Vaughn Palmer: B.C. COVID review finds ways to bypass NDP attempts to limit scope

VICTORIA — The New Democrats tried hard to limit critical outcomes when they ordered an operational review of B.C’ s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The terms of reference, released March 16, specifically excluded “an assessment of economic recovery and public policy decisions made by government to deal with the consequences of the pandemic and decisions made by the independent provincial health officer.”

The cabinet also ruled that the final report of the three-member panel of consultants “will not make recommendations.”

Those restrictions generated “a certain amount of criticism”, according to the final report, released Friday.

The backlash was especially notable in responses from some 15,000 members of the public, who provided feedback through written submissions and an online survey.

“A vast majority of respondents want a review of the actual decisions made to respond to the pandemic, which is beyond the scope of this review,” said the final report.

Still, the authors — former deputy ministers Chris Trumpy and Bob de Faye and former senior public servant Dan Perrin — found a workaround to the cabinet-imposed restrictions.

Notably, they voiced criticisms of the office of the provincial health officer, faulting it again and again for inadequate, confusing, contradictory and arbitrary communications.
They also reported that after the first wave of the pandemic, the controlling New Democrats warned of any criticisms, implied or otherwise, of the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“There was strict central control of the messaging, including actively discouraging any questioning or challenging of the provincial health officer.”

Nevertheless, the authors of the report had the temerity to actually put a question to Henry’s office about her practice of issuing edicts without advance notice or written backup.

“We were told that it was intended to give the public and affected sectors a heads-up and provide time to gather the input to get the details right.

“But we only heard one participant say that they interpreted the orders that way.”

The report waded briefly into the controversy over Premier John Horgan’s decision to call a snap election in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic.

“Some stakeholders indicated that the fall 2020 general election delayed some important government recovery initiatives being developed prior to the election call.”

Alas, the report made no mention of the amazing coincidence that Henry announced measures to rein in the second wave only after the votes were cast in the election.

The authors of the report did find a way to dodge the NDP’s rule against recommendations.

“We feel that it is important to be clear about what our findings imply for the areas that government needs to consider in order to be better prepared for the next event.”

The result was 26 findings that even the dimmest cabinet minister couldn’t fail to recognize as recommendations.

Several intruded into the cabinet-imposed no-fly zone around the provincial health officer.

“The provincial health officer should consider ways to better explain why decisions are made,” was one of the, er, findings.

Those explanations could include “stating what the objectives are for restrictions being put in place or removed, addressing any apparent inconsistencies and discussing the evidence underlying the decisions.”

The provincial health officer could also establish a scientific advisory panel, empowered to report its recommendations publicly, thereby contributing to “better explanations.”

Another non-recommendation urged the provincial health officer to review the practices for rolling out health orders to minimize confusion and encourage compliance.

Lastly, the report urged Henry to do what this review was not permitted to do: undertake “a review of public health measures utilized during the pandemic to learn what works best in different circumstances.”

One can only hope that such a review would be free to do what public servants were discouraged from doing during the pandemic, namely challenge and question Henry’s decisions.

The critical findings in the operations review likely explains the NDP decision to release the report on a Friday afternoon.

This, after all, is a report whose opening paragraph read in part: “The government of B.C.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was strong, showing resilience, balance and nimbleness.”

Yet reporters were given the report at 1:15 p.m. Friday, leaving just 45 minutes to digest its almost 150 pages before Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth was made available to answer questions.

Asked about the time squeeze, Farnworth replied: “The day was booked some time ago. It was done in terms of what else is going on this afternoon. And on that basis the schedule was put together.”

The answer was Farnworth at his most disingenuous.

One only needed to consult the opening page of the report to discover that it was delivered to him on Sept. 23.

The New Democrats sat on the report for 10 weeks, then released it on short notice on a Friday afternoon.

So much for Premier David Eby’s early promise of openness and transparency.

vpalmer@postmedia.com

1. Vaughn Palmer: Eby shows he's not afraid to reverse course on key issues

2. Vaughn Palmer: Eby's rush to oust B.C. Housing directors appears political, not financial

More news, fewer ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.