It's time to start lifting all COVID-19 restrictions in BC, according to Renee Merrifield, the Liberal MLA for Kelowna-Mission.
"If not now, when?" asked Merrifield in an interview with NowMedia Group on Tuesday.
"BC is the outlier, for sure. As all other provinces lift restrictions, or at least set dates to lift restrictions, the BC NDP government holds on. The BC Liberal Party is asking them: What is the science? What is the timeline."
Alberta led the way, scrapping vaccine passports to get into restaurants, movies and events on Feb. 8, followed by mask mandates in schools ending Feb. 13 and mask mandates for all others and all other pandemic restrictions being lifted today.
"BC has had a huge recovery," said Merrifield, who is also opposition critic for environment and climate change.
"There's been a dramatic drop in hospitalizations and ICU (intensive-care unit admissions). It's time to recognize that by going back to normal."
Kevin Falcon, the new leader of the BC Liberal Party, also wants to know when.
"British Columbians are simply asking where are we going and when are we going to get there, as they should reasonably expect government has a plan," said Falcon.
"It's time for the NDP to trust people and provide the answers the public deserves. For two years we've seen this unfortunate pattern of government reluctance to share information, but now it is time for Premier (John) Horgan and his government to step up and communicate what the next steps will be as we look towards the future."
Falcon made his statements after today's news conference with BC provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and NDP Health Minister Adrian Dix saw no changes to the current COVID restrictions in the province.
"At a time when public trust is fraying, it's imperative that public officials are open about why and when decisions are made," said Falcon.
"This is not a time for a 'because we said so' attitude. If the government plans to maintain the current restrictions, they should provide the data and explain why. British Columbians have done everything asked of them, evidenced by a provincial vaccination rate of more than 90%. And now they deserve a clear timeline on the next steps from the provincial government."
Merrifield admitted when restrictions are lifted, the new normal will take a while for people to get used to.
After all, we've been masked up; keeping our distance; working from home; Zooming; avoiding socializing, travel and any kind of gatherings; flashing our vax passports; and expecting reduced services from business, government and even the hospital (severely reduced elective surgeries) for months, and in some cases, almost two years.
The economy has also been stifled as a result and personal and business debt has skyrocketed.
It all means the return to normal is still likely to be stilted, according to Merrifield.
"We're all going to have to get used to each other again," she said.
Of course, if you want to keep wearing a mask after mandates are scuttled, you're welcome to.
If you can work out an arrangement with your boss to continue working full-time or part-time from home, more power to you.
Although, once mandates are dropped, no one will likely be interested in seeing your vax passport, because restaurants, movie theatres and venues didn't particularly want to police that in the first place.
Saskatchewan was also quick to dispose of restrictions, saying goodbye to vax passports on Valentine's Day and lifting all other restrictions today.
Manitoba and Ontario both tossed vax passports today, with all other restrictions coming off soon.
All other provinces, except BC, have set dates through this month and April to lift the remainder of all other restrictions.
This is what the Canada Science & Policy Committee to Exit the Pandemic has been advocating for the past two weeks.
The committee said the pandemic is effectively over and should be treated as such by letting society go back to a mask-and-mandate free normal.
See the full exit plan here.
The committee was formed in January to bring together scientists, doctors and policy professionals to create the National Exit Strategy.
The committee is made up, in part, of Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng of Ottawa Hospital, Montfort Hospital and University of Ottawa, Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University Dr. Martha Fulford, Dr. Olga Kovalchuk of the University of Lethbridge, Dr. Thomas Michalak of Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland, Dr. Paul Perlon of Mackenzie Health Hospital in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Economics Professor Fred Lazar of York University and former federal Minister of Health Pierre Pettigrew.
