SINGING THEIR PRAISES

Canadian health officials and politicians earning approval for their efforts during coronavirus pandemic

Dr. Heather Morrison has had a calf named after her; had a fiddle tune created in her honour; is the subject of T-shirts including one that asks “What would Dr. Morrison do?” and is praised on homemade signs across the province.

The one or two media briefings a day offered by P.E.I.’s chief public health officer, as well as the head of public nursing and various cabinet ministers have attracted quite a following. Thousands tune in the briefings on all manner of media to find out the latest informantion on the province’s COVID-19 situation and bask in the experts' admonition.

The same is the case around the region and across the country.

People are leaving flowers and cards of thanks at N.S. chief public health officer Dr. Robert Strang’s home. There’s a witty Twitter feed dedicated to Strang’s neckties, of all things. Ottawa’s top medical officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, sparked an internet meme of her own when she spoke of “planking the curve.” T-shirts printed with her image along with the images of three provincial health officials, sold out quickly.

The praises are ringing out not just for health officials, but for politicians, too.

N.S. Premier Stephen McNeil’s “stay the blazes home” comment has become a mantra.

There’s a comfort factor at work there, as people who are being asked to make extraordinary sacrifices look to their leaders for regular reassurance that it’s worthwhile.

Federal officials leave similar impressions. Early in the crisis, Justin Trudeau emerged every day from his home to update Canadians on his government’s response to the crisis. Everyone watching knew that his wife was fighting the illness, that he was taking care of three small children while carrying out his duties from home. Trudeau and Tam’s confident handling of the crisis has put Canadians’ minds at ease when they needed it most.

An Angus Reid poll released last week noted Trudeau’s approval rating with Canadians spiked from 33 per cent to 54 per cent.

The same is true of Morrison, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King and all the premiers and medical officers of health in the country.

Their ratings are even higher. Another pollster, Leger, found Canadians overwhelmingly approve of their political leadership’s handling of the crisis.

Quebec’s Francois Legault, who has dealt with the worst outbreak in the country, got the thumbsup from an astounding 95 per cent of Quebecers. Atlantic premiers were next, at a collective 85 per cent. The worst? Alberta’s Jason Kenney with 65 per cent, which most politicians would be ecstatic about.

The popularity of Atlantic leaders was backed by a regional survey firm Narrative Research, which found approval ratings for premiers of from 84-90 per cent among the four provinces. Medical officers of health garner even higher ratings, from 87-95 per cent.

Any politician will tell you that can’t possibly last. As the crisis passes, those ratings will fade back to normal levels.

But it is a sign of the times. It appears that, for once, there is widespread consensus that what we’re doing in Canada is the right thing.