Tory MPs, health group call for investigation and overhaul of vaccine support program

'The Liberals handed out tens of millions of dollars to high priced consultants while the very Canadians this program was intended to help have been neglected,' the Tory MPs said.

Four Conservative MPs are calling for a Commons committee investigation into the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), and a pivotal non-profit health foundation says the effort needs an urgent overhaul.

Led by Dan Mazier, the Conservative health critic and deputy chairman of the Commons Health Committee, the group requested in a letter that Liberal MP and committee chairperson Hedy Fry convene for an emergency hearing. Fry did not respond to their request.

“This is more than mismanagement,” their letter read. “It appears to be a blatant misuse of tax dollars. The Liberals handed out tens of millions of dollars to high priced consultants while the very Canadians this program was intended to help have been neglected.”

The other Conservatives who signed the letter included Kitchener-area MP Dr. Matt Strauss, South Okanagan MP Helena Konanz, and Red Deer MP Burton Bailey.

A political aide to Hedy Fry said she was unavailable for an interview.

“Dr. Fry is spending time with her family currently where there are connectivity issues and unreliable reception. I’ve been having a hard time reaching her. As such, it seems she is not available to discuss,” Fry’s political staffer replied in an email.

The criticisms emerged this week in the wake of a five-month Global News investigation into the Liberal government’s 2020 announcement it would create VISP and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s decision to outsource its administration to the Ottawa consulting firm, Oxaro Inc., in 2021.

Oxaro  did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.