I made a point this week to watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier John Horgan and Minister Adrian Dix and I thought to myself, “What? No recommendations to load up on hydroxychloroquine? No advice to inject bleach? No guidance to expose yourself to UV light?”
I joke, of course. I am so grateful that our politicians have left the science to scientists. It’s much better that way.
I’m also grateful that in Canada we have had the good sense to elect politicians who understand their limitations and step out of the way when need be.
Our good neighbours to the south, unfortunately, have not been so blessed. They’ve allowed a dangerous narcissist loose and sadly, many 10s (100s?) of thousands are going to die because of his inability to be a leader and step back.
“God Bless, America,” they say, and I truly hope he or she does because they have nothing else going for them until, at least, November.
Although I’ve not always been the biggest cheerleader for our prime minister, I will say that he’s done a pretty good job with all of this. He’s balancing empathy and action, and he’s helping to reduce the overall anxiety in our country. Premier Horgan has, wisely I think, stepped almost completely off the stage and let his health minister and provincial health officer take the lead.
But anxiety still exists. The changes that we’ve undergone over the last five or six weeks have, and continue to be, difficult.
I am reminded of how fortunate I am when I scroll through comments on news sites and read the anger and fear expressed by people. There are concerns about safety but also real bewilderment over why we are in this lockdown at all.
That shouldn’t be surprising, really.
B.C. has had a relatively easy go of it.
Our infection, hospitalization and death rates have been moderate and so it’s easy to fall into the “what’s all the fuss about?” mode.
But, of course, that needs to be balanced with the “what might have been.” What if we hadn’t taken the measures we have in this province. What might things look like? Could we be another Italy? New York?
We are all figuring this out as we go and I think patience can go a long way to making it easier for everyone. That, and listening to experts. “Be kind, be safe and be calm,” as Dr. Bonnie Henry says. And keep the bleach for the countertops.
Paul Demers is a long-time Squamish local and high school teacher.
