Roundup: Data-sharing and demanding models

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For his morning presser, prime minister Justin Trudeau noted that he was planning a teleconference with the premiers that evening to talk about coordinating their efforts, and better data sharing. He also stated that they had received 1 million new N95 masks the night before, and that they were working to validate the 10 million other masts they got over the past several days and were distributing those to the provinces as well. He got more questions on modelling the pandemic, saying that it was still coming because the data wasn’t there yet, and said that those returning to Canada from abroad posted a “real risk” to the entire country if they didn’t follow the rules and immediately self-isolate.

During the ministerial briefing that followed, Patty Hajdu wouldn’t entertain questions on whether or not she trusted the data coming out of China, saying that they relied on WHO data, and dismissing some of those concerns as conspiracy theories, which had the pundit sphere in a tizzy the rest of the day. Mark Miller also said that they were considering requests from a couple of different First Nations about military field hospitals being set up in their regions, while more money for pandemic preparedness was flowing. Bill Morneau had a separate appearance before a teleconference of the Commons finance committee (which was a bit of a gong show), where he stated that they went with hard-and-fast rules for compensation that could mean that there are gaps in coverage because that was the fastest way to get compensation out the door. (Of course, he didn’t spell out the capacity challenges, which just leaves him vulnerable to more baseless criticism).

[Maclean’s has updated their Q&A on symptoms and where to get testing]

As for the debate over producing the modelling, we’re seeing some provinces promising to roll theirs out – Doug Ford promising it’ll be today – but I’m having a hard time trying to see what it’s going to do at this point that will be of any real help. I am very convinced that we don’t have enough good and consistent data right now (and there are several experts who say we don’t have enough to do proper modelling just yet), and if people want to see how bad it can get, just look at Italy or Spain. I also don’t trust in the capacity of the majority of my fellow journalists to interpret any of this modelling data anywhere near correctly, given that they have proven to be proudly innumerate already during this pandemic (and a good many of them can’t handle basic civic literacy when they cover politics), so I am largely convinced that they are demanding the models for the sake of easy narratives, such as a screaming headline about worst-case scenario death counts. (Seriously – I have been in this industry long enough to know that’s exactly what’s coming). And I also fail to see how it would offer any kind of reassurance to the public, especially as they can see the death counts in other countries as well as they could a headline about worst-case scenario modelling in Canada – add to that the additional confusion of the disputes over methodology that would follow. Models aren’t data, and according to one data analyst I know, no one will read the technical quotes associated with any released modelling, and it will serve as disaster porn – and she’s right. I mean, certain outlets who shall not be named relied on dial-a-quote outrage from certain familiar sources to bolster their case for demanding the numbers be released, in the face other outlets getting opinions from specialists who are saying it’s too soon to have good data on this. But maybe I’m just pessimistic.

https://twitter.com/moebius_strip/status/1245825513072951297

Good reads:

  • Chrystia Freeland says that she is in “close contact” with the US as they try to get Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut their oil production. (Good luck with that).
  • The CRA will be delivering the HST/GST credits a month ahead of schedule, so that eligible low-income Canadians will get an additional $400 ($600 for couples).
  • Maclean’s got some more behind-the-scenes drama of the negotiations in the House of Commons’ brief sitting last week.
  • The PBO says that the federal government over-estimated how many First Nations children would be due compensation, because he interpreted the order differently.
  • More Canadian Forces troops are withdrawing from Iraq, apparently because of a shortage of people to train in the current pandemic context.
  • Apparently, the US is interpreting the non-essential travel ban across the border in a slightly different way than Canada is.
  • Democracy Watch lost yet another court case, this time in attempting to force the Lobbying Commissioner to re-open an investigation into the Aga Khan.
  • Here’s a look at what our falling dollar could mean.
  • The Conservative Party audit of Andrew Scheer’s expenses turned up not only private school tuition, but housekeepers, clothes, a minivan, and added security.
  • Heather Scoffield worries about the government’s ability to get its emergency programmes out the door given how much confusion there is right now.

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3 thoughts on “Roundup: Data-sharing and demanding models”

  1. The crooked, dopey, fake-news lying press are innumerate cons with Trudeau/Liberal derangement syndrome, just looking for a cudgel to bash the feds, feed tin foil narratives about China, and sow populist distrust in the government at the absolute worst time. The fact that they’ve been giving Trump praise for “transparency” is abhorrent and shows just how broken they’ve become over “access” and licking the boots of their corporate owners. If they really think Trump is doing a better job, why don’t they go there and sit in the crowded, sweaty press gallery with OANN and Infowars and all the other trash YouTube outlets he gives credentials to, as he abuses NBC and the “failing New York Times.” I wish Trudeau would call their masochistic bluff and shout at them, “that’s a nasty question and you are a nasty reporter.” He won’t get anywhere talking about quantum computing, that’s for sure.

    Screw the pundits and the tabloid-quality muckrakers with their infantile impatience, “gotcha” questions, scandal-mongering, and conspiracy theorizing. They’re no better than QAnon at this point. Models for climate change have been out for years and been gaslighted beyond recognition, so why should the manufacturers of consent be trusted not to do the same with this? It would appear that facts are likely to be the most tragic casualty of this crisis, and the least lamented one by the general public. All in service of “democracy,” a word that has mutated to mean “pandering to the lowest common denominator.” Sagan and Asimov are turning in their graves.

  2. I wonder what reaction the impeached genius in the WH would be if Trudeau told the pulp plant in Harmac BC to cease sending pulp to 3M. Of course we all know and trump would also know that this plant is the only facility in the world that produces this unique fibre for masks. Also I think that our nurses should be repatriated to Canada to look after Canadians. The murkan potus could bite off a lot more than he could chew. Taken to the limit it will be interesting to see how the eastern seaboard of the US copes when Canada shuts off the hydro grid. If they were to invade us because trump felt piqued,

  3. “…I also fail to see how it would offer any kind of reassurance to the public…”

    I don’t think it’s the responsibility of a free press to provide “reassurance” during the current pandemic. Transparency by governments, rather than pablum, is what journalists should be seeking.

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