Vaccination | More antics in Ottawa

Could we finally, once and for all, stop making antics about vaccination in Ottawa?

You will have understood that it is to the Conservatives, above all, that this message is addressed.

More precisely to these die-hard conservatives, who seem to do everything to give the impression that their party is not aware of two or three inescapable truths.

• Vaccination is what keeps our heads above water and, more than ever, able to control the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.
• It is crucial for politicians to lead by example. How do you get your fellow citizens to understand that vaccinating as many Canadians as possible is essential … if you refuse to roll up your sleeve yourself?
• Denouncing health measures is not a very promising issue for their party. Whenever these MPs flirt with the anti-vaccine movement, they give ammunition to all of their rivals.

For those who do not follow the adventures of this small group of Conservative MPs on a daily basis – we do not blame you! -, let us briefly recap their most recent highlights.

A few days ago, we learned that between 15 and 30 Conservative MPs had formed the “civil liberties caucus”. They seem to want to specialize in defending the rights of those who oppose vaccination.

Let’s be clear: we can have a healthy debate to determine which workers in the country should be forced to be vaccinated against COVID-19. And what fate awaits the most resistant.

But the diehard conservatives do not stop there. They feed mistrust and doubt with regard to the vaccination campaign.

As proof, the MP who spoke the longest in public about this new caucus, Marilyn Gladu, recently showed her true colors on the CTV network.

She minimized the risks associated with COVID-19 by insinuating that it had nothing to do with a disease like polio (the vaccine of which is routinely offered to children as part of the Quebec Immunization Program).

She apologized on Tuesday; so much the better, but the damage was done.

Unfortunately, that does not mean that the antics are over …

The issue of compulsory vaccination to participate in the work of Parliament is settled for everyone in Ottawa… except for the Conservatives.

The Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons – which is made up of nearly ten members – has ruled.

Access to Parliament will be restricted to fully immunized Members.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, who had to answer a barrage of questions about immunization on Monday, has promised that all of his MPs who appear in the chamber now will be vaccinated.

Nevertheless, he himself denounced the decision of the Board of Internal Economy on the subject of vaccination.

Official explanation: he believes that all members of the House must vote on this subject.

However, he knows that the members who made the decision within the Board of Internal Economy represent all of their colleagues. We can therefore deduce that the majority of the deputies of the House of Commons are of this opinion… which is also common sense!

The objections raised by the Conservatives are more like a maneuver designed to please the more radical members of their caucus, who seem to have more hooks with Maxime Bernier than with the majority of Canadians on health issues.

We agree that Erin O’Toole is walking on eggshells.

It can be difficult for him to bring all of his rebel MPs into line without starting a mutiny. So far, he tries to marginalize them, but he is careful not to provoke them openly.

On the other hand, the day he grows a spine, these rebellious deputies will probably no longer dare to challenge him impertinently.

And on that day, the Conservative leader will then only be part of the solution on the issue of vaccination, and no longer of the problem.

What do you think? Express your opinion