The Public Health Agency increased its payroll after the pandemic was over, new figures show. No reason was given. The data follow Budget Office estimates that employee costs for all federal departments and agencies were $69.5 billion last year.

The Health Agency in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons counted 810 employees last year after the World Health Organization declared an end to the Covid-19 pandemic. The number the previous year totaled 787, and just 272 employees in the last pre-pandemic year of 2019. Figures were tabled at the request of Conservative MP Robert Kitchen (Souris-Moose Mountain, Sask.) who asked, “How many new jobs or full time equivalent positions have been created at the Public Health Agency?”