Government Must Release All Records of Pandemic Response Spending

Pork barrel spending in pandemic response means more oversight should have been built into Bill C-13

Pedestrians cross Elgin Street in view of Parliament Hill in Ottawa in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Commentary

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Act was created in order for the government to be able to move quickly in response to the unfolding crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill C-13 was introduced in Parliament on March 24, 2020, and received royal assent the very next day. Opposition and government members worked together in a rare display of unity to bring the bill into force. A process that usually takes months was done in a few days.