Thread by @gingerqueenjen

Thoughts on this Orwellian doublespeak. Fact Check 1: "people are asking when we will see masks mandated [...] The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks [...] is a cornerstone of businesses' and organizations' #COVID19BC safety plans". They aren't. It isn't.1/

https://twitter.com/CTVVancouver/status/1328508314053914626

The only person who can make a #MaskMandate is the PHO, & as you read here, she won't.
Fact Check 2: "Our orders also mandate that businesses and workplaces must have #COVID19 safety plans in place. These *should include* mask wearing." Wait, not *must include*? Not a mandate. 2/

Fact Check 3, same quote: One very important workplace doesn't have COVID-19 safety plans including masks or distancing: #bced SCHOOLS. Total 625 school #covid19 exposures as of this pm at 373 schools, 126 multiples. Sec students only req mask outside cohort, elem not at all. 3/

Fact Check 4: "An order can never replace our personal commitment. We need to be responsible for our own actions". Ah, if this were reality. In society, what proactive/reactive steps do we (gov't) generally take in the event of those who refuse to take responsibility & act 4/

in ways that endanger others' health & lives? Why, we enact laws & regulations ("orders") governing behaviour & if ppl break them, we impose consequences & sanctions in ways designed to deter/prevent them from causing further harm. We don't just ask nicely. This is the same. 5/

One proactive measure would have been an early #MaskMandate. It's long past time for that already, but it would still save many ppl's health and lives. When it only takes 1 to spread #covid19 & 1000s in BC have shown that they don't care to make that personal commitment, 6/

a mask order w/meaningful enforcement/consequences (reactive measure) is absolutely appropriate & seemingly logical to everyone but our elected & appt'd authorities.
Fact Check 5, same quote: Speaking of being responsible for our own actions, it doesn't seem to apply to 7/

elected/appt'd gov't persons, as not one of the Premier, Min of Ed, Min of Health, PHO has been responsive to legit qs from the public, not months before the elxn, not during the elxn, not now, nor have some journos. Citizens asking pointed qs on soc media often get blocked. 8/

This is not the #accountability & #transparency we expect in a #democracy. Despite Horgan's grandiose claim months ago that "the buck stops with him", it's hard to believe that's true when he's so hard to pin down, on a #MaskMandate or anything else #covid19bc-related. 9/

Back to #MaskMandate & #bced, where the gov't of BC is also not showing evidence of having made a "personal commitment". In schools, of course, it's not irresponsible ppl who are the problem; quite the opposite. Teachers & school staff are some of the most committed ppl in BC 10/

who have made some of the greatest sacrifices to date in this #covid19 pandemic by simply showing up to work. They worry about their own health & lives & those of their students bc the layers of protection they were promised would keep them safe have too many holes in them, 11/

& one of the layers missing from the plan is a #MaskMandate that protects ppl in real BC schools, not imaginary ones in ads & gov't rhetoric. #IStandWithBCTeachers, & school staff of course, as should we all. Thanks for reading. I'll have more to say soon. #bcpoli #bced
12/fin

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