Liberals made cuts to early warning system just months before COVID-19 pandemic

Liberals made cuts to early warning system just months before COVID-19 pandemic

VANCOUVER - The Federal Liberal government made significant cuts and reduced the international monitoring function of the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN) just months before the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving Canada vulnerable and preventative action slow to roll out.

“This was an incredibly irresponsible decision,” said NDP Health Critic Don Davies. “For decades, this early warning system proved its worth and flagged threats before contagions got out of control. There is no question that it would have detected the SARS-CoV-2 virus earlier. Yet the Liberals decided that this was unnecessary.

 

The National - Contract Tracing on Flights

The National - Contract Tracing on Flights

Testing and contract tracing are critical to controlling the spread of COVID-19. The federal government must move to enact a proactive contract tracing plan for all airline passengers.

NDP health critic dismayed by crammed cabins, calls for airline relief package to help with COVID-19

NDP health critic dismayed by crammed cabins, calls for airline relief package to help with COVID-19

NDP health critic Don Davies says the federal government should provide the airline industry with a relief package to reduce the risk of carrying passengers infected with COVID-19 and to ensure profits are not coming before people during the pandemic.

Canada-U.S. border closure to be extended for another 30 days, CBC reports

Canada-U.S. border closure to be extended for another 30 days, CBC reports

“As pressure increases to open the border with the U.S., the Canadian government needs to be clear with their U.S. counterparts that the number one priority must be the health and safety of Canadians,” said in a statement Don Davies, New Democratic Party’s health critic.

“The news coming out of the U.S. is troubling. There are COVID-19 flare-ups all over the country and, in many states, the number of cases is growing at an alarming rate.”

This makes it dangerous and unwise to re-open the border at this time, Davies said.

“Canadians have made a lot of progress flattening the curve by listening to public health advice over the past months,” Davies said. “Re-opening the border prematurely will jeopardize all that we have gained to date.”

More nuanced, test-focused approach needed to reopen Canada-U.S. border, say experts

More nuanced, test-focused approach needed to reopen Canada-U.S. border, say experts

NDP MP Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.), his party’s heath critic, said in a statement that the Canadian federal government “need[s] to be clear” with the Trump administration that the “number one priority must be the health and safety of Canadians.”

“Reopening the border prematurely will jeopardize all that we have gained to date,” he said.

Statement on extending the border closure

Statement on extending the border closure

NDP Critic for Health, Don Davies, made the following statement:

"As pressure increases to open the border with the US, the Canadian government needs to be clear with their US counterparts that the number one priority must be the health and safety of Canadians.

Canadian MPs weigh in on Trudeau-WE Charity controversy

Canadian MPs weigh in on Trudeau-WE Charity controversy

Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Arif Virani; Conservative MP Michael Barrett; and NDP MP Don Davies join Robin Gill for a panel discussion on the WE Charity controversy engulfing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his family.

Health concerns raised as Canadian airlines abandon social distancing

Health concerns raised as Canadian airlines abandon social distancing

“Public health measures shouldn’t be optional,” federal NDP health critic and Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies said Friday. “It would seem the effective lobbying and economic interests of the airline industry are holding sway over the competing interests of public safety.”

How safe is flying during the pandemic?

How safe is flying during the pandemic?

On Friday, Don Davies, member of parliament for Vancouver-Kingsway and NDP health critic, called on Transport Canada to immediately impose physical distancing requirements on all passenger aircraft in Canada.

"One must question why airlines are being treated differently than every other business and industry in Canada," said Davies, accusing the federal government of putting commercial interests above the health and safety of travellers.

"We must not jeopardize the progress that Canadians have worked so hard to make in their fight against COVID-19 by allowing these airlines to fly into known hotspots like California, Nevada and Florida without any physical distancing requirements," he said.

COVID-19 warning issued to travellers aboard four flights to Vancouver

COVID-19 warning issued to travellers aboard four flights to Vancouver

The warning comes as federal NDP health critic and Vancouver-Kingsway MP Don Davies demands Transport Canada immediately impose mandatory physical distancing rules on all passenger flights.

“It’s been voluntary up until now. The airlines have indicated they’re not going to follow the voluntary guidelines. When you’re seeing policy by government violate what our public health officers are saying, that’s a pretty good indication that the federal government is wrong and we’ve got to get on this right away and change it before people get sick,” he said.

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