Faced with the rise in cases of COVID-19 and the entry into the seventh wave, Quebec must appoint an “independent” scientific observer to manage the pandemic, believes the Parti Québécois. However, the Legault government does not intend to go in this direction.
Updated yesterday at 11:48 p.m.
“It is absolutely unthinkable that the CAQ, with its crisis unit made up mostly of communications experts and political strategists, continues to make decisions on the sly to manage the health crisis in the middle of the election period”, argued Friday Joël Arseneau , PQ health critic and MP for Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
His party is therefore proposing to appoint “from now on” an independent observer who would act impartially, like the auditor general, for example, in order to ensure “non-partisan and transparent” crisis management, in the “best interest of all Quebecers.
In recent months, the independence of Public Health has been the subject of much debate. Its representatives have been much more present with the pandemic, often alongside representatives of the Legault government. However, the latter has decided in recent months to separate government press briefings from those of Public Health.
Quebec defends itself
On Thursday, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, was nevertheless alongside the national director of public health, Dr.r Luc Boileau, to provide an update on COVID-19. “The D.r Boileau will continue to have this independence to clinically inform the population,” the Minister also said on this subject, adding, however, that his role was also to “inform the population” beyond the clinical issue.
Mr. Dubé’s cabinet responded in the negative to the Parti Québécois’ request on Friday, retorting rather that “the national public health directorate is entirely independent and is surrounded by several independent experts, in particular from the INSPQ, the INESSS and the CIQ, to issue recommendations to the government”.
“For several months, the national director of public health has been holding his own press briefings. As for detaching the title of deputy minister from that of national director of public health in Quebec, this is a reflection that has already begun, when the Commissioner for Health and Welfare spoke in this sense,” explained press officer Mylène Dalaire, recalling that Minister Dubé’s recent health plan had also announced “a public health reform for more independence.”
“A risk of partisanship”
But according to Joël Arseneau, the ground remains slippery, especially in the pre-election context. “We cannot accept that the CAQ continues to make decisions alone and without transparency, when there is a risk of partisanship,” he laments, accusing the ruling party of not having “yet provided plan to ensure independent health management”.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Joël Arseneau, PQ health critic and MP for Îles-de-la-Madeleine
In January, Prime Minister François Legault had not rejected a possible revision of the function of national director of public health in Quebec. However, no action has yet been taken in this direction.
The PQ MP for Matane-Matapédia, Pascal Bérubé, also added on Friday. “We all know that the national director of public health is linked to the political sphere by his status as deputy minister. It is therefore essential that an independent expert be able to attend all meetings, take notes and produce opinions and public reports on the management of the pandemic. We must now ensure a non-partisan management of COVID-19, ”he said.
Liberal health critic Monsef Derraji recalled on Friday that he had already proposed in January “the formation of a committee of independent experts. This non-partisan group, he says, would allow for more predictability” and “avoid shutting down our economy again.”
No new health restrictions are currently being considered in Quebec, even if Public Health confirmed Thursday that a seventh wave was indeed sweeping the province. The authorities claim that the situation is “under control”, but that it will be necessary to be very vigilant in the coming weeks.