Public Health Agency understaffed, unprepared: report

OTTAWA — Canada's Public Health Agency was significantly understaffed to deal with COVID-19 and has struggled to get the people and expertise in place to deal with the pandemic, according to a recently released internal report.

A “lessons learned” report from the agency written in September was released in response to a call for documents from Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner. It details that the agency, which is overseeing Canada's response, did not have the key people in place.

“The agency did not have the breadth and depth of human resources required to support an emergency response of this never-seen-before magnitude, complexity and duration,” reads the report, which was first reported on by the Globe and Mail.

The Public Health Agency of Canada was created in the wake of the SARS crisis, as a dedicated and separate body under Health Canada. It was designed to give independent advice on health threats, like pandemics. The internal report done by auditors within the agency found it didn't have the key people and expertise during this crisis.

“Management noted multiple capacity and skills gaps across the agency. Primarily, most noted limited public health expertise, including epidemiologists, psychologists, behavioural scientists and physicians at senior levels.”

NDP MP Don Davies said it paints a deeply troubling picture of the agency.

“I don't expect perfection and there can be deficiencies here and there. I think that's to be expected, but this is a scathing indictment of an agency that is comprehensively understaffed and underprepared.”

The report highlights that a lack of long-term funding means the agency is pulling staff from other departments, but can't make long-term commitments making it difficult to hire. It also highlights that people at the agency are beginning to burnout.

“It was noted that staffing challenges are exacerbated by the inability to offer individuals indeterminate positions, particular those from outside of government, due to the limited availability of longterm funding.”

The agency is particularly short on people with experience in emergency management and communications, two vital roles during the pandemic.

The report mentions concerns about Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer (CPHO), who didn't have the necessary support and had to perform work that should have fallen to other staff.

“It is widely known that the CPHO worked seven days a week, and up to 20 hours a day, to prepare for the following day. This is problematic and unsustainable on multiple levels, and was enhanced by the other considerable pressures on her office.”

Asked about the report in Question Period, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the government would ensure the agency had what it needed.