Doug Ford came to power claiming he was "for the people." But he began his tenure by cutting programs. When the pandemic hit, it appeared that Ford was changing course. Ruby Latif writes:
At the beginning of the pandemic, I remember being worried about COVID — worried for my safety as an immunocompromised person, but also for the safety of my aging parents, along with other family and friends. Ford stepped up and worked with all levels of government, and partisan politics appeared to be a thing of the past. I recall many of my Liberal friends saying that they were going to have a hard time voting against him. The start of the pandemic essentially gave Ford a new lease.
The pandemic, however, has amplified Ford's cuts:
According to the MNP Consumer Debt Index, 18 per cent of Canadians are better off financially since the pandemic, while 39 per cent are worse off. Some of the population can continue to work from home, while many from the racialized communities are precariously employed and working on our front lines. Some have saved money by not buying lattes, while others struggle with job loss. The second wave of COVID-19 has only intensified the economic disparities and systemic inequities that existed pre-pandemic.
As a BIPOC woman and former political adviser, I am dismayed at the fact that we do not have stronger advocates for the populations that need it the most. It is crystal clear Ford’s government is only for some people — catering to developers and private owners of long-term-care homes.
The simple fact is that, knowing what we know, we can't go back to the way things were. And Latif asks:
Can Doug Ford move beyond tokenism, and truly be the champion “for [all] the people?” So far, his actions say otherwise. With the budget looming, will this government show that they have the courage to provide real funding to support long-term care, hospitals, schools and social services? These are the programs that can address the inequalities faced by racialized communities.
Being for some of the people will no longer wash.
Image: INSEAD Knowledge
6 comments:
.. There are few sectors & at any level.. cultural / society or work / employment related that are not confounded or in comorbid dire straits by the 'COVID CONUNDRUM'.. Easy to cherry pick a few.. Hospitality.. ie restaurant, bar etc - Tourism & Travel .. ie trains planes & automobile - Retail.. and the beat goes on and on and on
Doug Ford is a partisan peasant in the bewilderness.. mostly of his own doing. He had a brief stint as a truly mediocre Toronto Councilman, mainly defending his addicted brother. He swept in as Premier of Ontario upon a perfect partisan wave he floated on.. (as Leader hahaha..) and here we are today.. 'Folks, my heart is achy breaky, I am sleepless in Etobicoke, thoughting and praying on my knees along with my brother Christian - Pastor Charles McVety that my perfect 3 pronged wishful thinking Iron Ring Of Protection for our most excellent, cherished and bodacious seniors in LTC will delay the discovery that I am dreadfully lacking any real skillset other than bullshittery & prepared statements starting with 'Friends' and ending with 'God Bless'. I now hand you over to Ms Christine Elliott - Mistress of Health .. God Bless - I love Ontario - For the People I is !!'
A question if I may for Doug or any intrepid journo.. Exactly how many vaccines have been delivered to Ontario ? How many 'arms' have received innoculation ? From Grade 2 and upwards.. I'm certain we can do the Math - ie subtraction. Of all the myriad requirements of being Premier Of Ontario - that is seemingly paramount. Can we have the numbers please ? We can without his help, track the dead, the dying, those in despair.. roll that into the equation. Maybe Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa centric Media could assist ?)
Initially, sal, Ford's response to COVID was admirable. But, as time goes on, it's clear he can't change his spots.
Ford's sitting on billions in Covid transfers from the feds. Yet he refuses to keep essential workers safe by offering paid sick leave. The results are plain to see in a transportation hub like Peel Region, with big outbreaks in large employers like Amazon and Canada Post, as well as in small employers that often fire anyone who stays home with Covid symptoms.
Amazon and Canada Post are making record profits during the pandemic, but still offer next day delivery forcing employees to ignore distancing guidelines as they hurry to pick and pack orders. Over a 120 people have caught Covid at the CP Gateway sorting centre since January. I don't know why management hasn't been charged under the Westray provisions of the criminal code. At the very least, the province should be stepping up workplace inspections and going after negligent management under the health and safety laws.
If workers are deemed essential, the least the province can do is ensure their safety.
Cap
I agree, Cap. Those who we rely on the most are suffering the most.
There's the rub. The writer touches on the hard reality that goes unmentioned - what our societies will be like as we emerge from the pandemic.
Those familiar with the Black Death know how it transformed the lives of the survivors from the lowest peasant on up. One example: housing costs dropped with the collapse of demand and yet the cost of labour soared, especially for tradesmen. The brutal realities of feudalism proved to be brittle when administered a seismic social shock.
Obviously our death tolls are miniscule compared to Europe's 50 per cent plague losses. That said, our societies aren't as rudimentary and robust as 14th century Europe. There are no absolute rulers. The plebs have the vote. Our economies resemble a Hydra's hair. We've seen what happens when long supply chains drop a link. We've also constructed "debt economies" in which rentiers grow fat and sassy while, at the other end, those who don't fall between the cracks are left with a perilous precarity.
It should come as no surprise that the most affluent nation of them all is so deeply riven across so many fault lines. "Getting over" Covid-19 could be especially vexing. It's foreseeable that how America evolves in a post-pandemic world will have spillover effects, political, social and economic, through the Western democracies. Americans entered the postwar era with great expectations. How will they not have something of that nature as they emerge from Covid? Will they be exploited, manipulated by the next charismatic to come along? Might Trump resurface?
We've had no experience of this sort of uncertainty in my lifetime. The Average Joe of 2021 is a different person from the Average Joe of 1945. At my age, part of me wishes we could just hit a "reset" button and reinstate the status quo ante but I'm not convinced that will even be possible. Uncharted waters, Owen.
Absolutely true, Mound. As much as we want to, we can't go home again.
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