Crisis management – How COVID-19 gave Trudeau a political shot in the arm
By Shachi Kurl, President
As it is said so elegantly in French (but also in just about every other language), “rien n’est éternel.” Nothing lasts forever. Recent days have demonstrated this in two important ways.
Questions had always lingered over the practical and political implications of an immunization rollout. Would there be enough to go around? Would Canadians have to wait longer than their international allies? Would they even line up enthusiastically for their jabs when the time came?
On the latter point, soon-to-be released data from the Angus Reid Institute will show that while some amount of vaccine hesitancy and skepticism continues (as has occurred with non-pandemic-related illnesses too), the number of Canadians who express a desire to receive a COVID-19 immunization as soon as one is available has increased substantially in recent weeks.
Perhaps it was the reassurance of the first chipper, elderly patients in Britain who spoke about their experience that has made the difference. Perhaps, as the coronavirus pandemic casts its longest shadow onto what are already the darkest days of the year, the transition of the vaccine conversation from abstract concept to tangible reality has had an impact.
These upcoming data will also show that even though most in this country believe life won’t go back to the way it was pre-pandemic for at least another year, they’re more impressed than not by the way Justin Trudeau’s government has gone about securing doses of vaccine, and have confidence in the federal government to effectively manage the rollout.
For the rest of this piece, please view it on the Ottawa Citizen’s site where it was initially published.
