I like to give folks the benefit of the doubt. But I really am wondering who’s in charge in Ottawa these days.
If you read today’s Globe and Mail, you’ll find a startling story in which federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos warns Canadians flying home from any country other than the U.S. that they have to isolate while they await the results of the Trudeau government’s new requirement for on-arrival COVID testing. He’s been saying that for days, so nothing unusual there.
But the Globe story goes on to say that “neither he (Duclos) nor Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam were able to say which airports are already asking travellers to isolate while they await their test results.”
Wait a minute. What? He’s the Health Minister, and this policy was announced by the government on Tuesday. Three days later, however, neither he nor the nation’s chief public health officer can tell us which of our airports is actually doing what they’re supposed to do to protect our health?
If the Globe story is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt that it is, that’s appalling.
The minister undoubtedly has a roomful of staff at his disposal. A very large room. How about this? He assigns two or three of them the job of contacting all our major airports (we don’t have that many that accept international flights) and finding out what the hell they’re doing. They then write up a report, and he reads the results on TV so Canadians have an idea what’s going on. Is that so difficult?
I understand that this was a rushed decision given the uncertainties around the Omicron variant. The government felt it had to act, so it brought in testing for everyone coming into the country except those from the U.S. Of course it takes a few days for airports to get their ducks in a row by lining up tests and hiring workers. But shouldn’t the government at least take the time to find out what testing is in place?
I’m not a government basher by nature, but this has me shaking my head harder than a Justin Trudeau bobblehead doll.
There was SOME news from Ottawa yesterday. Following days of confusion from travellers, Duclos told reporters that anyone who lands in Canada and has to take a second flight to their final destination will be tested at the airport where they first land. They will then be allowed to isolate at their final destination while they await test results.
That at least clears things up for some folks. But there are still a lot of questions being asked.
“It’s quite complicated, and I think we’re going to have to put up some tools on the website,” Tam said on Friday, uttering what might have been the understatement of the week. “So that travellers can actually figure this out.”
Meanwhile, both CityNews.com and the Globe report that, as of Friday, there was still no mention of the new mandatory testing rules on Health Canada’s website.
We can only hope the government figures this out soon. Canadians deserve clarity, not confusion.
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Good questions and observations Jim. The government continues to fumble any guidance to travellers seemingly trying to close the barn doors after the horses are out.
When the health officials finally do make a statement one wonders if they have ever travelled let alone seen a train or plane.
Ottawa should call an immediate meeting with CBP, Health Canada, Canadian and International airlines and any other parties that have valid concerns for the health of travellers leaving or arriving Canada. This has to be fixed immediately!