Three Strikes You’re Out—Canada’s Flawed Covid ‘Inquiries.’, by brian Peckford

by The Honourable A. Brian Peckford

Peckford42

February 15, 2023

Strike One

Under Federal Legislation called the Emergencies Act ( introduced by a Conservative Administration) the Government of Canada can invoke special powers and then must must conduct a review of how those powers  were used.

‘Whereas, under subsection 63(1) of the Emergencies Act, the Governor in Council shall, within 60 days after the expiration or revocation of a declaration of emergency, cause an inquiry to be held into the circumstances that led to the declaration being issued and the measures taken for dealing with the emergency;’

But it is the Government examining itself. The Governor in Council is the Cabinet. It appoints the Commissioner , and determines the terms of reference.

And, of course, holding no one or organization to account . The terms of reference includes:

‘A) perform their duties without expressing any conclusion or recommendation regarding the civil or

criminal liability of any person or organization,

One could say Flawed —

Strike Two

Many in Canada saw that something more was needed, some independent , non governmental approach. In May 2022 I recommended as part of my Magna Carta for Canada :

‘A.  An Independent Public National Inquiry to Examine whether Government , (Federal, Provincial and Territorial) mandates and lockdowns were necessary and constitutional.  People in Government and their agencies who are found guilty of breaking the law after due process MUST be brought to Justice.

Such an Inquiry CANNOT be led by any of the Governments of Canada who are the major subjects of the Inquiry.  Instead, a Citizens Group MUST be formed for that purpose.   And these Governments and their agencies MUST open their books and release to the inquiry and the public all necessary relevant information concerning their actions during the pandemic.’

Other persons and groups were calling for similar action.

As a result a National Citizens Inquiry organization was formed. On its website today it says, referring to its formation during the June to October 2022 period :

‘Over the past few months, hundreds of Canadians from coast-to-coast began focusing their efforts in the development of a collaborative, transparent, and truly independent national inquiry. Their efforts led to the National Citizens’ Inquiry, a completely citizen-led and citizen-funded initiative through Citizens Inquiry Canada, a newly created not-for-profit organization.’

Note the words ‘truly independent’ .

Sadly in its formation and launching a curious thing happened.

The Inquiry lost its ‘ independence’ , one of the primary reasons for such an inquiry.

The spokesman for the new organization, and one of the three directors of the new non profit, establishing the National Citizens Inquiry , the Honourable Preston Manning , suddenly ignored one of the Inquiry’s main goals of independence and signed a deal with a Provincial Government to lead ,with renumeration , a Covid Provincial Inquiry ( called a review) at the same time he was  a key player in the citizens funded Independent National Citizens Inquiry.

Independent National Citizens Inquiry , citizens funded and a Provincial Government Led Inquiry , Government funded , simultaneously.

Independence lost —-conflict of interest on full display.

One could say flawed!

Strike Three

The Alberta ‘Inquiry ‘ that the Honourable Mr. Manning is also leading is a Government ‘inquiry’—-The very thing the organizers  of the National Inquiry were trying avoid. It does not have Legislative or Citizen sanction per se.

The Premier of Alberta in announcing the expert panel as it is called , note the word inquiry is not used anywhere in the announcement , said:

‘With this feedback in mind, the panel will review relevant legislation to ascertain whether there are amendments that can assist the government to improve their response to a future public health crisis.’

And the Honourable Mr. Manning , a paid employee , said as part of the Government  statement:

“It’s crucial that we take the opportunity to review the province’s COVID-19 response and examine whether and how that approach can be improved in future health emergencies. I look forward to working with my fellow panelists and hearing from Albertans about how the province can best achieve this objective.”

So Government led , a conflict in that the lead person of the review is already a part of an alleged national citizens independent inquiry, and additionally there is no accountability in that there is no reference to holding anyone or agency of the Provincial. Government to account for their covid actions.

One could say flawed.

Canada’s attempts to objectively and independently address what many consider the non scientific, unconstitutional mandates and lockdowns have failed.

People have died , many injured , jobs lost and disrupted , families destroyed , taxpayers money abused , individual rights and freedom callously cast aside and yet we find that our nation has failed to honestly account for the validity of the Government mandates and lockdown actions of the past almost three years.

Hon. A. Brian Peckford PC

Former Premier of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador ( 1979-1989)

Presently Legally Challenging The Federal Governments’s Travel Mandate