the students and engaging in a short game of sitting volleyball on the floor of the armoury, Prince Harry told the crowd the school program could help the Invictus Games “go even wider” and “into schools in Canada and hopefully around the world.”
The prince made a surprise appearance at the Grey Cup game at BC Place Stadium on Sunday, waving to the crowd and giving an interview before joining B.C. Lions owner Amar Doman on the field.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Environment Canada is warning about an intensifying storm that is expected to bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.
Matt MacDonald, the lead forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, says models predict “explosive cyclogenesis,” which is also known as a bomb cyclone, materializing Tuesday night.
Such storms are caused by a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure at the centre of a storm system that results in heavy rain and high winds.
MacDonald says in a social media post that B.C. coastal inlets could see “hurricane force” winds of more than 118 km/h and create waves up to nine metres off Washington and Oregon.
Environment Canada posted a special weather statement saying the storm will develop off the coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, bringing high winds and heavy rain to some areas starting in the afternoon.
It says the weather system may cause downed trees, travel delays and power outages, adding that peak winds are expected for most areas Tuesday night, though the severe weather is likely to continue into Wednesday.
B.C. has been hit by a series of powerful fall storms, including an atmospheric river that caused flash flooding in Metro Vancouver in mid-October.
A lightning storm overnight and early Monday covered parts of Metro Vancouver in hail.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.
This will allow CBP to enhance border security while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. CBP officers will be deployed to busier ports of entry, enabling the agency to use its resources most effectively for its critical national security and border security missions.
These adjustments formalize current operating hours that have been in effect for more than four years at 13 ports of entry across the northern border, with eight ports of entry expanding hours. A small number of ports will see reduced hours in an effort to continually align resources to operational realities. Travelers who use these affected crossing locations will have other options within a reasonable driving distance.
Importantly, these adjustments have been made in close coordination with CBSA, to ensure aligned operational hours that further enhance the security of both countries.
CBP continually monitors operations, traffic patterns and volume, and analyzes the best use of resources to better serve the traveling public. CBP will remain engaged with local and regional stakeholders, as well as communities to ensure consistent communication and to address concerns.
The vast majority of the 118 northern border ports of entry will continue to operate at existing hours, including many with 24/7 operations. Locate ports of entry and access border wait times here.
The following are the new permanent POE hours of operation for select New York POEs:
Chateauguay, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
Trout River, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
Rouses Point, NY new hours of operation – 8 am to 8 pm
Overton Corners, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 10 pm
Again, these changes will go into effect beginning at midnight, January 6, 2025.
Below is a listing of each location with the closest border crossing that will remain open 24/7 for appropriate commercial and passenger traffic:
Chateauguay, NY – closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 27 miles
Trout River, NY – closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 11 miles
Rouses Point, NY – closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 8 miles
Overton Corners, NY – closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 5 miles
For additional information or to contact a port of entry, please visit CBP.gov.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CBPBuffalo and @DFOBuffalo
For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CBPBuffalo @DFOBuffalo and @USBPChiefBUN
