Thread by @toderash, Dear @BrianPallister,Recall a couple of days ago when I (and to be [...]

Dear @BrianPallister,
Recall a couple of days ago when I (and to be fair, basically everyone) told you what measures we wanted to see? I thought I'd give you an update in response to your latest.
1/20
(To refresh your memory, here's my earlier thread

) https://twitter.com/toderash/status/1328451378495119360

https://twitter.com/toderash/status/1328451378495119360

Before I start, I have to thank you for clarifying the other day that you are the one in charge of lockdown & other restrictions, and that you aren't muzzling @roussin_brent, which we all appreciate. If I'm being all

about wrong moves, I owe you

for the right ones.
2/20

So on that subject, kudos for clamping down harder with the latest lockdown measures. MB'ns can't be trusted to "do the right thing" without direction (sadly, we're just like the rest of the planet in this respect), so

on this.
3/20

I want to be critical that these strong orders took too long to implement, but I guess lockdown is like planting a tree or saving for retirement: if it's too late to start 10 years ago, the second-best time is now. Thanks for hearing MB'ns on this, & not waiting any longer.
4/20

But.
(c'mon, you knew that was coming)
I'm leery about how we'll come out of this lockdown. I'm not worried about the economy, it's the virus. We can't come out of lockdown all hell-yeah-restartmb. We have to come out like, "Okay, 5 people, & you can buy non-essentials now."
5/20

If you don't protect the exit we'll have another surge. As @richardbranson has said, "Protect the downside." I know I'm applying that to an unexpected scenario, but I stand by it. We *really* want to get that part right, because we want to see our families over the holidays.
6/20

This brings me to another point, an outstanding set of items from my earlier thread. The comms. They're still bad, and they still need fixing. Call me. Seriously, I know how to fix this. Right now, missing & unclear information on this issue is dangerous.
7/20

If people don't get solid info from the provincial government, they'll get it elsewhere, and let's just acknowledge that those results will be, erm, "mixed".

Good info now can literally save lives. (And tbh, could save your political future, though not my real concern.)
8/20

MB'ns need directmail info on COVID, masks, distancing, etc., & particular additions wrt schools & care homes. Hearing the questions about this tells me the logic isn't clear, so (a) explain specific restriction logic & (b) explain general COVID spread to contrast.
9/20

When I was last out, I saw face shields being used as masks, mask worn improperly, and people grabbing the middle of their mask: people don't know not to handle the filter-part, don't know about re-use, etc. If we're going to wear them, make sure we do it right.
10/20

Can't blame people for not "stepping up" if you don't properly educate them.

This is missing info from MB gov't. @CPHO_Canada has provided some but people need more & need it direct from you. The internet helps, but believe it or not, not all the info there is trustworthy.
11/20

This is important: telling people how/why masks will make them effective. Wearing them is a start, but let's get them doing it right so it's as effective as possible. This is just a little bit of education, which isn't a difficult fix: we know how to do that.
12/20

Start by putting it online, you can do that quickly. It's not enough though, you've got to push it to every mailbox. Then put up billboards that ask people if they need to be out, and whether they could do what they're doing remotely.
13/20

Also in the comms, don't forget to set expectations on a vaccine. Once it arrives here, we'll all get one, go home for 4 weeks, get the second one, go home for 2 weeks, and then slowly begin to emerge when enough people have had it.
14/20

Don't even *think* about "restartMB" before September. We don't want to see *any* of that: it *only* makes you look tone-deaf, which undermines opinion & trust for everything else you do.
15/20

You want to help? Start with some small biz supports:
- $5k isn't enough, most affected businesses need more
- Do small-biz loan guarantees, forgivable in part or full (eg, if the biz still fails, wipe the debt w/no penalty to owner)
- pay for Shop Local ad campaign
16/20

- local-delivery tax credit for consumers (tbh won't save much, but its message is vital)
- waive interest/penalties for late payments to @mbhydro & #autopac
- available free/subsidized business coach/counsel
- free credit counselling to consumers

Lots more can be done.
17/20

Lastly - and I know I'm stomping on your toes here - the entire population of the province really demands that *you step up* and commit to respectable employment contracts for teachers & nurses. Acknowledge public sentiment is against you now & just do the right thing.
18/20

The fact that this is still outstanding when we lean on those 2 professions the most right now is downright shameful. rn the public will tell you "just give them anything they want, plus some % on top of that." At this stage, they all deserve danger pay.
19/20

If you want a real public win, announce 1-time $1k bonus to every teacher & $2k to every nurse, dr, healthcare aid)

That's it for now, @BrianPallister. Thanks for taking some of my earlier advice - let's drive it home now by taking on some of these measures as well, okay?
20/20

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