“Do not blow this for the rest of us.”
Those were the words of Premier John Horgan directed at B.C. residents ages 20 to 39 on Monday when the province announced new restrictions on restaurants, fitness centres and other businesses in an attempt to curtail surging COVID-19 cases in this province.
His words have been met with much criticism the past few days and rightly so.
I think it is pretty unfair to suggest one particular age group is the cause for the recent surge in cases. Yes, there has been a rise in younger age groups contracting the virus, but doesn’t that stand to reason given we are vaccinating our older population first?
And let’s not forget, that prior to the start of spring break, provincial medical health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry decided to loosen restrictions on outdoor gatherings allowing for up to 10 people to get together. Did she honestly believe that people would follow the rules and not shift those larger gatherings indoors as well? What was the motivation to ease some restrictions just prior to spring break? Why is Horgan not questioning that decision, which clearly played a big factor in the case rise?
On Monday, the province targeted the hospitality industry – an industry that has sacrificed so much, many of which, operate thanks to the 20 to 39 age group that Horgan threw under the bus. This younger demographic have been hit hard, suffered job loss and the stress of financial hardship and now they have to saddle the blame for the pandemic because of Horgan’s flippant and ill-timed remarks. I guess it is just easier to blame someone else instead of taking responsibility for your failures.
I’m not too surprised by this latest gaff from our premier. This was the same person who a few weeks ago flippantly told Interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond that she “should get a geography lesson” when asked why there was not a vaccine clinic slated for North Delta.
So much for all of us being in this “together” eh Mr. Premier?
