Let’s start with something nice about this not nice year. I have a rose blooming and producing buds at the same time my burning bush is burning and dropping leaves.
Not a big deal in the scheme of things but if you’re like me, you’re appreciating things you may not have given much thought to last year.
It’s a different fall in more ways than the weather.
We’re wearing masks and cancelling plans for Christmas and trips to warmer climes. Businesses that are holding on are cutting back their hours, even the number of days open. People are working and studying from home. We’re doing our best to heed the warnings and keep COVID-19 at bay.
Our Covid-19 numbers aren’t low just because our province is made up of an island and a relatively isolated region. Our numbers are low because our government and health officials have been smart and we’ve listened.
Back in the spring, Health Minister John Haggie was within hand's reach of beatification. Former premier Dwight Ball was a shining star compared with some other premiers and most of us went willingly along with their erring-on-the-side-of-caution leadership.
So I was a bit perturbed Wednesday to read on the front page of this newspaper that the provincial all-party committee on COVID-19 no longer exists.
I admit I haven’t given it any thought lately. If I had thought about it, it would have been just to assume things were operating smoothly. I should have assumed it was operating like the not-well-oiled hinges we have come to expect from all-party co-operation.
According to Haggie, the opposition parties apparently had other things on their collective mind and “the interest just dwindled.”
According to PC Leader Ches Crosbie, the first he heard of the demise of the committee was through Haggie’s remarks on the subject, plus Crosbie says he made recommendations to the new premier about improving the committee, including suggesting that Furey become the chairman, and received no reply.
According to NDP Leader Alison Coffin, she hasn’t been notified about a meeting since August.
Haggie says he stopped notifying people because they didn’t show up.
As a famous rabbit might say to Haggie, “What’s up doc?” He might then ask the premier the same thing “What’s up doc?”
It seems like it was the government’s call.
Doc Haggie admits it coincided with a lull in our COVID-19 numbers.
Every time I put on my mask, every time I cut short a trip to the grocery store because the mask is getting to me, I am doing the best I can under the circumstances.
If I’m reading this right, Newfoundland and Labrador’s answer to U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci decided to let down one of our guards at the same time as prevailing upon the rest of us to keep all our guards up.
In fairness to Haggie, if the other parties weren’t attending meetings, their indignation is hypocritical and self serving. In fairness to the other parties, if their lack of participation led to the danger of the committee being folded, they should have been given notice.
If there is nothing new and neither member has anything to put on the agenda, OK, decide not to meet. Nobody expects or wants anybody to waste time better spent on something else.
It’s all just plain disheartening.
Every time I put on my mask, every time I cut short a trip to the grocery store because the mask is getting to me, I am doing the best I can under the circumstances.
Atlantic bubble not withstanding, I’ve decided not to visit a friend in Halifax this fall. I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.
Can we say the same about the members of the one-time all-part committee?
I don’t want to be too harsh but it’s like finding out that isn’t as kind herself, as she wants us to be.
Janice Wells lives in St. John’s. Email: [email protected] or [email protected].
