Challinor Calls For Federal Royal Commission COVID-19 Post-Mortem

As the Federal Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario decide how Miltonians will safely interact with one another, who of us works and who of us doesn’t and where we go and where we don’t go, the Town of Milton has been left to react to these shifting sands, providing temporary relief where the municipality has the authority to do so.

Thus far, the Town has completed the following in support of its residents and businesses:

1. Deferred property and business tax payments;
2. Set aside bylaws and fees to permit restaurant
3. owners to erect temporary patios adjacent to their
   premises to serve their clients this summer and fall; 
4. Developed a financial plan, a re-opening plan
   and a staffing plan for its parks, recreational facilities

      and many other programs it provides Miltonians.

Once our country, our province and our municipality are back to some semblance of normalcy, a Royal Commission should be established federally to conduct a post-mortem on Canada’s management of the pandemic. Further, that Commission should look at how the matter was also dealt with provincially and municipally. Finally, all Canadians should be encouraged to provide their individual perspectives so that a fulsome picture is created, permitting a more complete review as well as laying the foundation for more effective planning and response, in future.

Regardless of what the Federal Government does, I will be requesting that the Town conduct its own post-mortem.

All of us should be concerned about Canada’s planning readiness and response to the COVID-19 outbreak. And, each of us should also be carefully monitoring how fully our individual freedoms are restored, post-COVID-19, in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms.

In my view, some decisions taken by the senior levels of government were quite possibly unconstitutional, some were very likely unfair to certain businesses, non-profit and religious groups and some were undoubtedly fiscally irresponsible, especially given their anticipated impact on current and future generations of Canadians.

I will be watching very closely on your behalf and keeping you informed. CR