3. Public Hearings

Introduction

Public hearings were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 17, 18, and 19, 2024. Members of the public wishing to testify at the NCI Vancouver Hearings were invited to apply through an online form available on the NCI website. Testimony could be provided either in-person or via live video broadcast.

In total, 33 witnesses testified at the NCI Vancouver Hearings.

The Commission extended invitations to representatives from provincial, territorial, and federal governments across Canada. More than 100 non-judicial subpoenas were issued, allowing government witnesses the flexibility to testify in-person or via video conference, either during the scheduled hearing dates or at a time convenient for them. Additionally, the NCI sent an open letter to over 700 elected officials at various levels of government, inviting them to attend and participate in the hearings.

Despite these efforts, no government representatives or public agency officials responded to the invitations or appeared at the hearings. As a result, the Commissioners were unable to hear direct testimony from the government defending its policies. In the absence of government testimony, the inquiry reviewed non-oral evidence, such as sworn affidavits from government officials collected during court proceedings. This evidence, along with press releases, policy statements, and press conferences, was considered representative of government positions and was included in the official record, as long as it was submitted by witnesses as evidence.

As a citizen led initiative, the Commission lacked the legal authority to compel government witnesses to testify through judicial subpoenas.

In the following sections, and throughout the entire report, we as Commissioners have aimed to faithfully convey the testimony provided by witnesses. However, it is important to note that this does not imply unanimous agreement among all four Commissioners on the views expressed. Each Commissioner brings a unique perspective, shaped by their individual backgrounds, which may influence their interpretation of the witnesses testimony.

The National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) has consistently emphasized the critical need for inclusive representation from all sectors of Canadian society. This approach is vital to ensure that the widest range of perspectives and information are considered in preparing the Report. Involving stakeholders from diverse geographic regions, professional backgrounds, and areas of expertise was essential to providing a comprehensive view of the issues.

To achieve this, the NCI sought testimony and evidence from a broad spectrum of individuals, including medical professionals, advocates, researchers, public policy experts, legal experts, educators, business owners, and citizens. This diverse participation ensured that the final report reflected a balanced and thorough understanding of the state of child safety in Canada.

Engaging Government Officials

A key part of the NCI’s mandate was to obtain testimony from those directly responsible for the planning and implementation of Canada's policies that affect children. For the NCI Vancouver Hearings, the Commission issued non-judicial summonses to government officials, urging them to participate and provide insights. Despite these efforts, no government officials attended.

This absence of participation sends a strong message to Canadian citizens. As Canada approaches another electoral cycle, it is concerning that neither political parties nor the media are discussing child safety issues, despite the NCI's comprehensive investigation.

A New Approach in 2024

Recognizing the need for a fresh strategy, the NCI adopted a new approach for the 2024 hearings, starting in Regina and continuing in Vancouver. An open letter was sent to all elected representatives across Canada, inviting them to share their perspectives. However, despite this broad and open invitation, the response remained disappointing, with no elected government representatives attending or testifying.

A Stark Lack of Interest

The lack of engagement from thousands of elected officials responsible for shaping public policy related to children is alarming. Despite millions of Canadians being aware of and participating in the NCI process, the disinterest from government officials is inexplicable. This lack of involvement is compounded by the minimal coverage from legacy media, which appears to tacitly support this disregard by failing to hold these officials accountable.

Why This Is Of Concern

The refusal of elected officials to engage with the NCI hearings is shocking for several key reasons:

1. 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.

2. Significant Impact: Government / institutional policies have profoundly impacted all aspects of children and family life in Canada. It is essential that those responsible for these policies explain their decisions and address the concerns raised by the public.

3. Widespread Awareness: The NCI has achieved significant public engagement, with millions of Canadians aware of and involved in the process. The lack of interest from elected officials contrasts sharply with the public's demand for accountability and transparency.

4. Media Complicity: The main stream media were informed of the Vancouver NCI hearings but they did not attend. The failure of legacy media to cover the NCI proceedings and demand accountability from officials exacerbates the issue. The media’s role is to inform the public and hold those in power accountable. Their failure to do so in this case is deeply concerning.

Conclusion

The NCI’s efforts to secure broad representation from all sectors of society are essential to ensuring a comprehensive and balanced review of child safety in Canada. The lack of participation from government officials and the media’s support of this disinterest underscore a significant gap in accountability. Addressing this gap is critical to restoring public trust in Canadian institutions and to ensuring that all voices are heard in shaping future public policies.

Following is a copy of the “Open Letter to Canada’s Elected Representatives“ as issued by the Chair of the NCI, Mr. Ted Kuntz, on October 7, 2024.

AN OPEN LETTER TO CANADA’S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES – VANCOUVER 2024

Vancouver, October 7, 2024 – An Open Letter to Canada’s Elected Representatives

An Open Letter to Canada’s Elected Representatives:

I am writing 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 in Vancouver, BC on October 17, 18 and 19, 2024.

For those 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 NS, Toronto ON, Winnipeg MB, Saskatoon SK, Red Deer AB, Vancouver BC, Quebec City QC and Ottawa ON. In the spring of 2024, the NCI held 3 days of hearings in Regina SK. We called more than 350 witnesses, both lay and expert, who helped to reveal the very real impact of the various government’s response to COVID and the social fabric of society. The National Citizens Inquiry hearings created the largest body of evidence on the impact of the COVID response given under oath in the world.

A Commissioner’s Final Report was drafted based on the testimony of the members of the public and expert witnesses. The Report contains more than 400 recommendations for our various governments, institutions and regulatory agencies. The Commissioner’s Final Report can be downloaded at nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report.

The testimony of all 350 witnesses can be found at: nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/hearings .

Are Children Safe in Canada?

Much has happened since the last NCI hearings in June 2024. Evidence continues to emerge that confirms much of what was denied by our governments, public health and media. We now know that the impact of the mandates and measures, especially for our children and youth, is more serious than we thought. We also question whether there are other threats to the health

and safety of our children. As a result, the National Citizens Inquiry will be conducting new hearings with an expanded theme. We are asking the critical question: “Are children safe in Canada?”

At the NCI Vancouver Hearings the Commission is calling national and international experts on health and safety matters for children. In addition we are calling everyday Canadian parents and youth to speak to what is going right and what is going wrong.

I am writing to invite you to join us and to testify either in-person or virtually.

Please email the NCI at leadcounsel@nationalcitizensinquiry.ca to register your name and preferred date of testimony.

The hearings will be conducted in English, beginning daily at 8:45 AM PST and concluding at 8:00 PM PST on October 17, 18 and 19, 2024 in Vancouver BC.

We invite you to share this notification with your constituents and the importance of these hearings. We know there are many Canadians that have questions and it is the National Citizens Inquiry’s mission to Listen, Learn and Recommend.

Please note the NCI will be live streaming the hearings on October 17, 18 and 19 at nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/live.

I would appreciate it 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”

Thank you for your assistance in sharing information about the upcoming hearings and increasing knowledge and truth amongst all Canadians. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ted Kuntz, Chair
National Citizens Inquiry

PS: The Commissioner’s Final Report from the NCI’s 2023 hearings can be found at:
nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report .

If you would like a printed version, please contact us and we will forward a copy to you.