The abrupt departure of QuebecB次元官网网址檚 public health director last week was further evidence of the rocky road being navigated by the countryB次元官网网址檚 chief medical officers as the Omicron wave pushes the pandemic fight toward a third year.
QuebecB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Horacio Arruda, who had been public health director since 2012, cited criticism about the governmentB次元官网网址檚 handling of the latest wave as he abruptly resigned Monday after 22 months overseeing the provinceB次元官网网址檚 pandemic response.
B次元官网网址淩ecent comments about the credibility of our opinions and our scientific rigour are undoubtedly causing a certain erosion of public support,B次元官网网址� Arruda wrote in a letter offering his resignation.
It was a far cry from March 2020, when Arruda was among the group of top provincial health officers on the job when the pandemic hit. Arruda and the others, including B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Dr. Bonnie Henry, AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Deena Hinshaw and Nova ScotiaB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Robert Strang, rose to prominence almost overnight, offering reassuring voices in a time of crisis.
B次元官网网址淚n the beginning, when we didnB次元官网网址檛 know what we didnB次元官网网址檛 know, and there was a great deal of uncertainty, the chief medical officer played an incredibly useful role, as they are intended to do B次元官网网址� to be the public face of government and explain what is going on,B次元官网网址� said Patrick Fafard, a University of Ottawa professor of public and international affairs who has been studying the role of the countryB次元官网网址檚 medical officers.
B次元官网网址淭heir status in media terms or public opinion has declined B次元官网网址� some of that is inevitable, but itB次元官网网址檚 also because of the tensions and contradictions in the role.B次元官网网址�
Fafard said while the medical officers play an advisory role, each province views the role differently. In an extended pandemic, when the scientific evidence is evolving quickly, theyB次元官网网址檝e had to reconcile diverging views and governments that donB次元官网网址檛 make decisions based on science alone. They are often left to explain the policies, even though the decisions ultimately lie with the politicians.
Most of those on the job in 2020 remain in place, with the exception of Arruda and OntarioB次元官网网址檚 Dr. David Williams, who had been subject to criticism before he retired last year.
In British Columbia, Henry has become known for her signature saying, B次元官网网址淏e kind, be calm, be safe,B次元官网网址� which has been emblazoned on posters, T-shirts, masks and even a B次元官网网址淒r. Henry shoeB次元官网网址� designed in her honour. Lauded as an effective communicator for her encouraging tone during briefings, Henry has also faced criticism for steadfastly defending her stance against the widespread use of rapid tests.
In Alberta, Hinshaw, has gone from being lionized to harshly criticized. In early 2020, her visage was etched on clothing and designer prints as she became the face of a prudent provincial government implementing health restrictions to protect Albertans and their health system.
But in subsequent waves, as Premier Jason KenneyB次元官网网址檚 government delayed implementing new restrictions and the health system threatened to buckle, Hinshaw got caught up in the whipsaw between Albertans who wanted more restrictions and those who wanted fewer. The nadir came last summer in the fourth wave, when thousands of surgeries were cancelled and the Armed Forces were called in to help.
Kenney and Hinshaw conceded they helped set the stage by ending health restrictions too soon in June, despite the rise of the Delta variant. Kenney took responsibility for the mistake but also said he would have taken action if Hinshaw had recommended it.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes politicians are not helping, because they refer to the advice they receive from their public health officials,B次元官网网址� said Daniel B茅land, a McGill University political science professor. B次元官网网址淚n the end, itB次元官网网址檚 important to understand the responsibility for these decisions lies with the elected officials, not the civil servants.B次元官网网址�
The distinction is not always understood by the public, and amid tougher measures in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, medical officers there have seen protests in front of their homes. Some have even faced death threats.
B次元官网网址淭hey are scientists, they are civil servants, they are experts, but they are surrounded by politics,B次元官网网址� said B茅land, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very, very tough situation when youB次元官网网址檙e really under pressure, you receive death threats, you receive insults on a regular basis. ItB次元官网网址檚 tough.B次元官网网址�
In Quebec, some commentators had felt Arruda, who kept his role as an assistant deputy minister, was too closely aligned with the government of Premier Fran莽ois Legault. The opposition parties as well as QuebecB次元官网网址檚 College of Physicians have called for the next director to be given greater independence.
Fafard said that after the pandemic, it would be wise to revisit the role across jurisdictions as part of a larger post-mortem. But itB次元官网网址檚 important not to lose sight of who is ultimately making decisions.
B次元官网网址淭he bottom line is, we have to hold our governments B次元官网网址� accountable, not these people,B次元官网网址� Fafard said. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 keep the focus on the politicians we elect to make the choices, not unelected public servants.B次元官网网址�
For his part, Strang said heB次元官网网址檚 heard criticism from some and been thanked by others.
B次元官网网址淲hether the public is getting tired of hearing from me or not, I donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� Strang told a briefing last week. B次元官网网址淢y commitment is to be here and help get Nova Scotia through this pandemic as safely as possible.B次元官网网址�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2022.
B次元官网网址� With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax, Dean Bennett in Edmonton and Camille Bains in Vancouver.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
