Senator Gold: Senator Wallin, as I said in this chamber, the government is considering how to best address the important question of learning the lessons from the pandemic. With all due respect, I think you are making assumptions that are not warranted in terms of what the government’s deliberations are.

I have every confidence that when the details are announced, they will be an appropriate response to the important need for us to learn the lessons and take account of what we did well — and we did many things well during the pandemic — and what we could do better the next time we are faced with a similar crisis.

Senator Wallin: Your government has said “no” to a credible and independent inquiry into pandemic spending and management. As you told us in this chamber this week, the government will conduct its own inquiry into itself.

We actually need an arm’s-length transparent assessment of the true cost of vaccines, supplies and the billions of dollars spent. Will you reconsider this absurd approach of passing judgment on yourself and have an independent inquiry?