New Brunswick will seek independent review of its COVID-19 pandemic response

New Brunswick will seek an independent review of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are currently looking at options for government consideration," Erika Jutras, spokesperson for Finance and Treasury Board told CBC.

The decision comes as the province prepares to lift all COVID-19 restrictions next Monday.

Jutras did not respond to questions about the purpose of the pandemic "post-mortem" or what it will entail.

But she did say it will be made public once its complete.

No timeline was provided.

Last December, the Liberals called for an independent review of the province's handling of the pandemic. Interim Liberal Leader Roger Melanson tabled the motion, saying it could help guide responses to future emergency responses.

"It's been a very difficult pandemic and there's been some decisions made good, and maybe been decisions made that were not as good, we don't know," he said. "There maybe have been situations where decisions should have been made and they were not made."

The motion was defeated 23-20 by the Progressive Conservative majority.

Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters at the time it was not the right time for a review.

"We are still dealing with issues related to [the] health and safety of citizens," he said.

"You may do reviews later and say, 'What would we do differently? How would you react differently?' But in the middle of a pandemic, you don't do a, basically a review or a study, that takes away from the resources that you need to deal with the issues at hand."

Asked whether he would support the idea later, he said, "Sure," if the government feels it can "learn something," such as whether different actions could have had a better impact.

"Lessons learned are always helpful in analysis of past situations."