Health Minister Patty Hajdu upset members of the House of Commons Health committee by only allowing them 45 minutes to question her on the government’s handling of the pandemic.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the Health Committee had asked Hajdu to appear for two hours to discuss the government’s handling of the pandemic. Hajdu instead agreed to 45 minutes in front of the committee, using a significant portion of her time to give a speech.
“In the last year from my perspective, the government is seeing this review process and scrutiny as an inconvenience. It’s actually fundamental,” said Conservative MP Michel Rempel Garner.
“She’s asking Parliament to spend billions of dollars. It seems a little ridiculous to me. In fact it seems a little contemptuous. How can you not?”
Committee members voted to postpone Hajdu’s appearance in hopes she will agree to two hours of questions at a later date.
The last time Hajdu testified before the health committee was on March 11. At the time, Hadju claimed that the Trudeau government was prepared to handle the pandemic.
Since March it has been revealed that Canada’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment was dangerously low. Under the Trudeau government, millions of face masks were thrown out in 2019 and never replaced. Buying new PPE this year has cost at least $1.8 billion.
The Trudeau Liberals have also been accused of cronyism because organizations with close ties to the Liberals have received lofty contracts throughout the pandemic.
In July, it was revealed that the Trudeau government handpicked WE Charity to administer the $912 million Canada Student Service Grant program. It was revealed members of Trudeau’s family, including his wife, mother and brother, have benefited financially from close ties to the charity.
Public health officials have also given Canadians conflicting advice throughout the pandemic.
In May, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam admitted Canada waited too long to close its borders, rebuking Hajdu’s previous claim that border controls were “not effective at all.”
Dr. Tam also repeatedly advised Canadians against wearing masks as far back as March.
