Don’t Burst Our Bubble
We are encouraged by the comprehensive education plan the Nova Scotia Government released on July 22. However we are deeply concerned that the Premier intends to end the “Atlantic Bubble” and open the provincial borders to the rest of Canada. Eliminating the existing quarantine restrictions for those who arrive from other provinces, when the number of Covid-19 cases are rising quickly in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, is not safe. It threatens to eliminate all that was achieved through the sacrifice of Nova Scotians in three months of lockdown. Such a choice would call into question this government’s true level of commitment to the education plan it released only days ago and to Nova Scotia’s children.
Canadian paediatric medical experts have unequivocally stated that the best option for the psychosocial development of our children is attending classes within school buildings. But the return to school must be a safe one, for teachers, staff and children, and that is only possible in an environment with no, or very limited, community transmission of Covid-19.
There is no short-term economic gain that outstrips the cost to the economy if our province is forced to shut down a second time. There is no short-term economic gain worth the disastrous cost to families if schools are forced to shut down a second time and children must be kept at home. And there is no economic gain that can make up for the catastrophic effect of such a shutdown on our children.
Already there are many media and anecdotal reports of visitors from beyond Nova Scotia failing to quarantine, and Medical Officer of Health Robert Strang has admitted his department lacks the resources to make the promised daily phone checks on those arrivals. Flight schedules have also increased. Nova Scotia’s zero Covid case rate is already under threat, without any further opening. Key voices in the tourism sector, including the Halifax Region Tourism Opening Plan submitted to the government on behalf of key industry stakeholders, have clearly stated that they only want tourism opened to safe markets. Their top priority is public health.
It is not reasonable to ask Nova Scotia’s children to sacrifice their fundamental human rights for the short-term success of a portion of the business sector. As parents, and as voters, we urge the Premier not to open Nova Scotia beyond the Atlantic Bubble at this time.
-30-
For media queries, please contact us at mediapfpe@gmail.com
If you’re a concerned parent who’d like to join our non-partisan volunteer coalition, go here
We are encouraged by the comprehensive education plan the Nova Scotia Government released on July 22. However we are deeply concerned that the Premier intends to end the “Atlantic Bubble” and open the provincial borders to the rest of Canada. Eliminating the existing quarantine restrictions for those who arrive from other provinces, when the number of Covid-19 cases are rising quickly in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, is not safe. It threatens to eliminate all that was achieved through the sacrifice of Nova Scotians in three months of lockdown. Such a choice would call into question this government’s true level of commitment to the education plan it released only days ago and to Nova Scotia’s children.
Canadian paediatric medical experts have unequivocally stated that the best option for the psychosocial development of our children is attending classes within school buildings. But the return to school must be a safe one, for teachers, staff and children, and that is only possible in an environment with no, or very limited, community transmission of Covid-19.
There is no short-term economic gain that outstrips the cost to the economy if our province is forced to shut down a second time. There is no short-term economic gain worth the disastrous cost to families if schools are forced to shut down a second time and children must be kept at home. And there is no economic gain that can make up for the catastrophic effect of such a shutdown on our children.
Already there are many media and anecdotal reports of visitors from beyond Nova Scotia failing to quarantine, and Medical Officer of Health Robert Strang has admitted his department lacks the resources to make the promised daily phone checks on those arrivals. Flight schedules have also increased. Nova Scotia’s zero Covid case rate is already under threat, without any further opening. Key voices in the tourism sector, including the Halifax Region Tourism Opening Plan submitted to the government on behalf of key industry stakeholders, have clearly stated that they only want tourism opened to safe markets. Their top priority is public health.
It is not reasonable to ask Nova Scotia’s children to sacrifice their fundamental human rights for the short-term success of a portion of the business sector. As parents, and as voters, we urge the Premier not to open Nova Scotia beyond the Atlantic Bubble at this time.
-30-
For media queries, please contact us at mediapfpe@gmail.com
If you’re a concerned parent who’d like to join our non-partisan volunteer coalition, go here