Never Mind God, You Owe Frontline Workers

Strange statements by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer.

When churches sent a stern letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford in May 2020 (see my previous post here), they also sent a copy to the office of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer.

Who responded with a multi-paragraph email that failed to address a single concern. Historic precedent, economic ruin, rising addictions, deteriorating mental health. None of that received the slightest acknowledgement. Instead, here are some key quotes:

Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians.

…all organized public events of over five people are prohibited, including indoor communal services within places of worship.

…we owe it to our frontline and essential workers, families, friends and neighbours to…act responsibly, particularly when we are outdoors.

It’s pretty hard to spread or catch COVID in the fully ventilated outdoors. As in, not very likely at all. But here’s the Chief Medical Officer of Canada’s largest province telling people to be extra cautious outdoors.

This letter says nothing is more important than protecting the public’s health. Members of the clergy obviously have a different point-of-view. For them, eternal salvation is top of the priority list. For them, in-person religious services are an obligation, not an option.

Nina Arron, who wrote that letter, is a longtime Ontario Health Ministry official. Her public servant paycheque exceeded $185k in 2021. Yet she was unable to hear a word the churches uttered. Brushing aside what the clergy insisted they owed to God, she lectured them about what they owed to frontline workers.