Open and Accountable Government

Top of the evening to all.

Tomorrow will be my last day of this COVID-19 quarantine.  This one is utterly ridiculous.  Why?

I came back from the US approximately 14 days ago.  A day or two after my return, there was an Expert Panel Report.  Canada's Minister of Health appointed this expert panel.  Amongst other things, the expert panel reported that:

1.  There is no reason to require quarantine after day 8 and three negative nasal swab tests.

2.  There is no reason to require quarantine for those who are fully vaccinated (I am in that category).

I have sent numerous e-mails to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Health.  In those e-mails, I have asked the following questions:

1.  Why is being completely immunized not sufficient to allow a person out of quarantine?

2.  Why is the completion of eight days and three nasal swab tests not sufficient to allow a person out of quarantine?

3.  Are there lingering concerns that the Expert Panel did not address?  What are they?

4.  Do you trust the findings and recommendations of the Expert Panel?  If so, why are you not implementing policy?  If not, why is there an Expert Panel?

5.  Will the government implement policy based on the Expert Panel's recommendations?  If so, when?  If not, why not?

6.  Why will the Minister of Health not offer any communication on the decision-making process?

Mr. Trudeau spelled out his policy on Open and Accountable Government.  In section G:6, he states that "communicating with the public is an important obligation of the government.  Communications must be factual, timely, and clear."  The lack of any response to the report of the Expert Panel is a betrayal of the promise of Open and Accountable Government.  

Mr. Trudeau, Ms. Hajdu, when will you give a clear response to the report of the Expert Panel?  If there is good reason for maintaining the quarantine, we are prepared to hear it.  We also deserve to hear it.  

We are waiting.

R/SCG