‘Potentially dangerous’: health experts call Alberta covid report ‘an attempt to rewrite history’

Alberta’s Minister of Health states that the report contains “a broad range of perspectives” from health care professionals, academics, researchers, and advisers. The recommendations aim to enhance the government’s ability to protect the health and safety of Albertans in the future.

Critics have described the report as “a sad document lacking significant credibility,” accusing it of taking information out of context.

On January 24, 2025, the government of Alberta quietly released the findings of a task force that evaluated the province’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report, with a budget of $2 million, was commissioned shortly after Danielle Smith assumed power in late 2022, pledging to address the COVID-19 concerns of her supporters.

The task force was led by Dr. Gary Davidson, a former chief of emergency medicine at Red Deer Hospital, who, during the pandemic, criticized the province for exaggerating the impact of Covid-19.

Smith defended Davidson’s appointment, stating the importance of hearing diverse viewpoints, including those marginalized in public discourse.

Among the task force members was Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a vocal critic of American Covid-19 policies, and Dr. Brian Conway, Medical Director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Center, who criticized the report for lacking peer review.

Mount Royal University Political Science Professor, Dr. Duane Bratt, expressed concerns about the task force’s composition, indicating bias towards extreme views on vaccination and public health restrictions.

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The 269-page report highlights grievances with the province’s pandemic response and makes several recommendations, including refraining from future mask mandates, critiquing lockdown measures, and questioning the use of rapid tests for screening the general population.

Dr. Conway criticized the report for disregarding natural immunity and vaccine efficacy, calling it dangerous and lacking credibility.

Dr. Saxinger described the report as an attempt to rewrite history, questioning its accuracy and potential impact on public health.

Speaking on a podcast, Dr. Davidson defended the panel’s research methods, emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiry and critical evaluation.

Alberta’s Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, stated that the government will review the report but has not made any policy decisions based on it at this time.

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