BRAID GOES LEFT
Braid: Accusing Kenney of COVID-19 'malpractice,' Notley demands independent panelBECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE
'What shocked me is that the whole government went dark . . . in other provinces, they were taking action despite having a fraction of our problem,' said Notley
Author of the article: Don Braid • Calgary Herald
Publishing date:Sep 08, 2021 •
NDP leader Rachel Notley shows off her plan for a vaccine passport at a press conference in Calgary, Alberta.
SUPPLIED PHOTO PHOTO BY DAVE DEGAGNE & BRAD GIBBONS
NDP Leader Rachel Notley says we’re at a COVID-19 danger point where the public might lose all trust in government.
“I am very worried about public trust in general, and not just among the more vocal ones on the fringes but amongst the population as a whole,” she said in an interview.
I think that’s understating the loss of trust in UCP performance on COVID-19. A lot of it is gone already.
The silent summer suggested that for several weeks the people in charge didn’t have a clue about the rising surge of the virus.
“We began to see this fourth wave coming down the track like a train that had lost its brakes — and not a word from anybody in a leadership position,” Notley said.
“Sure, (Premier) Jason Kenney took a holiday. I have nothing bad to say about that.
“But what shocked me is that the whole government went dark . . . in other provinces, they were taking action despite having a fraction of our problem.
Notley believes this performance — “governance malpractice,” she calls it — severely damaged trust that was already shaky. And that threatens compliance with new measures and policies.
She proposes an “independent COVID-19 science advisory table” — a lofty name for a very good idea that has been used in Ontario for months.
It’s a group of independent experts who “evaluate and report on emerging evidence relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform Ontario’s response.”
Crucially, the information is also made public. The citizens hear what the government hears.
In Alberta, all the information we get comes from the government. We’ve seen very little on modelling, and it’s often shaky.
And we never see the options for dealing with COVID that chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw presents to the government caucus committee. Only the decisions are public.
The NDP has repeatedly asked for the full list of failed recommendations, but the government refuses.
Hinshaw has independent powers under law, but she’s also an employee of the health department. Her view of the job is that she’s obliged only to advise government, which makes all the final calls.
Hinshaw’s calm, reassuring support for the final decisions saw the government through some tough spots. But now, the fading trust is sticking to her as well.
Notley notes that in other provinces, when the chief medical officer of health is away or otherwise busy, deputy medical officers often speak publicly.
That hasn’t happened in Alberta. Hinshaw fell as silent as the politicians in a crucial period.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley says we’re at a COVID-19 danger point where the public might lose all trust in government.
“I am very worried about public trust in general, and not just among the more vocal ones on the fringes but amongst the population as a whole,” she said in an interview.
I think that’s understating the loss of trust in UCP performance on COVID-19. A lot of it is gone already.
The silent summer suggested that for several weeks the people in charge didn’t have a clue about the rising surge of the virus.
“We began to see this fourth wave coming down the track like a train that had lost its brakes — and not a word from anybody in a leadership position,” Notley said.
“Sure, (Premier) Jason Kenney took a holiday. I have nothing bad to say about that.
“But what shocked me is that the whole government went dark . . . in other provinces, they were taking action despite having a fraction of our problem.
Notley believes this performance — “governance malpractice,” she calls it — severely damaged trust that was already shaky. And that threatens compliance with new measures and policies.
She proposes an “independent COVID-19 science advisory table” — a lofty name for a very good idea that has been used in Ontario for months.
It’s a group of independent experts who “evaluate and report on emerging evidence relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform Ontario’s response.”
Crucially, the information is also made public. The citizens hear what the government hears.
In Alberta, all the information we get comes from the government. We’ve seen very little on modelling, and it’s often shaky.
And we never see the options for dealing with COVID that chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw presents to the government caucus committee. Only the decisions are public.
The NDP has repeatedly asked for the full list of failed recommendations, but the government refuses.
Hinshaw has independent powers under law, but she’s also an employee of the health department. Her view of the job is that she’s obliged only to advise government, which makes all the final calls.
Hinshaw’s calm, reassuring support for the final decisions saw the government through some tough spots. But now, the fading trust is sticking to her as well.
Notley notes that in other provinces, when the chief medical officer of health is away or otherwise busy, deputy medical officers often speak publicly.
That hasn’t happened in Alberta. Hinshaw fell as silent as the politicians in a crucial period.
Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw is seen during a press conference about back-to-school guidance and the postponement of the relaxation of COVID-19 regulations for six weeks at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.
PHOTO BY IAN KUCERAK /Postmedia
Alberta’s COVID-19 response now seems hopelessly entangled with politics, driven by Kenney’s need to stay onside with a fractious caucus.
A truly independent science table, like Ontario’s, would help decouple information and recommendations from politics.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t follow his panel’s advice a couple of times, but he had to say why and take the heat.
Kenney, by extreme contrast, has never had to explain why a proposal is refused.
It’s unlikely that any other province has such a secretive COVID response team. Or a team that went so far off the rails during a silent summer.
Notley also thinks a government vaccine passport is essential, not just to contain the virus but to encourage immunization and reboot the economy. Polls show that most Albertans agree by a wide margin.
Under current rules, people still feel worried in bars or restaurants, Notley says, because those at the next table might be unvaccinated.
“The passport eliminates that chilling effect,” she adds.
“It’s also the only proven method that will increase the uptake in vaccine. With the passport, these businesses could pull themselves up again.”
Notley and her crew issued many warnings about the looming dangers over the summer. Despite being accused of alarmism, they were generally right.
And here we are in full-blown crisis, with 18 deaths Tuesday, 50 so far in September, and surgeries cancelled everywhere.
When a government falls completely silent during a time when genuine vigilance is essential, somebody else will do the talking.
It will hurt. It should hurt.
Alberta’s COVID-19 response now seems hopelessly entangled with politics, driven by Kenney’s need to stay onside with a fractious caucus.
A truly independent science table, like Ontario’s, would help decouple information and recommendations from politics.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t follow his panel’s advice a couple of times, but he had to say why and take the heat.
Kenney, by extreme contrast, has never had to explain why a proposal is refused.
It’s unlikely that any other province has such a secretive COVID response team. Or a team that went so far off the rails during a silent summer.
Notley also thinks a government vaccine passport is essential, not just to contain the virus but to encourage immunization and reboot the economy. Polls show that most Albertans agree by a wide margin.
Under current rules, people still feel worried in bars or restaurants, Notley says, because those at the next table might be unvaccinated.
“The passport eliminates that chilling effect,” she adds.
“It’s also the only proven method that will increase the uptake in vaccine. With the passport, these businesses could pull themselves up again.”
Notley and her crew issued many warnings about the looming dangers over the summer. Despite being accused of alarmism, they were generally right.
And here we are in full-blown crisis, with 18 deaths Tuesday, 50 so far in September, and surgeries cancelled everywhere.
When a government falls completely silent during a time when genuine vigilance is essential, somebody else will do the talking.
It will hurt. It should hurt.
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