As COVID-19 continues to shatter case counts across the country, including in Saskatchewan, no further restrictions have been imposed by the provincial government.
Saskatchewan’s current public health order mandates that masks be worn in all indoor public settings. There is also a policy of proof of vaccination or negative test in various settings.
But the province has not introduced stricter restrictions, such as gathering limits.
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Prime Minister Scott Moe was asked by reporters on Wednesday why his government isn’t putting more restrictions in place even as case counts hit record highs.
“I don’t know if they are working in any other province in Canada. We are seeing numbers that continue to spread in areas that have restrictions that go well beyond gathering limits,” Moe said.
“It doesn’t appear to be slowing the spread of Omicron in other areas of Canada.”
Moe urged residents to get their booster shots, wear their best mask and use rapid testing to limit the spread.
Moe also acknowledged that there will be disruptions to education and workplaces as COVID-19 infections continue to rise.
“We all need to be patient as we work our way through this (and) we need to wait and plan for those interruptions,” Moe added.
“This is the path we have chosen: We are going to continue moving forward in this province (and) providing all the tools available so that individuals and families can do their own personal risk assessment.”
Moe acknowledged advice from medical director of health Dr. Saqib Shahab that residents should limit gatherings with others, but said he believes those who do gather are taking precautions.
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Since the government hasn’t put any more restrictions in place and Shahab maintains that Saskatchewans should limit their contacts, Moe was asked who people should trust.
“They should trust themselves,” Moe replied.
“We are asking the people of Saskatchewan to use their judgment when they feel it is necessary to come together.”
Public policy professor Ken Coates noted that Saskatchewan has become a national outlier by not introducing more restrictions.
“I think we’re recognizing at this stage of the pandemic that no one has all the answers,” Coates said.
He added that people are exhausted by the pandemic and fed up with the restrictions.
“I don’t see many people getting angry at the government for not imposing the restrictions. And if they had put restrictions in, there would be people furious at the government for putting them in,” Coates said.
“You’re not going to win this, this particular issue, and no one knows what really works best.”
Coates believes that Saskatchewan residents are more on the libertarian side of the issue.
“We’re sort of the beating heart of conservatism right now,” Coates said.
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Coates added that while the opposition party and some doctors are upset with the provincial government for not doing more, other doctors are not.
“There is no easy path through all of this.”
Coates explained that Saskatchewan has been more supportive and understanding of the challenges business owners face, “because we’re a small provincial town with a lot of small businesses that are the backbone of these communities.”
With Moe today offering a rationale for why he’s not tightening restrictions, Coates doesn’t think he’s solved the mixed-message problem.
“I don’t think any government in Canada has solved that problem,” Coates said.
Coates’ main message to the people is to “reduce government slack.”
“Governments are doing the best they can with the available information and available public opinion. You can only do as much as the public will allow you to do, and you can only do what science tells you is the right thing to do.”
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