BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[Dengler Avenue]

Oh yea, I'm super proud that Henry Yao won Richmond South-Centre. By 200 votes, though...

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Oh yea, I'm super proud that Henry Yao won Richmond South-Centre. By 200 votes, though...

Yep, though that goes to recount too with such a small margin.

If the Greens are down to two seats, don't they lose official party status?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Like Cactus Club at Metrotown. Jam packed, no distancing whatsoever. Or the restaurants up and down Kingsway where it's a total free-for-all and you wouldn't think we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Do you have proof of this? The new "jam packed" is 50% capacity and tables at least 6 feet from each other.

I've been to a number of restaurants and have yet to see anybody blatantly disobeying the rules.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Yep, though that goes to recount too with such a small margin.

If the Greens are down to two seats, don't they lose official party status?

It's four they only got reduced funding because they supported the NDP minority government.

[zahav]

The fact that Richmond, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, and Vernon have NDP MLA's now is insane to me. Unreal how that happened

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Like Cactus Club at Metrotown. Jam packed, no distancing whatsoever. Or the restaurants up and down Kingsway where it's a total free-for-all and you wouldn't think we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Plus there's the joke that is contact tracing. The problem I see is that many of these folks that go to private home gatherings are likely to go to restaurants and socialize too. Additionally, retail and grocery chains have clearly given up and you can bet your — there is transmission in grocery stores.

Big business has made the province their —.

If you see what you feel are bad protocols in regards to physical distancing. Why don't you report those restaurants to the health authorities.

I'd be shocked if there wasn't some kind of transmission at the grocery store.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Masks are mandatory in T&T and NoFrills. House parties, not so much.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Masks are mandatory in T&T and NoFrills. House parties, not so much.

So you're saying that house parties aren't mandatory at T&T and NoFrills? Well, I may just take my business elsewhere.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by zahav

The fact that Richmond, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, and Vernon have NDP MLA's now is insane to me. Unreal how that happened

Yah. This was the definition of a landslide election. Vernon!?!? Chilliwack!?!?

Crazy to see them go orange.

[jollyburger]

Any appetite for a mandatory mask policy in BC?

[rofina]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Any appetite for a mandatory mask policy in BC?

Yes.

Do it already.

Tired of debating people.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by rofina

Yes.

Do it already.

Tired of debating people.

Yup, makes life a lot easier for all of the people working in customer-facing roles as well.

Kids getting paid minimum wage to argue with some schmuck who thinks he’s being oppressed by a piece of fabric...

[Sheba]

I've been wearing a mask since almost the beginning of this. For a bit of humour...
• Video Link

[jollyburger]

Bonnie Henry: No province wide mask requirement policy because homeless people will be disproportionately affected with fines for not wearing a mask. Sure it's a simplification of what she said but to say that's even an argument is ridiculous. There's a difference between saying everyone should be wearing a mask and fining everyone left and right.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Bonnie Henry: No province wide mask requirement policy because homeless people will be disproportionately affected with fines for not wearing a mask. Sure it's a simplification of what she said but to say that's even an argument is ridiculous. There's a difference between saying everyone should be wearing a mask and fining everyone left and right.

Unfortunately you have to design policy around the lowest common denominator. I'm pretty sure there's a clear message from the government that masks are highly recommended, but as soon as you make it a law, you'll either have to beat down the homeless or deal with the people on the street saying "Why do I have to wear a mask?? You're not making the bums wear one!"

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Bonnie Henry: No province wide mask requirement policy because homeless people will be disproportionately affected with fines for not wearing a mask. Sure it's a simplification of what she said but to say that's even an argument is ridiculous. There's a difference between saying everyone should be wearing a mask and fining everyone left and right.

Transmission is overwhelmingly occurring at events in private homes. How do you enforce mask-wearing there? A roving band of Mask Police that come bursting in without warning?

[logicbomb]

Listen, I get we cannot totally kill our economy, but we are talking about a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Other states and provinces are following suit with lockdown measures.

I know someone on the previous page stated we have seen a massive shift towards remote working but it would see many employers - especially government employers are massively lagging behind. Even then, the main arterials going into Burnaby and Vancouver are still congested during the morning and afternoon rush. The firm I am working for in Burnaby has refused to allow us to work-from-home despite we doing just that from May to August.

To me, every measure we have done falls square on the NDP government trying to keep their credit rating high and minimizing the economic impact of COVID19. Ignoring the obvious issues in the schools is another example of this.

Originally Posted by whatnext

Transmission is overwhelmingly occurring at events in private homes. How do you enforce mask-wearing there? A roving band of Mask Police that come bursting in without warning?

Transmission are also occurring in the schools. Ask any teacher and they will tell you that they are freaking out over the blatant cover-ups and gag orders that are being issued.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Listen, I get we cannot totally kill our economy, but we are talking about a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Other states and provinces are following suit with lockdown measures.

I know someone on the previous page stated we have seen a massive shift towards remote working but it would see many employers - especially government employers are massively lagging behind. Even then, the main arterials going into Burnaby and Vancouver are still congested during the morning and afternoon rush. The firm I am working for in Burnaby has refused to allow us to work-from-home despite we doing just that from May to August.

To me, every measure we have done falls square on the NDP government trying to keep their credit rating high and minimizing the economic impact of COVID19. Ignoring the obvious issues in the schools is another example of this.



Transmission are also occurring in the schools. Ask any teacher and they will tell you that they are freaking out over the blatant cover-ups and gag orders that are being issued.

Kids are largely asymptomatic and aren't efficient spreaders. Instead of having every Karen freaking out on Global or CBC about her kid's school, maybe they should just give paid time off for teachers with pre-existing conditions.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Transmission is overwhelmingly occurring at events in private homes. How do you enforce mask-wearing there? A roving band of Mask Police that come bursting in without warning?

Quebec's been doing that for a while now. It depends on whether the government has the will and the resource to go heavyhanded like this.

[jollyburger]

Henry's oped on mask usage

British Columbians have been nimble in adapting their individual actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities over the last ten months, and it has had a big impact.

Our actions have helped keep our hospitals, schools and workplaces open — and protect the ones we love.

Dr. Bonnie Henry: Masks are one of the important layers to protect yourself, your community
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Such essential actions include maintaining a safe distance from others, cleaning our hands and staying home if we get sick. Using masks appropriately is another important example of an individual act that results in a collective good. Each of these is a layer of protection to guard against a virus that never rests.

Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C. The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19 safety plans, and is embedded in our health care facilities’ operational policies and restart protocols in other public institutions.

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Despite how it might appear when we watch the news or go on social media, research shows that most of us in B.C. are doing the right things most of the time. Ordering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization. We need only look at the COVID-19 transmission rates in other jurisdictions that have tried using such orders to see what little benefit these orders by themselves have served. We also know that when orders and fines are in place, it is racialized people and those living in poverty or homeless who are most often targeted.

Each day, we are continuing to learn more about the virus and how it spreads. Right now, we are seeing rapid transmission in social gatherings where masks would not be worn anyway, in certain workplaces and risky indoor settings, like group fitness activities. Provincial health officer orders are always a last resort and we have used them carefully to address these recent trends.

The orders we have in place now complement our clear and expressed expectation that people will wear masks in indoor public places like shopping malls, stores, on ferries and transit.

Our orders also mandate that businesses and workplaces must have COVID-19 safety plans in place. These should include mask wearing, in addition to barriers, reduced numbers of people in spaces, screening of workers and the public and availability of hand cleaning and sanitation. Staff and customers must abide by these plans and businesses must offer virtual, online or contactless alternatives to customers who cannot wear a mask. COVID-19 safety plans are enforceable and something businesses and workplaces now plan for and have in place, in accordance with our orders.

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We know that people want to do the right thing when they understand the reasons behind our thinking and have the tools they need to do what is asked of them. Mask use is important, and we need everyone to have the same understanding of our expectations. Wearing a mask will never eliminate all risks, but it is a significant part of the layers of protection that can help protect us, our loved ones and our community. Now more than ever, it is a measure we must all take.

An order can never replace our personal commitment. We need to be responsible for our own actions — that is how we all pull together. I wear a mask, and I expect each of you who can to wear one too.