That's a very good question.
It's important to continue funding research. The only way to fight an unknown enemy—in other words, the next virus—is to know as much as possible about many types of viruses. We have to let researchers work within the broadest scope possible without directing their work. When research is tethered, it necessarily goes in a specific direction. That means knowing what direction you're heading in, and that's not the case with an emerging future pandemic.
We must support a diversity of fundamental research and listen to the science. Numerous reports by the WHO and research institutes revealed that this risk was out there. The world didn't listen to researchers, in Canada or anywhere else. We have to learn from that. We have to let scientists keep a much more vigilant eye on emerging fields and give them the resources to respond.