The Senate has authorized three committees to study the federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of a new special committee to review lessons learned down the road.

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance is set to study elements of Bill C-13, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, and Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2.

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology is set to study, more generally, the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate authorized both committees, as well as the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, to meet and hear from witnesses by videoconference or teleconference.

The Senate also created a new Special Senate Committee on the Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Preparedness, whose work is expected to begin in October 2020.

The committee was created “to conduct a sober second thought assessment of the various impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic in Canada, as well as the initiatives that have been undertaken to address this crisis, to carry out a broad consultation of Canadians to determine the challenges and specific needs of various regions and communities, and to identify lessons learned to prepare for future pandemics,” according to a motion adopted in the Senate.