Premier Brian Pallister is speaking. The topic is supposed to be the app he announced way back in the spring - Help Next Door, which is supposed to connect volunteers with people who need help during the #COVID19 pandemic.
The province wants "qualified Manitobans" to use the app to volunteer to work at "COVID-19 testing sites and within health-care facilities."
Context: The province has made previous, repeated calls for nurses to come out of retirement to help.
The MB Nurses Union has said its offer to help out with contact tracing was ignored by the province.
The MB Nurses Union has said its offer to help out with contact tracing was ignored by the province.
The premier says ~3,000 people have filled out the province's curfew survey.
Pallister announces a Thursday town hall on the proposed Winnipeg-area curfew.
Pallister: Measures work best if people buy into it.
Q&A time. Pallister asked about rapid tests.
Says 4,500 have arrived and he hopes to receive more.
Says 4,500 have arrived and he hopes to receive more.
Pallister asked why not hire workers instead of asking for volunteers.
He says the tasks required are not high-skill. This is a short-term need for "surge help."
Says there's no need to expand the civil service for this.
He says the tasks required are not high-skill. This is a short-term need for "surge help."
Says there's no need to expand the civil service for this.
[Does not address why people are not hired short-term, then.]
Pallister asked why the province didn't staff up earlier.
He says it's easy to look backward.
He says it's easy to look backward.
Premier asked how many volunteers the province is looking for.
Doesn't have a number. "It's a moving target."
Doesn't have a number. "It's a moving target."
Pallister cites, as example, someone to offer water to kids waiting in cars during testing lineups.
Pallister: Emergency measures people never stopped working, even if command centre wasn't activated.
Pallister asked why not commission a scientific survey to gauge public opinion on curfews, rather than a survey prone to confirmation bias.
He says the online survey can be criticized, fairly, but it is easy to deliver on a single-issue basis.
He says the online survey can be criticized, fairly, but it is easy to deliver on a single-issue basis.
Pallister asked if any jurisdiction in Canada employs a curfew, aside from First Nations.
He says you'd have to go outside Canada to find an example.
He says you'd have to go outside Canada to find an example.
Pallister asked about expanding ICU. Says planning is underway.
Suggests some are stoking fears, unnecessarily.
Suggests some are stoking fears, unnecessarily.
Pallister says MB is beefing up enforcement. Says details will come "in the next few days."
Says MB is "very, very serious" about enforcement and will spend more money on this.
Says he accepts responsibility for enforcement not being robust in the past.
Says MB is "very, very serious" about enforcement and will spend more money on this.
Says he accepts responsibility for enforcement not being robust in the past.
Premier asks how MB would deal with homeless people if there's a curfew.
Pallister says province has to ensure it doesn't harm people who are doing no harm.
Pallister says province has to ensure it doesn't harm people who are doing no harm.
Premier asked about his preference for U.S. presidential election.
Defers to U.S. electorate but states preference for a clear result. Says transfer of leadership can not be confused.
Defers to U.S. electorate but states preference for a clear result. Says transfer of leadership can not be confused.
Pallister claims a story, by a Winnipeg media outlet, about MB business programs is misleading. Claims MB programs get more dollars out the door than those in other provinces.
Asks media for balance. Says he's not read about anyone praising MB. Insists MB programs are working.
Asks media for balance. Says he's not read about anyone praising MB. Insists MB programs are working.
Pallister says MB gap program has funded more businesses than Sask's, even though latter offers more money.
"If you're going to do a comparison, do that comparison."
Also says Ontario's PPE program has too much red tape.
"If you're going to do a comparison, do that comparison."
Also says Ontario's PPE program has too much red tape.
Premier continues to insist MB has the best business supports.
Pallister defends MB health leadership and says they can not be blamed for rise of #COVID19 cases here.
"There's a danger ... when we see the COVID numbers go up, that we blame health officials."
Invites blame on to himself. Says everyone is shocked.
Says prep work was done here. Defends record of elected and unelected officials.
Invites blame on to himself. Says everyone is shocked.
Says prep work was done here. Defends record of elected and unelected officials.
Premier asked: Did province cut too close to the bone with health care prior to the pandemic?
"It's understandable, everyone looks for an excuse."
Says spending on health care has risen. [True, but not to match inflation.]
Says emergency room reorg has worked.
"It's understandable, everyone looks for an excuse."
Says spending on health care has risen. [True, but not to match inflation.]
Says emergency room reorg has worked.
Pallister:
"The government didn't invent COVID. The government didn't bring it here. The government can't stop people from giving it to each other."
"The government didn't invent COVID. The government didn't bring it here. The government can't stop people from giving it to each other."
Pallister also praises media for relaying public health messaging.
[Note: this premier is generally quite respectful to media, even as he criticizes outlets or individuals.]
[Note: this premier is generally quite respectful to media, even as he criticizes outlets or individuals.]
And that is that for today.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
