Witness Testimony

Lyne Vandenplas testified that she was responsible for compiling and verifying a national list of Canadian public health officials, including Chief Medical Officers, Ministers of Health, and related authorities across all provinces and territories, for the purpose of issuing summonses to attend National Citizens Inquiry hearings. She worked with another volunteer over several months to identify current office holders, obtain physical addresses suitable for registered mail delivery, and locate valid email contacts. She stated that this process was complicated by frequent changes in personnel and difficulty obtaining direct contact information.
She reported that a total of 63 government officials were sent summonses by registered mail and email, with tracking numbers and delivery confirmations maintained. Of 57 email summonses, eight read receipts were received. She testified that two officials responded stating they were unable to attend, one stated they were not legally permitted to attend, and one declined. Two registered mail summonses were not collected, one remained delayed, and two provinces submitted written COVID reports. She observed that no official accepted the invitation to testify, despite clear provisions offering virtual participation and scheduling accommodations.
Vandenplas further testified that during the three-year period there had been at least 13 changes in Chief Medical Officer or Health Officer positions across Canada’s provinces and territories. She described feeling dismissed by the absence of engagement but expressed appreciation for the collaborative experience of working with volunteers across the country.