National Citizens Inquiry press conference on September 14, 2023: Transcript and on YouTube
First recommendations following NCI investigation into Canada’s response to COVID-19 and the Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada have been presented. Press conference videos are uploaded.
UPDATE (2023/09/19): The full video (45 mins) of this press conference is now also posted on YouTube by CPAC. You can watch it here.
Please read previous post for the background behind this historical event:
Ottawa: On Thursday, September 14, 2023, the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) held a press conference where it announced its first recommendations following its investigation into Canada’s response to COVID-19 and presented the Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada based on this investigation.
The recording of this press-conference, the Interim Report, and the Open Letter are made avauilable on the NCI website at the following links:
Recording of the Press Conference: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report/.
In the Public Interest: An Interim Report on the Covid-19 Vaccine Authorization Process
Dans l’intérêt du public: Rapport intérimaire sur le processus d’autorisation du vaccin COVID-19
Letter to Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada
The recording of this press conference is also available on Rumble and Twitter, although it is not on YouTube (you may guess why). Therefore, I have personally uploaded it to YouTube and transcribed it for easier dissemination and sharing of quotes.
I uploaded these videos to two of my YouTube channels. The first one is IVIM channel (@IVIM), which is where I would normally to post the content related to this Substack. The other one is my personal channel (@dr.dmitry.gorodnichy). Previously, I used it as a platform for my music (e.g., latest song with memories from Ukraine), my sports endeavors (e.g., participation at the regional Trampoline competition), and my scientific work (e.g., Data Engineering tutorial at the Government of Canada Data conference). Now, I'm using this channel as a backup to my other channel (@IVIM), both aimed at seeking and sharing the truth about what is happening in Canada, Ukraine, and Russia.
To stay updated with my posts, I recommend subscribing to both of these channels, as well as my Twitter. This way, if YouTube takes down any content in one channel, you'll be able to learn about it from the other channel.
Please watch these important videos and share the links widely!
To view full video recoding (on other platforms) and to read the Interim Report (English and French) and an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada that has been prepared by the NCI commisionaires go to the NCI websie: https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report/
Part 1: Intro (6 min0 - on my personal channel (@dr.dmitry.gorodnichy)
Part 2: Commissioner's foreword (11 min) - on IVIM channel (@IVIM)
Part 3: Presentation by Hon. Ches Crosbie introducing the Commisioners Report (5 min)
I suspect this video may not last there for too long. Let’s see.
Appendix: Transcript of Video (transcribed using ChatGPT)
Part 1.
Quotes from public announcement:
National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) is a citizen-organized, citizen-run, citizen-funded initiative. We don't have a single large donor; we're doing this all on our own, almost exclusively with volunteers. We want to start a national dialogue.
COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event as far as Canada and the countries in the world are concerned. The fact that in Canada, people are still afraid, it has not been disclosed to the general public the contents of the material.
So in that moment, she framed every unvaccinated person, including her guest on the show, as a danger to public safety.
What's interesting also is that nobody can name a single real-world vaccine success story where COVID rates went down at a nursing home or a funeral home after the vax rollout.
How did we get to this point? A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
That's still where we are in this nation, Canada, because no government, no authority, wants to inquire into its handling or mishandling of the last three years' response to COVID-19.
Michelle Leduke Catlin:
Hello everyone, my name is Michelle Laduke Catlin, and I am the spokesperson for the National Citizens Inquiry. I want to welcome all of you here to this historic event. First, I'd like to welcome the media; I'd like to welcome our four independent Commissioners; I'd like to welcome Mr. Ches Crosbie, the NCI administrator, and I would especially like to welcome all of you, the citizens of Canada, and people watching from around the world.
So before we begin and get into the meat of this conference, I'd like to start by explaining the format for today's event. For those of you who are new to the National Citizens Inquiry, I'm going to review a little bit about who we are and how we got here. Then I will introduce our four Commissioners, who will be presenting an interim report today. Then we will have a word from our administrator, Mr. Chess Crosby. Then we will take questions from the media, and then I will direct you as to where you can go to follow up on this information.
So, I'm going to start with a little bit of background about the NCI. The National Citizens Inquiry was created by a small group of citizens who wanted to have some basic answers to unprecedented policies that were put in place in response to COVID-19. We began with a very simple mandate: to listen, to learn, and to recommend. We asked the questions: What did we do right? What did we do wrong? What could we do better?
This is an entirely citizen-run, citizen-led, citizen-funded initiative that has grown into a huge movement of thousands of volunteers across the country. We started on one end of the country, doing hearings in eight cities, three days of hearings in each of those cities, not knowing how we were going to make it across the country, with funding coming in from individual donors. So we are not government-funded; we have no large sponsors. This was an initiative created by the citizens of Canada.
During that process, we heard testimony from over 300 witnesses, both expert witnesses and lay witnesses. We heard the stories of ordinary Canadians across the country, and I encourage you to go to the National Citizens Inquiry website and watch this testimony. It is definitely worth your time. We have over 200 hours of testimony, and it was the Herculean task of our Commissioners to go through all of that testimony and put together a report.
While we've been waiting for months as they put together this huge report, it's not yet completed. However, with the recent government announcement that a new Moderna shot has been approved, they felt that it was urgent to release this one piece of the report. We're calling it the interim report.
Just to give you a little bit of context before I introduce the Commissioners, I will review that the two main pieces of testimony that we heard from were from Mr. Sean Buckley, who is a constitutional lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience, with a particular focus on Health Canada and drug regulations. The second piece was from Ms. Deanna MacLeod, who's the founder of an independent medical research firm that prepares evidence-based reviews.
So today, they are presenting that piece of the report. Before I hand it over to them, I'm going to introduce you to each of them. So, I'll just wait for them to come up on the screen.
I'm going to start with Heather de Gregorio. She is a tax lawyer and senior partner at an Alberta law firm. Mr. Bernard Messi, Dr. Excuse me, Dr. Bernard Messi, a retired biotechnologist in Quebec. Janice Kakonen, an Ontario school trustee who works with vulnerable populations. And finally, our chair of the Commissioners, Ken Drysdale, a professional engineer from Manitoba
Part 2:
Ken Drysdale:
Good afternoon, everybody. In February 2023, the appointment of the Commissioners marked the commencement of a vital journey across Canada. Over the course of two and a half months, the Commissioners embarked on a series of three-day hearings held in eight different cities across this great nation. Throughout these hearings, a remarkable tapestry of voices emerged as the Commissioners had the privilege of listening to approximately 300 witnesses. These witnesses, who came forward with courage and conviction, included everyday Canadians whose lives were profoundly impacted by the actions taken during the pandemic by our government. Among these witnesses were brave mothers and fathers, devoted grandparents, caring brothers and sisters, loving husbands and wives, and cherished sons and daughters. Their diverse perspectives offered a rich mosaic of experiences that have shaped the narrative of our investigation.
In addition to these courageous individuals, we had the privilege of hearing from world-renowned experts spanning a multitude of fields. Their insights and expertise have further enriched our understanding of the complex challenges we faced as a nation during these trying times. It is worth noting that our hearings did not include testimony from any government agency involved with implementing the pandemic measures. Non-judicial subpoenas were sent out to 63 members of government regulators and authorities, and none agreed to attend and testify.
For the past four months since the conclusion of the live hearings, the Commissioners have diligently worked to distill this wealth of testimony into a comprehensive investigative report. This report not only presents the testimony in its raw and unfiltered form but also offers specific recommendations born from insights shared by Canadians from coast to coast.
Today, we stand before you ready to share a portion of our findings that are most pertinent to the current events affecting our nation and the world. Our commitment to transparency and accountability remains steadfast, and we believe it is crucial to bring forth this information to the public's attention.
In recent weeks, our world has witnessed a series of significant developments that have reshaped the landscape of our ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic measures. The Commissioners overseeing our comprehensive investigation have carefully considered the implications of these events, and we deemed it imperative to release a portion of our overall investigative report, a section that is particularly relevant to the current state of affairs in Canada and the world.
Just days ago, the FDA in the United States took a critical step by granting approval to new COVID-19 vaccines, raising eyebrows due to the apparent absence of completed clinical testing. What's striking is that this new vaccine seemed to have gained approval primarily on the strength of prior authorizations granted for COVID-19 vaccines. In tandem, the CDC swiftly followed suit, endorsing the use of these new vaccines for individuals as young as six months of age.
These decisions have ignited discussions and prompted questions about the robustness of the regulatory process, particularly in the face of the evolving landscape of the pandemic. Furthermore, Health Canada has also recently greenlit a new COVID-19 vaccine produced by Moderna, and it seems that this approval followed a similar path as those in the United States. Interestingly, Moderna has also announced the construction of a new mRNA vaccine production facility in Montreal, and it is reported that they expect to produce 100 million doses of mRNA vaccine in 2024.
In conjunction with these developments, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, held a press conference where she and her staff were seen wearing masks, rekindling discussion about public masking. These developments, combined with the considerable evidence presented to our Commission, have led us to believe that it is of the utmost importance to inform the public about the original authorization process for the existing COVID-19 vaccines. The government's reliance on the same authorization process for the new vaccine underscores the critical need for transparency and clarity regarding how these decisions were initially made.
The release of this portion of our investigative report seeks to shed light on the approval process and provide insights into the concerns and recommendations arising from our comprehensive examination. In these times of uncertainty and rapid changes, it is essential for the public to have a clear understanding of the basis upon which medical interventions are authorized and for regulatory agencies to maintain the highest standards of safety and efficacy.
We look forward to discussing these pressing issues and providing clarity on the authorization process for COVID-19 vaccines. This information presented in this release highlights concerns about the process through which these vaccines were granted approval and raises important questions about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. This is a matter of great public interest, and it demands our attention.
The traditional process for approving new drugs in Canada is outlined in Division eight of Canada's Food and Drug Regulations, and it demands rigorous evidence of both safety and efficacy. It follows a sequence where safety is established first, followed by efficacy, and then a risk-benefit analysis. This process is fundamental to assuring that Canadians are not exposed to unknown risks when it comes to medical interventions. However, what we have learned is that the Canadian government did not adhere to this conventional evaluation and endorsement process when authorizing COVID-19 vaccines. Instead, a new process was established where Health Canada authorized these vaccines under an interim order, which later became a permanent regulation.
Under this alternative authorization process, the necessity to objectively establish the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines appears to have been set aside. The significance of this cannot be overstated. Objectively and independently proving the safety and efficacy of a new drug before its introduction into the market is a cornerstone of responsible health care and public safety. It is crucial to instill trust among health care professionals and the public and to ensure that medical interventions are based on the most accurate and reliable information available. In the context of a global health crisis, these principles are vital to ensuring that public health measures are not only effective but also respectful of individuals' rights and dignity. This stringent approach becomes even more important when a drug is intended for widespread use across all segments of the population, including children and pregnant women.
The authorization of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada followed the interim order, which required a subjective assessment of whether the benefits outweighed the risks, with the consideration of the "urgent public health need." This subjective approach, rather than the objective proof, has raised concerns about the rigorousness of the authorization process. It is essential to note that the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines under this subjective test essentially guaranteed their approval. Given the high stakes involved and the pressure to secure vaccines for Canadians, this situation created a potential conflict of interest, as the government, which had purchased and imported these vaccines, also had the responsibility for authorizing them.
Furthermore, the interim order prevented the Minister of Health from revoking authorization even if evidence emerged suggesting that the vaccines were unsafe or ineffective. This lack of flexibility raised additional concerns about the protection of the public. The timing of the interim order, just ahead of the vaccine authorization application, also raises questions about whether pharmaceutical companies knew in advance what the authorization requirements would be. Additionally, testimony highlighted potential conflicts of interest and biases within the teams responsible for conducting and reporting the trial data submitted to Health Canada, raising concerns about the transparency and objectivity of the testing process.
In conclusion, this information underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the authorization process for COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. This is imperative to ensure that safety, efficacy, and transparency are not compromised when making decisions that impact public health. We have made the following recommendations:
1. Rescind the newly implemented revisions to the Food and Drug Regulations related to COVID-19 vaccine authorization, as they permanently exempt these vaccines from the requirements to objectively prove safety and efficacy.
2. Immediately halt the current use of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada that were authorized under the
revised provisions of the interim order and the newly revised Food and Drug Regulations.
3. Conduct a full judicial investigation into the authorization process of COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada, with the possibility of addressing any criminal liability that might be found.
4. Make all documentation concerning the authorization process and information provided to regulatory agencies by the manufacturers publicly available.
These recommendations are critical to restoring public trust in the vaccine authorization process and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Canadians. Thank you, Michelle.
Part 3:
Michelle Leduke Catlin:
Thank you very much, Commissioners. That was very sobering. We're going to now have a word from the National Citizens Inquiry Administrator, Mr. Ches Crosbie.
Ches Crosbie:
Thank you, Michelle. Fellow Canadians, if you're like me, you'll be shocked to learn that Health Canada has never decided that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. My name is Chess Crosby, and I'm a longtime lawyer and former official leader of the opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I'm the administrator of the National Citizens Inquiry. I speak to you on a matter of great importance for the continued survival of the Canada we love.
No government in Canada wants to do an inquiry into their management or mismanagement of the response to COVID. So, a group of dedicated freedom-loving Canadians from all walks of life decided to hold a citizen-led and citizen-funded inquiry to give you a voice and a chance to hold accountable governments that prefer to be unaccountable.
Since concluding cross-country hearings in May, the National Citizens Inquiry Commissioners have been greatly troubled by a fact established beyond doubt. On the face of the exceptional laws which the government of Canada rushed to market, the COVID vaccines, the drug safety regulator Health Canada has not applied the traditional objective test for safety and effectiveness to the COVID vaccines and has not determined that they are safe and effective.
The safe and effective slogan that you have heard repeated over and over by politicians and health officials is nothing but a marketing pitch. The statement on the Health Canada website that the COVID vaccines are proven safe and effective is a lie. Politicians lied, officials lied, and the regulator Canadians trusted to protect them has been corrupted.
Like me, many of you have been duped into taking undue risks with your health and safety. In the words of the Commissioners, the COVID-19 vaccines are neither safe nor effective. Don't take my word for it. Go to NationalCitizensInquiry.ca and verify for yourself why the Commissioners say neither safe nor effective in their report and in their national press conference today, September 14th. Tell your friends and loved ones: Neither safe nor effective. Spread the news on social media: Neither safe nor effective. If you have talk radio open-line shows like I do in this province, call in: Neither safe nor effective. Pick three witness testimonies at random and watch them; your life will be changed.
Write your Member of Parliament and provincial representative and demand they inform themselves about Health Canada's dereliction of duty and ask questions in the House. Print out the pages of the portion of the report, "Neither safe nor effective," that the Commissioners have released and give it to elected representatives or send them the link. They respond to pressure; as a former legislator, I should know.
Print the pamphlet "This is Canada," which you can find at NationalCitizensInquiry.ca, and hand it around in your neighborhood. And don't let the lying government, the fake health experts, and the corrupt media press your fear button. As a great president of a great nation to the south of us once said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." If we recognize their fear campaign as the instrument of mind control that it is, the truth and Canada will once again be a beacon of liberty in the world and a country we can be proud of because we fought to make it so. Thank you.
Michelle Leduke Catlin:
Thank you, Mr. Ches Crosbie. We're now going to take questions from the media. I'm going to ask you to keep your questions brief, limit yourselves to one question with one possible follow-up. So, I'm just waiting to hear who is up first.
PS.
To end this article, I really liked this post:
