“At best this is immoral, at worst illegal. We need to put an immediate stop to this scam that takes advantage of seniors,” Davies says.
This week, the federal government announced there will be subsequent measures made to identify fraud cases.
For Canadians who shouldn’t have received money, but did, a new repayment option on the Canada Revenue Agency website is now available to repay it back.
NDP health critic Don Davies said the federal government has a responsibility to address the "disgraceful" state of long term care in Canada.
"Too many governments have ignored this important area of care for too long. We need to work at all levels to comprehensively address the deficiencies," he said.
Davies said the federal government could help fund nursing homes by creating a dedicated federal transfer to the provinces and territories, while requiring that the funds be used for long-term care.
NDP health critic Don Davies, a member of the committee, said his interest in Dr. Aylward testifying has nothing to do with China or geopolitical issues. “From the outset, the Canadian government and public health agency relied explicitly on WHO guidance and information. They continue to do so. I would like to explore the basis of these,” he said.
“Second, the WHO also has members who are at different stages of this pandemic, in some cases, nations who are further along than Canada. As the global co-ordinating body, I would like to probe the experiences of these nations to help guide our actions.
This being Canada, the members of the committee seeking to pose questions to Aylward have been both polite and patient. He was supposed to testify early in April but cancelled on short notice. Members of the committee then sent off a second invitation, only to be told by a lawyer for the WHO that he wouldn’t show. Committee members were told they could submit written questions, which the organization would, presumably, answer as it saw fit. That was a bit much even for courteous Canadians, so, last week, in a third try, the committee took the rare step of voting to issue a summons for Aylward to appear, if and when he steps foot on Canadian soil. The vote was unanimous.
“Canada is a member of the WHO and I think the WHO ought to operate with accountability and transparency to its members,” said New Democratic Party health critic Don Davies, reasonably enough.
NDP health critic Don Davies called the current situation in Canada "appalling and unacceptable." He said the country must move to bring long-term care under the Canada Health Act.
"When seniors are in hospital, they are cared for in our public system. When they are transferred to long-term care, there is no reason this should change," he told CBC.
"I think bringing long-term care under our public health system is key to addressing the deplorable conditions our seniors in care face. It would also result in more effective and efficient care."
“The problem isn’t a structural one. The problem is governments have ignored repeated, clear directions, and frankly, that’s scandalous,” Mr. Davies said, pointing to the federal auditor general’s 2010 report that found that public health officials were not maintaining a proper accounting of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile. (The stockpile is a system of 11 warehouses for medical equipment and supplies.) “It’s not quite clear what role PHAC did or didn’t play in this. They operate with [federal] resources and at the direction of government.”
As NDP MP Don Davies told The Hill Times, governments over the years have been warned about the country’s “lack of emergency preparation,” and they’ve done nothing. Pointing to the federal auditor general’s 2010 report that found that public health officials were not maintaining a proper accounting of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile, and other warnings following SARS, he described that as “scandalous."
The inadequate funding and mismanagement of the stockpile spanned both Conservative and Liberal governments, NDP MP and health critic Don Davies said, adding neither has an excuse for the shortcomings.
“It’s a serious breach of duty that puts Canadian’s lives unnecessarily at risk," Mr. Davies said.
“To me this is not about politics, I am not there to delve into the politics of the WHO I am purely interested in their information and the way they responded to the COVID-19 crisis,” he said.
He said if Aylward is prepared to do media interviews he should testify.
“I don’t understand the difference. If he is prepared to come forward and on the record answer questions, why wouldn’t he want to do that with our committee.”
Davies said Aylward has a global perspective that will be valuable in the committee’s research.
Don Davies, NDP health critic and another member of the committee, said he would support issuing a summons.
“I’m disappointed in the WHO’s position, especially considering we are seeking information from a Canadian official,” Mr. Davies said. “Their officials should be transparent and accountable to the nations they serve.”