Governing On-The-Cuff By Remote Decree

"The Liberal government has presented social distancing measures as a stark choice -- either selflessly shut down the economy to save lives or selfishly worry about the economy and condemn thousands to a vicious illness."
"[That approach] is being pursued at an almost incalculably large cost to the well-being of Canadians."
"The rationale for the lockdown seems to have morphed subtly from managing the outbreak by 'flattening the curve' to preventing the illness from infecting Canadians at all, pushing the timeline for a return to some economic activity into the summer and a return to 'normal' a year or more into the distance."
Macdonald-Laurier Institute letter: 24 scientific and industry representative signatories

"What's happening now is they're convincing people to continue being afraid, when what we need is a message of reassurance and confidence from government."
"They're contributing to an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that is completely unhelpful as we try to move toward a more measured response to the virus."
"It's becoming clearer and clearer that the fear we experienced at the beginning, when we knew so little about the virus, is exaggerated."
Brian Lee Crowley, managing director, Macdonald-Laurier Institute

"More people are taking the view that the risk-benefit calculation here, where you avert the risk of transmission in return for suppressing the economy, that it's not a worthwhile sacrifice."
"We spooked people so well into staying home, to avoid social contact, that it is extremely difficult now to reverse that message."
"[There is a] growing chorus [of medical professionals beginning to question strict lockdowns that have carried on for months]."
Dr.Neil Rau, infectious diseases specialist, medical microbiologist, Oakville, Ontario

According to critics who take umbrage at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's penchant for slamming critics of his policies as illiberal, racist and selfish, when they question his decision-making and claim that with the shutdown of the economy due to the novel coronavirus threat, having gone on to 'shifting the goalposts' for opening the country back to normalcy, his wildly disparaging comments and unwillingness to listen to advice from the source of the criticism has motivated a coalition of health experts and business executives to sign a joint letter of discontent.

Debate surrounding the severity and length of economic shutdowns cross-country which has resulted in the majority of Canadian business being shuttered, millions of people being put out of work, and the corporate and government balance sheets having been effectively eviscerated. No one disputes the initial necessity to effect a lockdown as a measure to respond to the COVID outbreak, but at the present juncture people question why a more limited shutdown hadn't been considered, in its effectiveness to keep from overwhelming the health care system.

Economic restrictions enforced under provincial emergency orders were the responsibility of provincial governments, yet the provinces and the federal government have been at loggerheads, with Ottawa failing in its responsibility to guide the country as a whole toward returning the economy to full capacity. While fully realizing the real risks to the public from the pandemic, it is vital, the letter-signers indicate, to rescue the country from its current predicament.

To that end, economic concerns should not be dismissed by the federal government as callous in the face of evidence suggesting the economic shock has deprived millions of people of a sense of stability as they have undergone a sense of shock, the question of whether a more limited shutdown might have been equally effective to ensure the health-care system was not overwhelmed. A heavy psychological toll has been taken on people's mental and physical health, alongside forms of violence such as a rise in domestic abuse.

Close to eight million Canadians have applied for federal financial support, having lost employment. Stock markets and public pension funds have suffered a beating in recent months, with vast sums of wealth and savings lost. Hospitals across the country remain below capacity, the expected surge of COVID patients suffering respiratory distress failed to arise, thanks in large part to the population's having adhered to the social isolation policy to 'flatten the curve'.

Sweden, which had taken a relaxed view on social restrictions, allowing bars and restaurants to remain open for business, along with schools for younger children, has become a focal point in the debate regarding the degree of lockdown required for a successful outcome. Where at present, though COVID-related deaths are higher than that of its neighbours, health experts in Sweden anticipate mortality rates will even out.

Governing by casual remote.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds his daily COVID-19 briefing at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on May 15, 2020. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press