Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has appointed Dr. Gary Davidson, a physician who previously accused the province of exaggerating COVID-19’s impact on hospitals, to lead a review of pandemic-era health data. Smith stated that she wanted to hear a range of viewpoints, including those that have been “shouted down in the public sphere.” Davidson, the former chief of emergency medicine at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, was appointed chair of the task force a year ago. During the height of the fourth wave of the pandemic in 2021, Davidson claimed that hospital admission numbers were overblown and being manipulated to justify public health restrictions, an accusation that was rejected by the provincial health authority, Alberta Health Services. The task force’s work is nearly complete, but few details have been publicized since it was established in 2022.
In 2022, Danielle Smith became the Alberta Premier after winning a vote by United Conservative Party members. Her campaign focused on addressing COVID-19 grievances and promising to seek amnesty for those who violated public health restrictions. However, she later stated that she did not have the authority to follow through on this promise. Smith directed the creation of Davidson’s task force with the aim of reviewing data and providing recommendations on how to better manage future pandemics. The task force is expected to analyze public health data, fact-check concerns about vaccine side-effects, and produce a final report that will be made public. This initiative is the second third-party COVID analysis commissioned by Smith’s government, with the first one being a report by former Reform Party leader Preston Manning that focused on improving laws and regulations for future pandemics.
Smith’s decision to appoint Davidson as the chair of the task force and to prioritize alternative scientific narratives has faced criticism from opposition leader Rachel Notley. Notley described the panel as a waste of public money and criticized Smith for launching a secret consultation led by someone with “fringe views.” Smith has been known to question the efficacy of pandemic rules and gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has endorsed debunked COVID-19 treatments, such as the horse dewormer ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and supported the Great Barrington Declaration, which proposed letting COVID-19 run free to build up herd immunity while protecting the elderly and frail.
The Globe and Mail reported on Smith’s decision to appoint Davidson as the chair of the task force and highlighted his previous statements about hospital admission numbers being exaggerated during the fourth wave of the pandemic in 2021. Davidson, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, served as the chief of emergency medicine at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Smith’s government allocated $2 million for the project, with the expectation that it would come under budget. The final report from the task force is set to be submitted to the government next month, and Smith has committed to making the findings public. The task force aims to provide recommendations on how to better manage future pandemics and analyze public health data to address concerns about vaccine side-effects.
Overall, Smith’s government has faced scrutiny for its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, with opposition leaders questioning the validity of appointing someone with controversial views to lead a review of pandemic-era health data. While Smith has emphasized the importance of considering a range of perspectives, critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential implications of promoting fringe viewpoints. The task force led by Davidson is expected to deliver its final report soon, shedding light on the government’s response to the pandemic and the measures taken to address public health concerns in Alberta.
