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 […]
Understanding ‘cultural traits’ key to effective COVID response, says professor
Flattening the COVID-19 curve requires widespread citizen participation in public health measures such as physical distancing and self-isolation. But to ensure society is on board with such measures, countries need to adopt policies that are in line with its “cultural traits” as a nation, according to an associate professor of e-business and information systems at […]
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 […]
Government collaboration with MPs ‘off the charts’ amid COVID-19, says Green Party’s May
All MPs and Senators are receiving a daily technical briefing from top government officials on the COVID-19 global pandemic seven days a week, and Green Party Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May says the level of the government’s cooperation with Parliamentarians has been “unprecedented.” Ms. May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.) said that cooperation makes her feel she can […]
Lessons about climate change for government from COVID-19
GIBSONS, B.C.—First of all, I’d like to thank Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and her government’s leadership and competence in its medical and economic response to the pandemic. The foremost lesson from the COVID-19 crisis is that governments must act in emergency situations to protect their citizens—even if this means taking measures that cause temporary […]
Multilateralism suffering ‘collective breakdown,’ say Parliamentarians who are calling for increased global cooperation
As countries around the world shift their attention inward, Canadian Parliamentarians say they are worried about the state of pivotal international humanitarian partnerships, and are calling for an increased focus on multilateral organizations. With criticism mounting towards the World Health Organization (WHO) and little global cooperation by G7 and G20 nations to tackle the coronavirus […]
Charitable sector essential during COVID-19 crisis, and beyond, but needs support
In the avalanche of news related to the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19 and the resulting response from governments at all levels, we are facing a devastating consequence that many people might not be aware of—the decimation of the charitable health sector in Canada. A broad chorus of voices has appealed to the prime minister for […]
Why has Canada’s data collection during the pandemic been so bad?
Canadians are finally beginning to see projections of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and needs for intensive-care units from various provinces and the federal government. We are also starting to see simulations that look beyond the next month or two when, hopefully, epidemic curves are clearly flattening. Canada’s national data-collection capacity will be critical for the next […]
Keep border closed until U.S. ‘breeding ground’ for virus under control, say public health experts
Canada should not reopen its borders until new cases of the novel coronavirus are on the decline, and each one can be traced and contained—both at home, and in the United States, say three experts in public health from both sides of the border. “I think the United States has to get their epidemic under […]
Public health, the public good, and where collective responsibility lies
HAMILTON—Question: is public health the same as public good? I respond: No. I assert: all public good involves public health measures, but not all public health measures involve the public good. Essentially: public good is greater than public health. The upshot: the collective responsibility of individuals is to the public good of which public health […]
