The day in vaccine news was marked by the first in what was promised to be a weekly series of briefings about the progress of the planned vaccine rollout, wherein we learned that Health Canada’s close work with the FDA and the European Medicines Agency in the rolling application process, so that means that the Canadian approval for the vaccines should happen around the same time as their do – something that will relieve some of the anxiety. We are also expecting some six million doses (so, vaccinations for three million people) between approval and the end of March, with more doses to start ramping up considerably faster afterward. So there’s that.
Meanwhile, for all of the yelling and pleading for at-home tests, no manufacturer has applied to Health Canada (and Health Canada has proactively asked them to apply), and most companies haven’t even perfected their technologies yet, so this remains something of a pipe dream that we should stop hoping will be the panacea to ending lockdowns.
Over in Alberta, a number of recordings of meetings that their Chief Medical Officer of Health had were leaked to media, showing how her advice was being overruled by Cabinet, which confirms what was pretty much a no-brainer, but because it leaked, there is going to be damage to the way our system of government operates. Dr. Hinshaw called the leaks a betrayal of trust – and she’s right – but it really puts her in an impossible situation. (I have more about this in my weekend column, so keep an eye out for it).
In every gov't decision-making process, there is likely someone involved who fundamentally disagrees with what you'd like to see happen. Would you want that person to be able to strategically leak information from high-level meetings or analysis in order to shape policy?
— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) November 26, 2020
In that case, it was a run that isolated the tax, while assuming the tax revenue disappeared, so we were just looking at substitution effects from the carbon price. The macro impact in that run is the equivalent of taking the tax revenue out of the economy entirely. 3/
— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) November 26, 2020
We put a massive amount of trust in officials and outside experts who are brought into these rooms to advise on decisions. The outcome of today damages that system, will mean less open advice, and less informed decision making. And that too has consequences. 5/5
— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) November 26, 2020
Don't worry, all. I'm sure the response of the *checks notes* Jason Kenney government to people secretly recording meetings on gov't policy will be bring in more expertise and have a more open and transparent process where even cabinet meetings are broadcast live on the internet.
— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) November 26, 2020
Good reads:
- Justin Trudeau had a teleconference with the premiers last night, but apparently didn’t have more details on when vaccines would be arriving.
- Jean-Yves Duclos has given some more details about how Treasury Board plans to help the government play their part in reducing their emissions on the road to 2030.
- In response to Senate questions, Carla Qualtrough says that the government is open to some amendments to the current assisted dying bill.
- Citizenship exams are set to resume after months of being suspended.
- There are calls for Marc Miller to launch an investigation into one of his senior bureaucrats after complaints about the decisions she has been making.
- Here’s a takedown of Pierre Poilievre and Erin O’Toole’s flirting with conspiracy theorists and their use of the “Great Reset” as part of that winking and nodding.
- Susan Delacourt wonders how long Canadians’ patience will last once other countries start getting vaccine doses before we do.
- Kevin Carmichael suggests that the federal government needs to take action to revive Canada’s life sciences sector, including changing the investment ecosystem.
- Colby Cosh muses about why Alberta and other western provinces have been hard hit by COVID, and their penchant for independence and stubbornness play a role.
Odds and ends:
For the CBA’s National Magazine, I talked to the CBA’s president about how his concerns about the judicial appointment process were mischaracterised.
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This impatience and dissatisfaction is being driven by irresponsible opposition parties and the Trudeau-derangement media, salivating for *anything* to end his tenure because they lack credible alternative policies and their fake scandals have fizzled out. I am utterly disgusted by the opportunistic points-scoring of these supposedly honorable members of parliament and the “free press” churning out negative coverage under the guise of “holding the government to account.” Anything for ratings and polling numbers, to hell with the science. They’re creating widespread panic and ginning up nationalistic animosity, nothing but arsonists looking to put out their own fires with gasoline. Shame on them all.