I thought I would try a new monthly post (we will see if it lasts).
I have noted a few things during this month that caught my attention and thought I would highlight them with a few comments. The comments on each subject are certainly not a complete analysis but just meant to focus on a point. I might decide to write a complete post on some of these subjects at a later date.
If I missed anything you thought was important, let me know and I will add it next month. Here goes:
Racialized people in Ontario fear harassment during COVID-19 lockdown - I think it really says something about our society, community and particularly our police forces when the immediate reaction by racialized people in Ontario, to the increased lockdown measures, was fear. Specifically, fear of being harassed by police. It goes to show the disparity in our community. This is something that would never occur to me. There are lots of things about COVID-19 and the lockdown that concern me, but fear of police harassment is not one of them. We all need to help push for the elimination of this kind of racism in our society.
The vaccine race - This certainly is the new hot topic as we turned the page to 2021. I do not have a lot of confidence in Justin Trudeau specifically and his government generally, to execute and deliver on any activity that is detailed and complex. They just do not have any credibility in getting things done. Given their total lack of transparency on the contracts they put in place with the pharmaceutical companies, it is doubtful that Trudeau negotiated agreements that were competitive with other countries. It is sad when the US government demonstrates greater transparency than the Canadian government. Having said all that, I think this will really be decided in the long term. If Canada can vaccinate all Canadians by September, it seems they will be relatively competitive with other countries. Later than that, I think Trudeau will be in trouble. It is truly amazing how quickly the race changes. When I first made note of the vaccine race in mid-January, Canada was 7th in the world and 4th in the G7 countries (as measured by vaccines per 100 people). Not bad. Today, February 3, Canada is 29th in the world. Not good. We should definitely be in the top 10. If we don't make that mark by September, Trudeau will wear the failure.
What is an emergency? - I am not a fan of Doug Ford. I think the chummy, I am everybody's friend style is wearing thin as his government continues to cause confusion around COVID-19 and make a mess of many other files (the environment being near the top of my list). This month I want to comment on COVID-19. On a Thursday Doug Ford tells all Ontarians that he has seen the latest projections and they are terrible, awful and will make you fall off your chair. Does he share this information with Ontarians? No. He waits until the following Monday to release the data and then another week before he increased restrictions. Clearly, Doug Ford has a different definition of emergency then I do. I think everyone gave Ford and most other politicians the benefit of the doubt during the first wave of COVID-19. On the other hand, throughout this second wave, I think he is wearing the lack of action and confusion his government has caused.
Ontario Long Term Care - During the first wave of COVID-19 I firmly believed that it was unfair to put all of the blame for long-term care deaths on Doug Ford. The fact is that Ontario governments for two decades (both Liberal and Conservative) have not invested in or regulated long-term care properly. Also at that time, everyone, including Ford, was learning on the job about how to manage the virus. After the first wave, Doug Ford stated that his government would "put an iron ring of protection" around long-term care homes. What has happened? More residents of long-term care will die in the second wave than the first. It is criminal how the government and the management of these homes (not the front-line workers) have treated the elderly.
Hockey is back! - It is awesome to be able to watch the Leafs (or whoever is your favourite team) again. With the compressed schedule, your team is likely playing every or every other night. Furthermore, even if your team is not playing, you can watch a hockey game every night. Go Leafs go!
Who wants this presidential medal? - I love watching sports. I have my favourite players but don't feel a need to pattern my life after them. I am not a person that sees sports figures as role models. I have always assumed that athletes are likely made up of good and bad people in roughly the same proportion as the general population. With all that said, I was surprised to find myself loving Bill Belichick's position. For what you ask? He refused to accept the Presidential Medal from Trump. Right on. Way to go Bill! This is opposed to Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam who accepted the Presidental Medal from Trump on the day after the terrorist invasion of the US capital. Gary, Annika, really? While we are at it, let's send a jab to Bobby Orr and Jack Nicklaus who both supported Trump for re-election.
Cheap and disgusting - I understand the opposition party's need to criticize the government. There is certainly a lot to fault Trudeau for. Sometimes I wish that when the government is doing the right thing, the opposition would acknowledge and support them. However, Erin O'Toole's criticism of the government for the plan to vaccinate 600 federal prisoners is in my view cheap and disgusting. This action was recommended by the medical board that is making all vaccine recommendations. I don't want Erin O'Toole overriding this decision or any other by the board. The action was not only meant to protect the 600 prisoners, which the federal government has responsibility for but to protect the prison employees and their families. By stating that no prisoners should be vaccinated before ordinary Canadians, O'Toole (and Ford) are appealing to people's worst instincts. In addition to the medical reasons for vaccinating these individuals, where do we draw the line and who decides? Would O'Toole also support not vaccinating people convicted of crimes but no longer in prison? How about people who have been charged with a crime but not yet convicted? What about homeless people or others that O'Toole just doesn't like. Erin O'Toole should be ashamed of himself. He has given me another reason to not vote for him. Given I am not voting for Trudeau either, my choices are getting slimmer, but that is a whole other story.
Trump is out!- I know it is not over but at least he is not President anymore ... yeah!
What is with my driver? - This one actually goes back to December before the lockdown when Sean and I had the opportunity to hit golf balls into the golf simulator a couple of times. I have worked hard on my golf game for at least the last 10 years (Teresa would say longer (smile)). I have been able to maintain a handicap of 7-8 for most of that time. So here is the issue. As measured by the simulator, which I found very accurate to real golf conditions I hit my 8 iron 145-155 yards, my 5 iron 175-185 yards, my 4 hybrid 190-195 yards. That all seems pretty good for a 63-year-old to me. Based on the above I should probably hit by 3 wood 210-220 (I am reasonably close to this) and hit my drive 225-240. Everyone with me here? The problem is I consistently hit my drive 200-210 with the (very) occasional longer drive. Very frustrating but something to work on before the golf season starts again.
That's it for January. Let me know what you think about the above or if I have missed anything. You can reach me at thethirdperiod.ca@gmail.com
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