Former federal opposition leader and veteran politician Preston Manning said on November 2, public inquiry (NCI) on the government’s handling of COVID-19.
Manning told The Epoch Times. Manning’s late father, Ernest Manning, served as Premier of Alberta for his 25 years from 1943.
and poll According to Manning, a survey conducted by the NCI in mid-October found that three out of four respondents nationwide were injured or said to have been hurt by health protection measures put in place by the government during the COVID outbreak. reporting.
“These were not people hurt by COVID,” he said. “They were hurt by the blockade.”
An NCI survey of more than 1,500 Canadians suggested that isolation was the top harm chosen by respondents. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed cite examples such as being barred from attending funerals, being unable to visit sick or other loved ones, impacting education for students, and increasing divorce and marital discord. states that they are subject to government regulation.
“Canadians want an investigation into what went right and what went wrong with COVID-19,” Manning said, adding that “it means better managing future national crises.” and what lessons have been learned?”
Manning added that the investigation has generated disturbing reactions. “People understood the link between lockdowns and their impact on the economy, mental health and social welfare. ”
“When freedoms and rights are restricted, it affects all other areas,” said Manning, who led the Canadian Reform Party for more than a decade.
A news release issued by the National Citizens’ Inquiry on November 2 stated: liberties, fundamental liberties, livelihoods, and overall social and economic well-being of all Canadians; ”
The organization lists “serious” social impacts, business bankruptcies, medical delays and avoidable deaths resulting from lockdowns, restrictions and orders.
Manning acknowledged that Canadians may believe that it is the government that commissions such investigations, but in this case, his organization’s primary objective was to investigate the government’s response. The commission suggests that if implemented by the government, it lacks credibility and integrity.
Manning said citizen-led investigations have proven to be a popular idea. Over 11,000 people attend his NCI website Sign a petition in support of the investigation.
A not-for-profit federal corporation has been established to accept donations and fund research. Members of the public are invited to submit the names of potential commissioners they believe to be part of such initiatives, which will begin in early 2023.
The inquiry is tentatively set for two to three days at each hearing and will be held in cities across the country, with a final summary hearing in Ottawa. Citizens can participate in person or remotely and testify about how the COVID-19 government response has impacted their lives.
Similar examples of the type of testimony Canadians would expect from the NCI, according to research, can be found at: public hearingheld public hearings in Toronto June 22-24. His three-day event included families who lost loved ones, students who missed out on an education, business owners forced to close, and experts critical of the government’s response to the lockdown.
According to Manning, the inquiry called for testimony (all under oath) from medical, legal, social, and constitutional rights experts, in addition to submissions from the public, and gave an overall The main theme is submissions on the impact of COVID public health measures on Canadians.
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Marnie Cathcart is a reporter based in Edmonton.