Conservative MP Dean Allison conducted hearings in Ottawa over a four-day period this week to address COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The inquiry, known as the Allison Inquiry, featured testimonies from 50 individuals selected from a pool of over 1,400 applicants who traveled from various parts of Canada to share their personal accounts of injury at Parliament Hill.
The inquiry’s main objective was to provide a platform for Canadians to voice their experiences without making official determinations or conclusions. Notably, representatives from Health Canada did not participate in the unsanctioned proceedings by the federal government.
Dean Allison, the Member of Parliament for Niagara West, emphasized that the inquiry aimed to spark discussions that should have commenced long ago. He emphasized the importance of compassion, regardless of individual opinions on COVID-19, vaccines, or public policies.
Among the witnesses was Drue Taylor, a 36-year-old massage therapist from Alberta, who virtually testified about her struggles with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following vaccination. Taylor expressed frustration with the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), stating that despite an initial $45,000 payout, she has been stuck in the program’s appeal process for years.
Health Canada disclosed that between June 2021 and November 2025, VISP processed 3,557 claims, with a total payout exceeding $21 million. Only 252 out of 1,433 assessed claims were approved by the Medical Review Board, with eligibility requiring individuals to have suffered serious or permanent injury from a Health Canada-approved vaccine.
The administration of the VISP faced criticism, leading the federal government to take control of the program in 2026 after initially outsourcing it to a third-party administrator, Oxaro. This transition resulted in the establishment of the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP).
Beyond personal accounts, the inquiry featured testimonies from various individuals, including U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who used his time to criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci and question the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
Dean Allison highlighted that the independent inquiry marked the first of its kind in Canada, filling a void left by the absence of government-sanctioned investigations into COVID-19 vaccine injuries. While calls persist for a national inquiry into Canada’s pandemic response, including the 2023 National Citizens Inquiry, no such government-led investigation has materialized.
In a recent interview, Canada’s chief science advisor, Mona Nemer, advocated for a government-led reflection on the pandemic response to enhance preparedness for future public health challenges. Health Canada’s data revealed that from December 2020 to December 2023, over 105 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered across Canada, with 58,712 reported adverse events, of which 11,702 were deemed serious.
