Image Credit: Flickr / Government of BC

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Despite Dr. Henry’s words, we shouldn’t let pandemic vacationers off the hook

Jan 8, 2021 | 11:41 AM

WHILE AN OUT-AND-PROUD WHITE NATIONALIST was putting his feet up on Nancy Pelosi’s desk this week, many Canadians of ostensibly better character were putting their feet up as well.

Except instead of participating in a ham-fisted insurrection facilitated by law enforcement, they were putting their feet up on tropical beaches around the world.

Almost uniformly across North America, public health officials and governments have been pleading with their constituents to avoid discretionary travel.

The first we found out about was the now-former finance minister in Ontario, who was unsuccessful in trying to hide his beach vacation with pre-timed social media posts showing him bundled up in chilly Canada.

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But Rod Phillips was just the first in an ever-increasing torrent of politicians and public officials who took a trip over the holidays.

All of them expressed regret for their choices — a sentiment almost no one has ever felt after taking a tropical vacation.

There were consequences for a few, who lost their jobs or were demoted, but there is still nothing of that nature announced for Dr. Peter Berman, the head of UBC’s school of public health.

He may soon be transferred to the Department of Irony.

Berman has 40 years of experience in the field of global health, yet apparently felt his need for Vitamin D superseded his role in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry had a great opportunity to make Berman an example Thursday, when Global’s Richard Zussman asked for her reaction to Berman’s travel.

Henry says it is frustrating, but characterized Berman’s actions as wavering or faltering in the face of something difficult.

That’s far too forgiving.

Going on vacation internationally takes days and weeks of planning and, for many of us, saving.

That’s days and weeks of intentions. It’s not a momentary slip-up or brief error in judgment.

Henry called on British Columbians to show compassion to those who traveled.

When the rest of us could not meet with family for Christmas, could not visit our loved ones in long-term care and could not hold funerals to memorialize those who have died, asking for compassion is a little rich.

It’s letting the well-heeled off the hook, and it’s not okay.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.