By Canadian Press

Government Senate rep proposes less partisan review of pandemic response

Oct 27, 2020 | 5:14 PM

OTTAWA — The government representative in the Senate is proposing the upper chamber carry out a comprehensive review of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to leaders of the various Senate groups, Sen. Marc Gold argues that the past few weeks have demonstrated the need for a “a less partisan and more dispassionate forum” to oversee the government’s response to the health crisis.

Gold’s letter follows a partisan fight in the House of Commons over a motion authorizing the Commons health committee to launch a sweeping probe of the government’s COVID-19 response.

That motion, passed by opposition parties, orders the government to turn over massive amounts of documents on a raft of issues related to the pandemic, including the procurement of personal protective equipment and potential vaccine candidates.

The Liberal government has warned that the motion will tie up public servants and potentially scare off suppliers of desperately needed equipment and vaccines who fear the public disclosure of sensitive, proprietary information.

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The Senate has also voted to begin conducting hybrid sittings — with most senators participating virtually — as early as next week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2020.

The Canadian Press