Over a span of four days in Ottawa this week, Conservative MP Dean Allison conducted independent hearings regarding COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The Allison Inquiry received testimony from 50 individuals selected from a pool of over 1,400 applicants. These witnesses, mainly Canadians from various regions, shared their personal accounts of harm at Parliament Hill.
The inquiry, as outlined in its terms of reference, aimed to attentively listen to Canadians without making definitive determinations or conclusions. Notably, the inquiry did not engage with Health Canada and was not officially endorsed by the federal government.
Representing Niagara West in the House of Commons, Allison underscored that the inquiry was meant to initiate discussions that should have commenced earlier. He emphasized the importance of compassion, regardless of differing opinions on COVID-19, vaccines, or public policies.
During the inquiry’s session, a diverse set of witnesses, including Drue Taylor, a 36-year-old massage therapist, shared their experiences. Taylor, joining virtually from Alberta due to health concerns, detailed her struggles with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following vaccination.
Taylor disclosed her ongoing challenges with the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), expressing frustration with the prolonged appeals process despite an initial payout of $45,000. Health Canada reported that the VISP processed 3,557 claims, disbursing over $21 million to claimants between June 2021 and November 2025. Notably, only 252 claims out of 1,433 assessed by the Medical Review Board were approved, requiring individuals to have suffered serious or permanent injuries from Health Canada-approved vaccines to qualify.
In response to criticisms about VISP management, the federal government assumed control in 2026, transitioning to the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP) from the earlier third-party administrator, Oxaro.
In addition to Canadian testimonies, the Allison Inquiry also featured U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who utilized his appearance to criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci and raise doubts about the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
Allison highlighted the unique nature of his independent investigation, stressing that Canada had not previously sanctioned any inquiry into COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The inquiry’s website noted that numerous democratic nations, including G7 and Commonwealth countries, had initiated similar COVID-19 investigations, urging medical experts to advocate for a comprehensive national probe into Canada’s pandemic response.
Amid ongoing discourse on pandemic management, Canada’s chief science advisor, Mona Nemer, emphasized the importance of reflecting on the government’s response to enhance future preparedness for public health challenges. Nemer stressed the significance of acknowledging public sentiments and engaging with diverse viewpoints to ensure effective responses to health crises.
During the period from December 2020 to December 2023, Canada administered 105 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with Health Canada recording 58,712 adverse event reports, representing a small proportion of all vaccinations, and 11,702 serious incidents.
