Over a span of four days in Ottawa this week, Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Dean Allison conducted independent hearings regarding COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The Allison Inquiry listened to testimonies from 50 individuals selected from a pool of over 1,400 applicants, predominantly Canadians who traveled to Parliament Hill from various parts of the country to recount their personal injury experiences.
The purpose of the inquiry, as outlined in its terms of reference, was to provide a platform for Canadians to share their stories rather than to make definitive findings or conclusions. Notably, the inquiry did not engage with Health Canada and was not officially endorsed by the federal government.
Representing the Niagara West constituency in the House of Commons, Allison emphasized that the inquiry aimed to initiate a long-overdue dialogue. He stressed the importance of compassion regardless of differing opinions on COVID-19, vaccines, or public policies, as he concluded the inquiry on Friday.
Among the witnesses at the inquiry was Drue Taylor, a 36-year-old massage therapist from Alberta, who participated virtually due to physical limitations preventing her from traveling. Taylor disclosed her struggles with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a chronic nervous system disorder causing symptoms like rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea upon standing.
Taylor shared her experience with the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), expressing frustration with the program’s handling of her case. The VISP processed 3,557 claims and disbursed over $21 million to claimants between June 2021 and November 2025, with 252 claims approved by the Medical Review Board out of 1,433 assessed claims during that period.
To qualify for VISP, individuals must have sustained significant or permanent harm from an authorized Health Canada vaccine. Following criticisms of its management, the federal government assumed control of the program in 2026 after initially delegating administration to a third-party operator, Oxaro, which was later succeeded by the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP).
While most participants at the inquiry were Canadians recounting personal accounts of vaccine injuries, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson also testified, using his platform to critique Dr. Anthony Fauci and question the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
The independent nature of the inquiry organized by Allison marked the first of its kind in Canada, addressing a gap in official investigations into COVID-19 vaccine-related injuries at the federal level. The inquiry’s website highlighted that numerous democratic nations, including G7 and Commonwealth members, have conducted comprehensive COVID-19 inquiries scrutinizing various aspects of the pandemic response.
Calls from medical experts urging the government to launch a nationwide inquiry into Canada’s pandemic strategies have persisted, although no official initiative has materialized. In 2023, public-led hearings, such as the National Citizens Inquiry into Canada’s Response to COVID-19, unfolded in multiple provinces as a grassroots effort to address pandemic-related concerns.
Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Mona Nemer, emphasized the importance of reflecting on the country’s pandemic response to enhance preparedness for future health crises. Notably, between December 2020 and December 2023, Canada administered 105 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with Health Canada reporting 58,712 adverse event reports, comprising 0.056% of all vaccinations, and 11,702 classified as serious incidents, representing 0.011% of total vaccine administrations.
