Before pointing fingers at our neighbours, I am asking for just a *tiny* sliver of sociological analysis from our officials to explain why covid rates are so bad in a province that has downloaded blame to young ppl, spends money on cops not healthcare & refuses to close schools

Literally policy that was informed by social determinants of health (eg. Good health requires housing, food security, financial security, racial and gender equality) would save us right now. Not buying into the individual blame game we are being sold by our govt reps

And employing sociology tells us a different reason as to why schools are open. Not because ‘transmission is low’. But that govt intentionally is not tracking how bad spread is in schools because they must stay open in order for parents to go to work

This is one of the many ways the covid response system is literally making us die for the economy. Because the province depends on our labour

What does this mean for us? Keep the pressure on calling out their individualist blame bullshit. Eg. Targeted ads to young ppl doesn’t explain Maples outbreak, school exposures run counter to official govt statements on the situation in schools. Demand socially informed policy.

Many reporters are the ones doing this for us during pressers, which I’m so thankful for. We can push the questions we also of officials by not buying into the idea that it’s a small but impactful group of ppl that got us here. It’s govt incompetence and forcing ppl to work

The flu pandemic of 1918 was contained in WPG by closing schools and not making people work. We need to demand nothing less than this. knowing we will never get it, we need to advance the next best things: paid sick leave, universal basic income that doesn’t cut social welfare

When you think socially abt why govt has responded the way they have, you can understand why they are pushing the Personal Responsibility narrative so hard. And you also understand what is needed to get out of this mess, social policy that puts people first.