The U.S. COVID response is a strong lesson in what not to do
OTTAWA—As COVID-19 has now affected the entire globe, it is interesting to observe just how it has impacted different cultures, aside from actual mortality rates or those measures governments have taken to contain the spread of the virus. In Italy, for instance, one of those countries that has been exceptionally hard hit by COVID-19, locked […]
‘Pandemic bump’ pushes March lobbying up 60 per cent over last year
The flood of influencers contacting officials in March increased communication by almost 60 per cent compared to the year before, part of what lobbyists describe as a “pandemic bump” in activity they expect to be the new normal as industry, associations, and governments respond to the impacts of COVID-19. Lobbyists filed 2,329 communication reports in […]
‘Marrying tradition and innovation’: MPs hold first meeting on Zoom, with some technical hiccups
In a historic move allowing Parliament to reconvene during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some 280 MPs met for the first time on Zoom on Tuesday, a virtual gathering that came with its fair share of technical glitches, brief interruptions, and poor connectivity issues. Uneven access to reliable internet may have been the most consequential, as […]
We need a Canada for what matters
As an economist observing this downturn, I find myself wondering, “What if?” For the first time in our history, we have a chance to rebuild our economy to enrich collective well-being rather than individual profit. We have a chance to create an economic system designed to care and produce real joy. I believe we could all participate in steering it that way. Over the past month, our priorities have shifted dramatically. Governments have been forced to determine which businesses are essential to […]
Feds to eventually share ‘guidelines’ for provinces, territories to begin reopening, says Trudeau
With some provinces looking to gradually reopen their economies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the federal government is working with jurisdictions to ensure their plans follow agreed-upon “principles,” but Ottawa will not necessarily be vetting those plans, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Speaking to reporters at his daily, morning briefing on April 27, Mr. Trudeau […]
Why does it take a crisis to understand that health workers are our health system?
OTTAWA—In country after country, members of the public are clapping from their doorways and balconies to show their appreciation of health workers. It is becoming clearer than ever that our health system is largely our health workers. Ventilators do not work without health workers; testing does not happen without health workers. All forms of care […]
Medicine shortages in light of COVID-19: a wake-up call for drug security
KINGSTON, ONT.—Recently, the global number of shortages, pending and actual, is increasing—especially in the United States—and coronavirus is to blame. In Canada, we are seeing concerning trends for COVID-19-related medications. With the pandemic, shortages arise at both ends of the supply chain. On the manufacturing end, failure to produce or ship; on the market end, […]
Death of separatism unintended outcome of COVID-19 pandemic
OTTAWA—The death of separatism is an unintended outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in my memory, provincial governments are looking to the federal government as more than just a cash machine. They are actually working together, pooling resources and information in an effort to fight the spread of a pandemic that knows […]
What I learned from the COVID-19 response in Sweden
Earlier this year, I left my home in Vancouver to start working as a visiting researcher in Stockholm, Sweden. The world has changed significantly since that time. Being away from home while the COVID-19 crisis grew from purported “media-borne hype” to the extraordinary pandemic it is today, has highlighted how cultural differences have led to […]
Sloan’s attack obscures real questions about WHO and China
“We’ve got serious concerns about the accuracy of the information coming out of the WHO, and it’s incumbent upon this government to explain why they have based so many of their decisions on the WHO.” Outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said that on April 15. He had a point. The World Health Organization made mistakes […]
