As a province, there are no pathways into the future with COVID-19 that won't damage the economy and result in the economic suffering of Albertans.
But there is a route we can take that will reduce the number of lives lost as a direct result of this virus, or from it overwhelming our health care system.
After weeks of dithering, on Tuesday (Nov. 24) Premier Jason Kenney took action to change the direction this province was heading in, to get us back on track to limit transmission of the coronavirus and thus set the stage for our economic recovery once vaccines begin to roll out in 2021.
Has the government gone far enough? Only time will tell – and it will tell, because that is how an infectious disease works – through exponential spread over time. Had Kenney taken these specific targeted restrictions a month ago, we would more confident in what the future holds.
But let's be clear, to suggest that anybody wants to take measures that hurt small businesses and places many Albertans in precarious financial situations, is just not true. But as Albertans, we also do not want to see our friends, neighbours and loved ones die from this virus, or suffer with long-term health effects as a result of getting sick.
And when it comes to the types of measures that could be taken, a month ago many were advocating not for a wide sweeping lockdown, but for clear restrictive and targeted measures. Now, with new daily case numbers exceeding what is reported in Ontario and Quebec – provinces that have much larger populations – a lack of testing capacity and the failure of Alberta Health Services to manage contact tracing – clear and enforceable regulations are needed.
By relying entirely upon strongly worded recommendations and not managing people's behaviours properly during a pandemic, this government has put the economy at a greater risk of shutting down as this virus runs rampant through our communities and overtakes our capacity for heath care services.
There is one point of contention that we have with the premier's announcement this week. It is the suggestion that those who have called for action on dealing with COVID-19 are doing so while ignoring the economic and mental health effect it will have on many.
We do not have to engage in restrictions or close businesses in the absence of financial support for those businesses and workers. This province is choosing to create a false dichotomy – we can close down certain sectors and also support those who are taking an economic hit when these measures are taken.
Wanting to stop the spread of the coronavirus does not have to come at the expense of small businesses or restaurants and nobody thinks it is as simple as flicking a switch and shutting down the economy. There is only a cost if our government chooses to take these actions and at the same time leave Albertans on the hook for the financial effects.
The premier talks about balance – he should listen to his own advice and find that balance in his own budget and provide temporary supports to ensure the backbone of our economy in this province survives.
The federal government did it early on and continues to support the economy through the wage subsidy, which has kept many businesses afloat through the toughest part of the onset of this crisis.
Since the beginning of the economic relaunch in June, our local economy has reopened, while residents and business owners have done their best to adapt to the "new normal."
We should all be asking ourselves as residents of the Bow Valley what this new period of normal will look like for each of us and understand we are all living inside a paradox.
One where we are not allowed to gather, but where our economy based on people coming here to gather continues to be open for business.
