Thread by @DonaldWelsh16

Your weekly reminder that you are living through the largest social policy blunder in Canadian history. So much to discuss in regards to C19, but lets take a cue from Anthony Furey and keep it simple. 1/

Lost in the noise of Canada's ever aimlessly public health campaign are simple facts. Under the age of 40, the risk of death/hospitalization is stunningly small and arguably lower than the flu. C19 is a highly age/risk statified respiratory illness. 2/

https://twitter.com/anthonyfurey/status/1391175132522090498?s=19

This was appreciated early by actuaries, who make a living studying death curves. Ever wonder why life insurance rates didn't go up with the arrival of a new respiratory virus. Its because C19 didn't materially impact the risk profile of the people they insure. 3/

Unfortunately, our public health community thought "Armageddon" had stuck. Thus for 14 months, we were exposed to an unrelenting fear campaign, unhinged from this simple reality. You can't blame people for being confused and not seeing the facts. 4/

But as Mr. Furey rightly points out, this relentless fear mongering spawned the pseudosciency nonsense of Covid zero. This collection of fringe epidemiological concepts (lockdowns, martial law, trace-and-trace) pumped by ideologs was an abject failure. 5/

This group's origin is murky but they swayed Canada's response via the Ontario Science Table. Their ideas have no serious intellectual foundation and it profoundly damaged our country. Frankly, it was academic playtime for a small group of undisciplined researchers. 6/

Arguably, everyone makes mistakes but Ontario, the home of Covid zero, was doggedly determined get it consistently wrong. Three lockdowns later and no admittance of failure despite obvious evidence of detrimental harms. 7/

This doggedness dug an economic/societal hole so deep that its citizens must now endure more while the province saves itself from looming legal troubles. Lockdowns will pushed into the summer months, taking advantage of seasonality while claiming vaccines are a cure all. 8/

This poor public health policy has badly damaged trust in gov't. It will take years to recover from the manipulative practices of public health but it's essential to sew society back together. How to do this? 9/

I propose striking of a serious public inquiry, with real legal teeth. The head should have impeccable credentials and trust with the public and gov't. An opportune person would seem to be Beverly McLachlin, former chief justice of the Supreme court of Canada. 10/

Her time as the supreme court justice was marked by consensus building and expansion of charter rights. She is non partisan and trusted within gov't circles. This trust would allow the inquiry to extend its gaze into the confidential communications of cabinet. 11/

It's my firm belief this would be in the best interests of Canada. It won't be pretty but its essential to reestablish our societal footing and to ensure those responsible are held to account for this stunning debacle. End