Report into Alberta's initial COVID-19 response to be released by end of the week
A third-party report into Alberta's response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic will be released later this week, according to Health Minister Tyler Shandro.
"Given the interest in the report, the full report will be posted earlier than planned in the interest of full transparency," Shandro tweeted.
The minister was responding to speculation that the report would not be released.
The province initially said the document would be published in late 2020 but later updated that timeline to early 2021.
Accounting firm KPMG was awarded a $475,000 contract to complete the report in July 2020.
Opposition New Democrats welcomed the report's impending release but are now also calling for a public inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic.
"It is clear that Albertans can no longer trust their own government to keep them safe,” said the NDP deputy leader, Sarah Hoffman.
At the time it was announced, the province said the investigation will help determine if Alberta is adequately equipped to deal with a second wave of coronavirus, should one occur in Canada.
"A strong, coordinated response can help save lives, prevent wide-scale spread of disease and help jobs and the economy bounce back more quickly," the province said in a release.
The review is expected to look at:
- Health system response
- Economic response
- Governance and decision-making
- Procurement
- Engagement with other governments and stakeholders
- Communications
The government says the review will be similar in nature to the ones performed in response to the 2016 Horse River fire in Fort McMurray, the 2013 floods in southern Alberta and the 2011 Slave Lake fire.
With files from CTV News Calgary's Michael Franklin
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.