Over the past few days, Scott Moe and Jason Kenney have suggested they will be ending pandemic mandates very soon; prematurely, according to many healthcare experts within their jurisdictions. This is troubling, not only because it ignores expert advice, but even more so because it suggests they are caving to extreme elements within their flock. Do we want to encourage this tiny minority of people who are attempting to use their fundamentally flawed ideology to hold reasonable-minded Canadians hostage? Really?

This is a slippery slope, one that could add pressure on other jurisdictions to relax mandates before the science indicates it is safe to do so. We are very close to the time when “normal” will look much more like it did prior to the pandemic, but we all know what has happened in the past when we’ve ignored the experts prematurely. And you don’t have to look far to find a troubling story from front line healthcare workers who are exhausted, overworked, understaffed; and on top of all that, must endure threats and abuse.

Ideology cannot be allowed to trump science when public health is at stake. Evidence is the only metric that matters in this decision-making process. 

Unfortunately, we don’t have the legal mechanisms in place to ensure our governments follow such evidence. What we do have, however, is the ability to make them hear us - loud and clear, and force their hand through political will. Let’s remind them that it’s not the fringe that elects them, it’s the vast majority; level-headed voters like you!

The mechanisms that public health officials need in order to protect us have already been undermined because of limits on contact tracing and widespread testing. Let’s allow them to do their job with the remaining tools they have, make informed recommendations to governments, and ignore the noise from those who are not acting in the best interests of their fellow Canadians.

Please consider signing this petition in support of evidence-based public policy, front line healthcare staff, and all Canadians.