Thread by @MPaiMD

I’ve spent my whole life being a rules follower. Imagine my surprise when one of my tweets from earlier today turned out, at 5 pm, to be a call for civil disobedience in Ontario, where unsafe nonessential work is okay but safer outdoor socializing isn’t. 1/n

As a WOC, my advocacy has had to be subtle, and my voice has had to be quiet. Burning it all down, leaving the table, throwing a tantrum and getting my way… these are privileges I actually don’t have if I want to have any impact. 2/n

BUT: I am aware that many other members of equity seeking groups don’t have a voice at all. And don’t have a seat at any table. I do. (Privilege is a relative thing.) So I’ll tell it to you straight: 3/n

This province’s pandemic response is inequitable, ineffective, and both scientifically and economically unsound. It will harm our most vulnerable. But make no mistake, it will harm ALL OF US, too. 4/n

Small business owner? Elderly person? Young person? First responder? Stay at home worker? New immigrant? Suburban parent? Bay Street financier? Nobody's actually winning, in the long game (or even the short one), with what's happening now. 5/n

Like many “model minorities.” I have also been forced into being not JUST a rules follower, but a solutions finder. (Who do you think calms down the tantrum throwers?) But luckily, this has made being on the province’s Science Table such an eye opening experience. 6/n

The advice from the province's independent Science Advisors (and the MANY experts in this province who have used their platforms to inform and educate) is actually really solutions oriented. It would have empowered our government, and empowered Ontarians. 7/n

This is why having it cast aside hurt. It didn’t hurt my professional ego. It hurt me as a mom, who was hoping her kids could go back to school safely. And a daughter who hasn’t hugged her own mom and dad in 13 months. A wife who's husband has done a lot of emotional labour. 8/n

My best friend had a baby less than a year ago - I can’t fly out to see him. And of course - my heart is broken as a HCW, seeing my colleagues not okay, seeing myself not okay. My patients are so scared, and many of them are at such high risk. Worry for them steals my sleep. 9/n

The hurt comes because these policies will cost us our summer. It will prolong the pain. Don’t like masking? Miss your freedoms? Guess what - ME TOO. I’d love to kiss my dearest friends on the cheeks, hug my mom, and go for a walk with my neighbour. 10/n

I don’t even know what to say about the state of the healthcare system. Or our most vulnerable. People have said it better than I could. @DrKaliBarrett @NathanStall @drandrewb @jkwan_md @DrKateJMiller @jddneary 11/n

The government of Ontario will not heed evidence based advice to truly limit essential work, make all workplaces safe, support people AND businesses with sick leave, and allow people to safely meet outdoors - wearing masks, with six feet distance. 12/n

They won't do the math - so simple my 5 year old could manage it - that the money to pay for these essential supports is pennies compared to the healthcare costs of an out of control pandemic, and prolonged depression of business activity and consumer confidence. 13/n

So I’m standing by my earlier thread. Take your power back, Ontario. Take your health AND your economy back (since they're not mutually exclusive). Protect yourself (mask, distance, safely socialize, get your vaxx). We really ARE in this together, and we're strong. 14/14