VICTORIA, B.C. – Sonia Furstenau, leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley has issued the following statement:
“Two years into this pandemic, British Columbians should expect clarity and transparency when it comes to decisions and guidance from this government. Instead, it is becoming more and more difficult to understand what informs decision-making in B.C. when it comes to COVID-19. Hospitals and health care services are struggling, health care workers are burning out, and patients’ needs are not being met, and testing and tracing have collapsed.
“Clear communication in a crisis is essential. Blindsiding businesses shows a disregard for how challenging the last two years have been for the over 1 million people employed by small businesses. After years of turmoil they need as much stability and certainty as the government can provide. The government should be doing a far better job of working with businesses to ensure they have advance notice of changing restrictions so that they can adapt accordingly.
“There is consensus from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Agency of Canada that COVID-19 is airborne. Guidance to the public about how to reduce risk of transmission of COVID should stem from this expert advice, and the government should be providing access to the tools that reduce transmission, including access to PPE and N95s, rapid tests, and the data and research that inform decisions. Instead, people are being told they cannot wear N95s in high risk environments.
“Leadership in a long-term crisis should be seen as a shared responsibility. Restoring and maintaining public trust is essential. It is time for B.C. to have an independent science table that can provide clear, evidence-based communication to the public, backed up with access to the research, evidence, and data that informs decision-making. We need a culture of evidence-driven and science-based decision making in our province.”
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Media contact
JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | [email protected]