I agree with this. We had all the tools we need in our existing laws, financial capacities and heath act rules - the failure is one of governance. Our government failed to act, instead always waiting too late to implement half-measures when full measures were needed, peddled myths, lies and coddled right up to a growing conspiracy-laden/"freedom"/anti-mask crew helping peddle their myths. Combined with a complete cross-party disregard of the responsibilities of being in elected office (Hawaii vacations anyone?) it's been an appalling failure of government and our political class.
It's just like our idiotic blue ribbon panel to look at Alberta's fiscal problems but limit them to only look at spending, not revenue. Minimize a pandemic, but don't use any of our rules and laws we have to really limit people's civil liberties that would make a difference in emergencies. You can beat pandemics, but you can't if you willingly don't use all the tools your already have. Indeed that's why we invented these tools in the first place was exactly for emergencies like this.
I am a bit angry today because I currently am at home with COVID - it is definitely worse than the flu or a cold and I am young and healthy. Not to be too dramatic - but now that I have it, it's no wonder millions are dead around the world from this. It's brutal and the way it attacks your lungs is not like something I have experienced. I have followed every precaution - no malls, no indoor dining, no crowds, no house guests for a year - but got it through my partner who works at a school. The very same schools that have been safe, with "minimal transmission" according to our leaders since the beginning. I think Kenney said as late as last week that the virus isn't spreading at schools, despite outbreaks at 30% of the province's schools. It's all just a bunch of children's birthday parties apparently.
We have rules and laws that limit personal freedoms in extraordinary circumstances for a reason. This is an extraordinary circumstance and our provincial government failed to act, lying, blaming others and obfuscating the truth to the detriment of lives and the economy. Ironically, giving too much weight to the "personal freedom" perspective, I worry we have actually undone ourselves in the long run. We have proved that when the chips are down and lives are at stake we really won't do what it takes. That doesn't bode well for free, democratic societies in the long run. They don't tend to stay free and democratic forever if they can't be trusted to protect people's lives.
