Courageous, when she told the country that successive governments had neglected their responsibilities by not investing in pandemic preparation. Dangerous, because at the end of the day, Canadians will blame current governments when things go wrong.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on April 6, 2020.

OTTAWA—Health Minister Patty Hadju made a courageous and dangerous statement last week.

Courageous, when she told the country that successive governments had neglected their responsibilities by not investing in pandemic preparation.

Dangerous, because at the end of the day, Canadians will blame current governments when things go wrong.

The general strategy in politics is never complain, and never explain. That is based on the belief that the more information is out there, the more it can be twisted by political opponents to become disinformation.

The general rule of thumb in communication is that less is better.

But these are no ordinary times.

And Hajdu is no ordinary politician. In the daily briefings she is clear, concise, informed and not overly verbose. Like Dr. Theresa Tam, Hajdu transmits an aura of believability.

The Hajdu admission may be out of step with her political colleagues but it reflects what is happening out there in the real world of hospitals, nursing homes and health delivery across the country.

The overreaction to Hajdu’s admission also underscores why governments hesitate to publish modelling projections of worst-case scenarios. Those projections have not been available in all parts of Canada.

Ontario and British Columbia have promised or delivered modelling projections. Some other provinces have not. And the federal government is trying to synthesize disparate data from different provinces, as some experienced the virus onset earlier than others.

According to the premier of New Brunswick, all provinces should be collating the same information, but that is apparently not the current case.

Canada’s chief public health officer suggests that building projects too far in advance is not useful because it is simply not accurate.

Information is vital in the fight to engage all Canadians, but too much information could cause panic or complacency.

American President Donald Trump went from claiming we should all be out celebrating at Easter to suggesting that a quarter of a million Americans may die because of the virus. The American newscasts reported last week that their military has been tasked with securing 100,000 body bags for the dead.

The United States is also claiming that statistics from other countries, specifically China, have been underreported.

Hajdu debunked that claim during a press conference last week, saying that the World Health Organization is gathering all the pertinent data from multiple jurisdictions, and there is no evidence that China understated its deaths. According to Hajdu, the current numbers in that country are actually less than what was originally reported.

But each country is doing its best to reassure its own citizens and position its response to the pandemic as in keeping or superior to that of other jurisdictions.

For the past several weeks, Canadian politicians from all levels of government having been reassuring the country that we have enough supplies of masks, gowns, and ventilators to meet the upcoming crush facing hospital emergency departments.

Front-line workers are living a whole different situation.

A hospital in Ottawa recently told their medical staff that protective material would not be available in the delivery ward as the normal protective devices were being repurposed to fight the COVID-19 battle.

The federal and provincial governments have been pulling out all the stops to secure protective supplies for the medical front lines. With a $2-billion purchase order, Ottawa is locking down supplies, and provinces are even sending planes to secure materials that have been ordered from international sources.

Their efforts include public bulk purchasing and financial support for Canadian companies to replace their normal lines of business with COVID-19-fighting materials to join this war on the coronavirus.

Irving is retooling operations to make hand sanitizers. Bauer is switching from hockey masks to hospital masks.

Stanfields is making medical gowns and protective apparel where the company usually focuses on underwear.   Canada Goose has moved away from their iconic down filled jackets to medical gowns.

Canadian medical suppliers are partnering with auto companies to speed up production of desperately needed life-saving ventilators.

Transformations take time. Frontline workers are scrambling to protect themselves by recycling materials and seeking out any sources they can. Some make their own protective masks, and others are trying to source protective equipment in whatever way they can.

But they also face a race against time and a global hunt for similar products. The issue of supply is not just a Canadian problem.

“Many governments around the world are going to be reflecting on this issue,” Trudeau admitted last week.

Pandemic reflection yes, but flattening the virus comes first.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

As long as Donald Trump is in office, he will continue to promote despots and dictators over democrats. He would rather befriend Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on March 30, 2020.

OTTAWA—Donald Trump’s border threat confirms what we already know.

The president of the United States is no friend of ours.

Of course, our prime minister cannot say that publicly. Deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland tied herself into a pretzel to avoid commenting on internal American border patrol decisions.

She wants to ensure that we have a working relationship with friends in the administration who believe in the friendship between the two countries.

But Trump obviously does not.

There is a significant amount of irony in the president’s threat to send the army to protect his northern borders.

The protection on the northern border is really needed on the Canadian side, because the confused, chaotic COVID-19 response in the United States has the potential to infect Canada.

Frankly the fewer American travellers crossing over into our country, the better.

Canada has done a decent job of trying to flatten the curve, and the federal/provincial cooperation on our side of the border is visible.

Daily press conferences from the federal government and various provincial leaders have been harmonized, both in messaging and delivery.

Compare that to the American tragicomedy unfolding between the president and the country’s top specialist in infectious diseases.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, had provided advice to six successive presidents, and was called upon to join the president’s task force on the coronavirus.

The collaboration was fine until Trump decided that he would ignore the science and encourage people to stop self-isolating and socialize more.

To Fauci’s credit, he publicly contradicted the president, succinctly stating the government doesn’t decide the timeframe, the virus does.

But as soon as Fauci crossed the president, he suddenly disappeared from any joint announcements on the White House coronavirus strategy.

Fauci will obviously not support the president’s attempts to minimize the benefits of self-isolation. The notion that Americans should flock to public gatherings at Easter is akin to signing a death warrant for thousands of people who are vulnerable to the virus.

But the president’s crazy claims have lots of support. Just last week, the lieutenant-governor of Texas backed the president’s call to shorten the social distancing timeframe, even though he acknowledged that it could cost lives. Dan Patrick stepped in to back Trump’s call to end the social isolation in favour of the economy, stating that grandparents would be willing to sacrifice their lives for the economy.

Patrick claimed the United States would be finished if the coronavirus keeps people in their homes for another three months.

But the scientists tell us that if we refuse to keep our distance from others, the virus will simply rebound and gather more strength.

The last few weeks have provided a pretty good snapshot of the benefits of universal health care versus the American health hodgepodge.

In our country, federal and provincial health ministers are working together to provide the support for frontline workers fighting the spread of this disease.

The prime minister and premiers are collaborating to ensure the economic damage to workers and companies is backstopped with government support.

One only needs to switch between Canadian and American television networks to witness the difference in our approaches to COVID-19-virus fighting.

And if you don’t believe the anecdotal evidence, just review the numbers. The United States has now become the epicentre of the virus. As of last Thursday, more than 1,000 Americans had died from the virus, compared to 35 Canadians. One-third of the American deaths occurred in New York, which borders our country.

So, the one thing that soldiers at the border could accomplish is keeping Americans on their side of the fence.

It is a sad day when the world’s longest undefended border reverts to army protection. And it also is a testament to the fragility of our bilateral relationship.

But at the end of the day, anything that discourages traffic between Canada and the United States can only benefit us.

As long as Donald Trump is in office, he will continue to promote despots and dictators over democrats. He would rather befriend Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The North Korean despot was reported on social media to have executed the first corona virus sufferer in his country, although that posting has not been confirmed.

If Trump proceeds with his plan to arm his northern border, we can return the favour by limiting American traffic.

Trump’s plan may actually help keep COVID-19 out of Canada.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting an early shot at the new form of communication. Self-isolation has not prevented him from getting his message out.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on March 23, 2020.

OTTAWA—Social distancing to a politician is akin to a hand sanitizer ban for germaphobes.

Politicians thrive on contact with people.

But in the new normal, public figures may have to learn to campaign in a germ-free bubble.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting an early shot at the new form of communication. Self-isolation has not prevented him from getting his message out.

His government’s handling of the situation to date has the potential to enhance his political capital.

Daily press availability and the major national stimulus package could calm the growing fears of worried Canadians.

Trudeau’s new beard has been graying quickly, given the nature of the stresses he must be feeling at his wife’s side while she manages her infection. The graying has added a hint of gravitas to what is obviously a very grave situation.

I was a latecomer to the panic room. But I could not responsibly ignore the appeal of Canada’s foreign minister to get back home.

Last week, I was hoping to continue plans for a two-week anniversary cruise, but the request by the Canadian government to get back home could not be ignored.

My husband and I managed to get wait-listed on one of the last international flights still landing in Ottawa, and after traveling for two days, arrived to a ghost town last Tuesday.

It is worth mentioning that Canadian border officials appear a lot more prepared to manage this crisis than our American counterparts.

En route to Canada, we transited through two American airports, landing first in San Francisco and next in Washington.

In neither airport was there a single reference, verbal or written, to the coronavirus. We were not asked whether we had experienced a cough, or any symptoms. Nor were we warned to self-isolate when we reached our final destination.

It was a totally different story when we arrived in Canada. We were questioned at the border about health symptoms and travel history, and then given an information sheet with all of the contact numbers for reporting any potential infection.

We were asked to undertake a voluntary 14-day self-isolation plan, and signed a form agreeing to do so.

The Canadian message is clear. In order to stem the flow of the virus, we all need to limit social contact as much as possible. But the same warnings do not seem to have made their way to some parts of the United States.

An American friend just underwent a mastectomy operation in Houston and she actually went out to celebrate the surgery at an Irish bar with her family on St. Patrick’s Day. She seemed oblivious to the notion that her own health could be at risk by gathering in a bar.

Most Canadian bars and restaurants are closed but it seems to be business as usual in some parts of the United States.

An aggressive Canadian lockdown may limit the spread here, but the laissez-faire approach of some American states could have a negative rebound effect on our country. As of last Thursday, there were 736 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada, while in the United States, the reported number of infections surpassed 11,000.

The difference in infection rate may be partially explained by the capacity of a public health system to respond in a coordinated fashion. Many Americans have no health care, and they are obviously at risk when it comes to curbing the transmission curve.

China is now in recovery mode but, according to media reports, hospitals across the United States have been asking health professionals to reuse single-use masks.

Beaches in Florida are still packed with young people who appear to be generally ignoring the warning to stay home. And bars in New York are still operating, with state governor Andrew Cuomo stating publicly that he will not exercise his legal options to keep people home.

At home, the prime minister is considering all options, including the implementation of a War Measures Act to ensure compliance with social distancing requests.

The thought of spending months in isolation is not something anyone looks forward to.

Netflix has been bending under the weight of millions of downloaders. The strain on their system has been so great that they just eliminated high definition transmission in favour of preserving bandwidth. Being restricted in close quarters can also be a challenge for families.

Puzzles and games have been flying off store shelves, purchased by harried parents looking to keep their children busy.

Isolation is the new normal.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Canadian Bruce Aylward is leading the World Health Organization team charged with stemming the spread of the virus. He warns us that this is not the common flu and is 10 times more deadly than that.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on March 16, 2020.

OTTAWA—Call me contrarian. But I refuse to join the wave of panic reacting to the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

Two women in Australia were arrested for fighting over the purchase of toilet paper.

People are crossing the street when they see anyone who looks a little different from them.

The price of hand sanitizers and hygiene wipes has skyrocketed as merchants exploit the law of supply and demand.

Members of Parliament go into voluntary lockdown. Planes are no longer flying to China, Korea, Italy, or Iran.

The Canadian government is introducing a stimulus package to help the country weather the storm, with targeted support for affected industries and workers.

Canadian Bruce Aylward is leading the World Health Organization team charged with stemming the spread of the virus.

He warns us that this is not the common flu and is 10 times more deadly than that.

But he also says that there are ways we can reduce the spread of the disease, the single most important being scrupulous handwashing. If no one with the virus sneezes on me, I am not going to be affected.

And even if I am, the chances of getting through it are good because I am a healthy sexagenarian.

I am a great believer that when my time is up, my time is up. I could get hit by a bus crossing the street in Ottawa. I cannot and will not stop living for fear of dying.

We could shut down the whole world and people still need to interconnect for work and sustenance.

The whole of Italy is now in lockdown and they are warning the worst is yet to come in other parts of Europe. But the world goes on and putting everyone into quarantine is simply not possible.

Not everyone grows their own food so a trip to the grocery store is inevitable.

Likewise, the decision to cancel sporting and entertainment events seems to be a huge overreaction.

I guess everyone is following the mantra, better safe than sorry.

If you don’t have to get out of your house, it is easier to stay there.

But what if you have already made the move?

I am currently half-way around the world, getting ready to embark on a 25th anniversary cruise of the South Pacific.

The cruise was booked more than two years ago, when nobody thought the coronavirus would be playing a role in people’s travel plans.

Canada’s chief public health officer Theresa Tam has issued a warning that people should cancel planned cruises, because of the risk of coronavirus contamination.

So why would I even consider ignoring her blunt warning?

Thus far, only two cruise ships have been reported to be affected. From the moment they were identified, the cruise industry heightened its boarding procedures. The temperature of every person is taken before they board the ship, and if there are any doubts, the passenger cannot board.

Staff from affected countries are not currently working the ships, and the companies have also cancelled the reservations of prospective passengers from certain targeted countries.

The cruise ship industry seems to have gotten its act together.

It is obviously financially motivated to do so because worldwide, the business is worth $126-billion. The cruise industry can’t afford to simply shut everything down.

Media have identified cruise ships as a Petri dish for disease. But ships are also a Petri dish for disease containment.

If a single new virus has not been found on a cruise ship in two weeks, does that not mean that the methods being employed to contain disease are working?

I must admit, I am thinking with my heart, not my head. Twenty-five years of marriage is a milestone and this voyage is symbolic of that celebration.

I am perusing the news vigorously to watch for reports of any new cruise contaminations.

Luckily for me, I have a first world cruise ship problem. Some dying Covid-19 patients around the world do not even have access to proper health care.

Italian medical staff are reported to have to ration available respirators based on triage, as their hospitals do not have enough to support all patients that might need them.

More than 4,000 people have already died, and more will because of this new super-virus.

During the same period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14,000 people have died from the ordinary flu virus.

Perspective, not panic, should be the order of the day.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.