Conservative MP Dean Allison conducted a series of independent hearings in Ottawa over four days this week focused on COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The Allison Inquiry gathered testimony from 50 individuals selected from a pool of over 1,400 applicants, with most being Canadians who journeyed to Parliament Hill from various parts of the country to share their personal accounts of injury.
The inquiry’s objective was to provide a platform for Canadians to share their experiences and not to make definitive determinations or conclusions. Notably, no representatives from Health Canada participated in the inquiry, and it was not endorsed by the federal government.
Dean Allison, the Member of Parliament for Niagara West, emphasized that the inquiry aimed to initiate discussions that should have commenced much earlier. He stressed the importance of compassion regardless of differing opinions on COVID-19, vaccines, or public policies.
Among the witnesses was Drue Taylor, a 36-year-old massage therapist from Alberta, who attended the inquiry remotely due to physical limitations that restricted her ability to travel. Taylor shared her ordeal of developing postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) after receiving a vaccine.
Taylor expressed frustration with the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), stating that despite receiving an initial payout of $45,000 after a prolonged process, she faced challenges with the program’s appeal stage. Health Canada disclosed that between June 2021 and November 2025, VISP processed 3,557 claims, disbursing over $21 million to claimants, with 252 claims approved by the Medical Review Board.
Following concerns about program management, the federal government assumed control in 2026, transitioning from the third-party administrator, Oxaro, to the current Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP).
The inquiry also featured U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who utilized his testimony to criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci and question the origins of the COVID-19 virus. The inquiry marked the first of its kind in Canada, filling a gap where no government-sanctioned investigation into COVID-19 vaccine injuries had previously been conducted.
Medical experts have advocated for a comprehensive national inquiry into Canada’s pandemic response, despite no such initiative being launched by the government to date. In 2023, public hearings like the National Citizens Inquiry into Canada’s Response to COVID-19 were independently organized across several provinces.
Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Mona Nemer, emphasized the importance of evaluating the government’s pandemic response to enhance preparedness for future health crises. Health Canada data revealed that between December 2020 and December 2023, 105 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Canada, with 58,712 adverse event reports filed, representing a small fraction of all vaccinations given.
