Trudeau government censors thousands of coronavirus pandemic records

According to a new report by Blacklocks, there is at least one case in which the concealment is a direct violation of the Commons health committee's charge to disclose notes from briefings.

“They were not so busy that they could not busy themselves with redacting the documents. Will the government reverse its course?” Conservative MP Scott Reid said to the House of Commons, asking the Health Minister Patty Hadju to not redact the documents proactively.

"All documents including briefing notes, memos and emails from senior officials prepared for the Minister of Health, Minister of Transport, Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus [should be disclosed] no later than March 15,” according to a motion passed by the health committee on February 26.

“The documents were provided but they were redacted by the government in advance,” explained Reid.

The committee “did compel what turned out to be well over a thousand [censored] documents. Officials were working day and night to try to ensure our response was strong and robust to protect Canadians’ lives,” said Hajdu in response to Reid.

“Since the beginning of the outbreak, I and my department have appeared in front of the committee numerous times to answer questions,” Hadju added.

The processing of Access to Information requests has been suspended as a "precaution" during the outbreak. The Library of Parliament has sent its staff home, also as a pandemic precaution.