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heatherhasbetterthingstodo · 2 years

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Letter 22 of 22

February 3, 2022

Dear Premier Stefanson et al,

It has been twenty-one (21) days since I sent correspondence with feedback that was expressly solicited when you said on January 12th that you "will be taking advice from other Manitobans…moving forward." To date, I have received no response whatsoever from either yourself or any representative of yours. This is disappointing, though not unexpected.

The press conference yesterday was yet another discouraging instance of the current government in Manitoba seeking to forge ahead without proper regard for the short or long-term consequences of easing restrictions yet again (while case numbers are beyond counting, transmission of Covid-19 is at an all-time level, and deaths related to Covid are still climbing). Contrary to what you said during the question period, we actually do not all have the same end-goal in mind. Those individuals and communities that have remained steadfast in their objection to public health orders/measures are being increasingly released from any responsibility they have to get vaccinated, remain masked, limit contacts, etc, which has always been their primary goal. This dissent is seriously problematic, unjust, and has literally cost people their lives. What's more, with Dr. Roussin providing false hope about a spring re-opening with zero restrictions (?), this will only serve to strengthen obstinacy, complacency, and revolt. Who knows. Maybe circumstances will be significantly better by then…for everyone's sake, I hope they are. However, that remains to be seen, and the evidence world-wide is not yet confirmably pointing in that direction. In fact, as Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organization disclosed yesterday, since the Coronavirus is continuing to circulate and evolve, we need to do all that we can to reduce our exposure to whatever variant is circulating.

Second, your continued partisan critique of the federal vaccine mandate for truck drivers was not what Manitobans needed to hear - along with your unwillingness to speak against MP Candice Bergen's comments that unashamedly equated hate symbols like the Nazi flag with the removal of tacitly racist/colonization-supporting statues. You said repeatedly that you "don't condone any violent behaviour." Good. And yet a clear statement that you fundamentally disagree with the ideology and practice of protesters in both Ottawa and Alberta was glaringly absent. Though property damage and hate speech are both unlawful, they are absolutely not equivalent.

And one final comment. To reiterate the very last thing that you uttered to people yesterday: "We're done"…for now. It's clear that the provincial government is unwaveringly set on doing the very opposite of what I had passed along exactly three weeks ago AND that you have no intention of reading or replying to any of my correspondence. I guess what you said on January 12th about "taking advice from other Manitobans" was just rhetoric…I always knew it was, but this has been a helpful exercise these past twenty-one days of sending daily emails to manifestly confirm the indifference and undependabilty of MB Gov's current Conservative leadership. I earnestly look forward to voting for Wab Kinew whenever the next provincial election takes place (who - as a point of trivia - was the one and only person that personally responded to the initial message I sent on January 13th).

I wish you and your family health and safety for however many years this worldwide epidemic continues.

Sincerely, X

p.s. At the very least, if you're not going to listen to the lay opinions of a non-health-expert like myself, perhaps take some time consider the advice of professionals like Dr. Jason Kindrachuk or Dr. Souradet Shaw, who both agree that the plan to reopen is premature and shortsighted (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-reopening-plans-premature-experts-1.6337588?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar).

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Dear Premier Stefanson et al,

Greetings from Southern Manitoba. In light of the comments made at yesterday's press conference (i.e. January 12, 2022) - where it was specifically stated that the provincial government "will be taking advice from other Manitobans as well moving forward" - I would like to take this statement seriously/literally and provide you with some feedback from a deeply concerned resident of the Rural Municipality of Hanover. While the term "stakeholders" was likely used to refer primarily to business owners, I think it's vital to point out what should be obvious: all residents/citizens collectively are the most significant stakeholders in Manitoba, and if these voices - like my own - are not being listened to, what this conveys is that there is some serious misgovernance taking place (which undermines the democratic purpose/process of politicians acting on behalf of those who they are supposed to represent). Obviously, I don't expect a response, since it's clear that leaders in the current administration aren't even willing to answer direct questions from official members of the press. But if any confidence in this current government has any hope of being restored, I would appreciate if this correspondence was at the very least passed along to the people to whom it's addressed. Accordingly, at this time I would like to name four different issues: suppressing public health recommendations, the provincial response level, forced back to school, and expanding the proof of vaccination.

First, it was painfully obvious at yesterday's press conference that the government was indeed advised by its own public health division that stricter measures were needed in order to protect all Manitobans. Instead, what we saw was a blatant disregard of such recommendations in favour of a what was termed a "balanced" approach, which is clearly no longer concerned at all with "containing" the spread of Covid-19 but resigned to allow the entire population to contract the virus that some of us have been trying extremely hard to fight against these past two years. We're only in this position now - of supposedly needing to accept that "Covid is here to stay" - because the provincial response to the pandemic has ever tended to be reactive (as opposed to proactive) and has not listened to expertise from medical professionals soon enough to "mitigate" the collateral damage of human lives that we've seen. Granted - this is a worldwide problem and not a shortcoming that's specific to Manitoba; however, this does not release us from the responsibility to do our utmost to keep people safe - no matter the cost. Sure, listen to multiple sources. But if it's a veritable issue of life/death or health/illness, this alone trumps any political, economic, or religious interests. Therefore, if public health and/or medical experts are telling the government anything that has relevance to decisions that are being made at the provincial level, this ought to be transparently disclosed and must factor into policies that are enacted to protect the well-being of those who call Manitoba home.

Second, it was a common refrain the last few press conferences that Manitoba has had more strict measures in place than the other provinces across Canada (as some kind of justification/rationalization for not stepping up the current response level). To be perfectly honest, regardless of what our neighbours to the West, East, or South are doing, what matters above all else is to hold to a higher standard than those whose response has been subpar. In other words, the province of Manitoba should be seeking to be a leader nationally and globally in its championing of health and safety (instead of a follower, or a pariah). As it stands, we currently have the worst rate of active Covid-19 cases in Canada (again), and the province's response is to keep the response level at Orange - even though case numbers are worse than they have ever been throughout the entire pandemic. This is completely irresponsible and unacceptable. The province's response level should have been at Red long ago - with stay-at-home orders for all not-yet-vaccinated people (except for essentials), no guests at all for households that have any unvaccinated individuals, no special treatment for religious organizations, expanded and consistent enforcement of public health orders, etc. What's more, what Canada needs is a more unified approach, because what's happened to date - with each province essentially acting in isolation - is not working. Similar to the federal mandate for all civil servants to be vaccinated, a more unified partnership/coordination across provinces and territories to implement public health measure compliance is necessary to have any hope of preventing and containing future waves of the virus.

Third, this rhetoric of schools being "last to close, first to open" has to stop. Obviously no one wants schools to be closed since in-person learning spaces are inarguably preferable to online/virtual formats for most students. The reality of the capitalistic world that we occupy is that most people are reliant on children being in school so that parents/caregivers can work. And yet, by compelling students, staff and teachers to attend classes at an unsafe time during a global epidemic - without ensuring sufficient access to scientifically proven medical-grade masks for all, not substantially upgrading ventilation, not allowing time for students to get their second dose before restarting classes, etc - is nothing less than willing endangerment of human life. My kids, for example, got their first dose of the vaccine on the very first day they were eligible (i.e. November 28th); however, with the 8-week period that they are supposed to wait until their next vaccine appointment, the earliest we could make a booking was January 23rd (which we have done). Based on the "Severe Outcomes by Vaccination Status" graphs shown in the press conference, two doses provides significantly more protection than one (with any number of doses being preferrable to zero). That being said, there is no way that we are sending our children back to school before they have the opportunity to receive their second shot. Fortunately, we have the flexibility to do this as a family. But what about the large number of families who have no other option than to send their children back to school, or for those whose employment is school-based (who themselves have no option to strike because of the collective bargaining agreement)? Thus, it's crucial that the province delays the start of in-class learning until this present wave peaks and/or the province can adequately demonstrate that safety measures have in fact been systematically, expansively and verifiably increased at each school across every school division. Alternatively, distance options should at least be provided for families who have been advised to "look after themselves."

Finally, we already have a reliable system in place to ensure that the most people in public spaces are vaccinated, but it has not be expanded to its full potential. Only a vocal minority of Manitobans have expressed disagreement with proof of vaccination, so this should not prevent its continued use long-term. After all, there should be a lasting benefit for those who have faithfully abided by the province's strong recommendation to be vaccinated (and enduring consequences for obstinance). Also - if the province actually believes in vaccines as an important measure to contend with the Coronavirus (i.e. something "we're going to need to learn to live with…in the longer term"), then Manitoba seriously needs to consider implementing a vaccine mandate for all citizens and permanent residents, as well as requiring vaccines as a condition of attending public schools. Requirement is proven to yield more results than recommendation, and while there will always be those who stand in opposition, the cost-benefit of safeguarding life for all outweighs the preferences of individuals…otherwise, we wouldn't have laws that protect each other from harm.

All this to say, when it's communicated to us that, "it's up to Manitobans to look after themselves," what this signals is resignation and abdicating responsibility. That's not what we need from elected officials. We need you to set an example for us to follow; to inspire us to do better; to make hard decisions that will cost financial and political supporters; to answer questions honestly when asked directly; to keep calm and carry on with all of the things. That is the way out of the pandemic: not giving up.

Sincerely, X

p.s. Next time when N95 or medical grade masks are provided for Manitobans - which we as a family did not receive - please consider doing so at a location where there's more access for everyone, such as a Canada Post office. Not every community has a Liquor Mart, but even the smallest town has a post office (or is proximate to one).