TORONTO, April 17, 2021 /CNW/ - Chaos is the last
thing we need.
Cornwall. Peterborough. Guelph. Ottawa. Niagara. Peel. Toronto. And now police forces right across
the province are refusing to make use of the new powers authorized
by the Ontario government
yesterday. And with good reason; randomly stopping citizens and
ticketing those who don't comply won't stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
These measures could lead to racialized, homeless and vulnerable
communities already disproportionately impacted from this virus to
now be living in fear and apprehension. What's now labelled as the
back of napkin efforts of a government furiously trying to stop the
spread of the virus are leading to ineffective measures and chaos.
And chaos is the last thing we need.
Ontarians don't know who to trust on the issue of COVID-19. No
matter where we look, there is conflicting information about masks,
about safety, about vaccines. They are confused by the lockdowns,
followed by the easing of restrictions, followed by more lockdowns.
Businesses are mandated to close, then opened next month, then
closed again the next week. The economy is teetering on the brink
of the next announcement. And Ontarians are left feeling insecure
and unsafe.
When the police refuse to follow the instructions of the
government, we have the beginnings of civil unrest. We are already
seeing parents tearing down yellow tape to get into playgrounds and
visiting elderly family members despite orders. It's been
more than a year of announcements that don't fully work and
measures that only temporarily curb the pandemic or protect the
public.
As the leader of Ontario's
public service union, I am most concerned with public safety.
Thousands of OPSEU/SEFPO members have been in the front lines of
this pandemic, risking life and limb for the protection and safety
of all Ontarians. To protect them, and the rest of us, we need a
return to public trust and measures that work.
I am also concerned with how politicized the issue has become.
There is no easy answer to ending the pandemic. If there were,
surely we would see evidence around the world, not just in a few
select places. If we are to get through this, we are going to have
to rely on a few things, starting with available vaccines into as
many arms as possible, regardless of the name on the label.
We are going to need capacity, both in terms of infrastructure
and skilled, trained human resources.
We need treatment options for early onset symptoms for high-risk
individuals.
Education, not enforcement, will see us through.
And we need collaboration.
Accusing the Premier of being uncaring, callous and more
concerned with finances than health is simply dishonest.
I have come to know the Premier. I know he is distraught. I know
he cares. I know he is working around the clock. The burden of
leadership, whether he signed up for it or not, weighs heavy in
life or death decisions. Armchair quarterbacking is far cozier.
Stop lobbing rhetorical bombs, end the name calling and
hostility. Now is not the time for posturing along party lines that
has been so front and centre.
We must come together now.
I am calling on the Premier to share the burden, widen the tent
and bring all voices into a room where egos can be checked at the
door for the good of Ontario.
Let's hash it out; determine a course, develop a narrative everyone
can trust and understand. And finally let's implement it once and
for all.
With nearly 4,500 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ontario today, it's clear that the answers
must come quickly. Real answers from leaders who care more about
people than their own futures.
OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey)
Thomas
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)