4. Public Hearings

Introduction

In 2024 supplemental public hearings were held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada as follows:

Regina, Saskatchewan:  May 30, 31; June 1, 2024

Members of the public who wished to testify at the hearings were invited to apply through online application forms that were available on the NCI website.

https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/testimony/

Members of the public were offered the option of testifying in person or via live video broadcast.

A total of thirty-eight members of the public testified at the Regina hearings.

Testimony was invited from representatives of all levels of governments across Canada, and in order to facilitate schedules, non-judicial subpoenas were issued and government witnesses were also given the option of testifying either in person or on video-conference at any of the three days of hearings. Regulators, and authorities were also subpoenaed to attend and testify.

One current member of the Provincial Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly appeared at the public hearings to testify.

As a result of the lack of government representation at the Regina hearings, and to properly represent the government position on various topics, sworn affidavits obtained from various court proceedings involving key government witnesses were read into the record. It was this sworn evidence attesting to the actions taken—press releases, statements of policy, and news articles from mainstream media—that were utilized to represent the government position.

As a citizen-led initiative, the Commission did not have the ability to compel the government witnesses to appear through judicial subpoenas. Therefore, actual video-recorded statements and press conferences were aired at the hearing location.

Despite the fact that the actions taken by all levels of government represent the most profound intrusions in the lives of all Canadians, essentially tearing at the very heart of Canadian society, publicly elected representatives and the public service employees declined this opportunity to address the Canadian people.

In the ensuing sections and throughout the entirety of the Supplemental Report, we, as the Commissioners, were devoted to conveying the statements made by the witnesses. However, this should not be interpreted that all four Commissioners were in complete agreement with these expressed views. Each Commissioner came to the NCI from different walks of life and, therefore, could see the witness testimony from different worldviews.

Importance of Inclusive Representation in the NCI

The NCI has always emphasized the importance of obtaining representation from all sectors of Canadian society. This inclusiveness was necessary to ensure that the widest possible sources of information were considered in preparing the Supplemental Report. It was essential to include all stakeholders across Canada—encompassing diverse geographic regions, vocational backgrounds, and areas of expertise.

To achieve this the NCI sought to gather testimonies and evidence from a broad spectrum of individuals. This included medical professionals, economists, legal experts, educators, business owners, and everyday citizens affected by the COVID-19 measures.

The comprehensive nature of these hearings ensured that the final Supplemental Report reflected a balanced and thorough understanding of the impacts of the COVID-19 response on Canadian society.

Engaging Government Officials

A crucial aspect of the NCI’s mandate was to obtain witness testimony from those responsible for the planning and implementation of the COVID-19 response in Canada.

For the 2023 hearings, the Commission issued non-judicial summons letters to government officials, urging them to participate and provide their insights. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, none of the government officials attended.

The lack of participation from those in power clearly sends a signal to Canadian Citizens and to the Canadian Electorate. Considering that Canadians will shortly find themselves in an electoral cycle, it is unbelievable that none of the political parties or media are discussing the incredible failure of government policies that were implemented during the so-called pandemic.

A New Approach in 2024

Recognizing the need for a different tactic, the NCI adopted a new approach for the 2024 hearings, in Regina. This time, an open letter was sent to all elected representatives in Canada, inviting them to participate and share their perspectives. Despite this inclusive and open invitation, the response was still disheartening. Only one elected and currently serving government representative attended and gave testimony.

Stark Lack of Interest

The stark lack of interest in the proceedings from the thousands of elected officials who were involved in the COVID-19 measures is shocking. Despite the millions of Canadians who are aware of the NCI and have engaged with the process in some capacity, the disinterest from government officials is inexplicable. This lack of participation is further compounded by the fact that the legacy media appears to support this disregard by providing minimal coverage and failing to hold these officials accountable.

Why This is Unbelievable

The unwillingness of elected officials to participate in the NCI hearings is unbelievable for several reasons:

• Public Accountability: Elected officials are accountable to the public. Their refusal to engage with the NCI, despite widespread public interest, undermines their responsibility to be transparent and responsive to the concerns of their constituents.

• Significant Impact: The COVID-19 measures have had profound impacts on every aspect of Canadian society. It is critical for those who implemented these measures to explain their decisions and to address the concerns raised by the public.

• Widespread Awareness: The NCI has achieved significant public engagement, with millions of Canadians aware of and participating in the process. The elected officials’ lack of interest stands in stark contrast to the public’s demand for accountability and transparency.

• Media Complicity: The legacy media’s lack of coverage and support for these proceedings further exacerbates the issue. The media’s role is to inform the public and hold those in power to account. Their failure to do so in this context is deeply troubling.

In conclusion, the NCI’s efforts to secure comprehensive representation from all sectors of society are vital for ensuring a thorough and balanced examination of the COVID-19 response. The lack of participation from government officials and the legacy media’s support of this disinterest highlight a significant gap in accountability. It is imperative that this gap is addressed to restore public trust and ensure that all voices are heard in shaping future public health policies.

Below is a copy of the “Open Letter to Canada’s Elected Representatives“ as issued by the Chair of the NCI, Mr. Ted Kuntz, on May 23, 2024.

May 23, 2024

Categories:

Media Releases

AN OPEN LETTER TO CANADA’S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

Regina, May 23, 2024 – An Open Letter to Canada’s Elected Representatives

I am writing to you in my capacity as Chair of the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI). My purpose in writing is to invite you to partake in the next series of hearings to be held on May 30, May 31 and June 1, 2024 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

For those members who may not be aware, the National Citizens Inquiry, was formed in July 2022 with the vision of holding independent citizen-led, citizen funded inquiries. The purpose of the 2023 inquiry was to examine the impact of the government’s response to COVID, and to make recommendations concerning how things could be done better in the future.

In 2023, the NCI held 24 days of hearings in 8 cities across Canada – Truro, Nova Scotia; Toronto, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Red Deer, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City, Quebec; and Ottawa, Ontario.

We called 305 witnesses, both lay and expert, who helped to reveal the very real impact of the various government’s response to COVID on individuals, families, communities, businesses, our children and youth, and the social fabric of society. The NCI hearings created the largest body of evidence on the impact of the COVID response given under oath in the world.

Last year’s hearings were incredibly successful and a Commissioners’ Report was drafted based on the testimony of the 305 members of the public and expert witnesses. The Commissioner’s 2023 Final Report can be downloaded at: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report, or purchased from Amazon. The 2023 Report contains more than 400 recommendations for our various governments, institutions, and regulatory agencies. The video testimony of all 305 witnesses can be found at: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/hearings.

Much has happened since the NCI hearings ended in May 2023. New evidence has emerged and the harmful impact of the mandates and measures is even more evident. During the upcoming hearings, we will hear the testimony of international experts such as: Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Tess Lawrie, Jessica Rose, Dr. Richard Schabas, Dr. Roger Hodkinson, and others. We also have more than 30 lay witnesses wanting to tell their story.

As someone who testified at the 2023 hearings, I can affirm the importance of these hearings, both for those who testified, and for the Canadian public who were exposed to information that had been largely withheld due to censorship and fear of reprisal. Lives were transformed by these hearings. Canadians learned the truth and found their voices.

I’m writing to invite you to join us, either in person or virtually. Further, to share with your constituents the importance of these hearings and invite them to attend. I’d appreciate if you would tag us on X @ncicanada as well as our many other social media platforms all listed on our website: nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/social “.ca for Canada“

It is our hope and expectation that the NCI will continue to transform lives and restore our families, businesses, and communities.

For those who are unable to attend in person, testimonies will be broadcast live on the NCI website: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/nci-live/

Thank you for your assistance in disseminating information about the upcoming hearings and increasing healing and hope amongst all Canadians.

Ted Kuntz, Chair