University of Calgary political scientist Barry Cooper remains frustrated with fearful politicians who parrot the mantras of medical authorities, implement heavy-handed measures, and shut down debate..In an interview with Western Standard, the co-author of COVID-19 The Politics of a Pandemic Moral Panic said pandemic responses have lacked reason and courage..“The fearfulness, particularly in the last two years with respect to COVID, has paralyzed any sort of serious consideration of what alternatives might be, and they’re out there,” Cooper said..“If (Erin) O’Toole had genuine political courage, he would be articulating those positions. But instead, he cedes the floor to (Justin) Trudeau’s anxieties or pretended anxieties…That’s just outrageous what these guys are getting away with, and O’Toole’s not calling them on it. Why would you vote for a guy like that?”.On August 13, the Liberal government announced vaccine passports for federal workers and staff and passengers in federally regulated travel such as airplanes, trains, and boats. .In Quebec, Premier Francois Legault banned the unvaccinated from “non-essential services” such as sporting events, restaurants and bars..“I don’t know what Legault believes in, except like Trudeau, he likes power…He’s just spewing outrageous things that nobody calls him [on]. Jason [Kenney] did sort of, but that’s only because he criticized Alberta.”.The Parti Quebecois called for democratic debate before implementing vaccine passports, but Legault said no..“I don’t want certain people – whom I won’t name – to come explain that there’s a conspiracy, it’s not good to be vaccinated, that in the end, we’re putting a microchip in people’s arms to follow what they’re doing, stories like that. I don’t think we need that in Quebec,” said Legault..Such comments did not quell suspicion, Cooper said..“These things about, we’re not going to discuss vaccination passports because that will open people to conspiracy theories. Hello?” said Cooper with a laugh..“That’s admitting that you’re part of the conspiracy because that’s what conspirators do. They work in the dark, which is what Legault is doing.”.In mid-May, Premier Ian Rankin applied to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for an emergency injunction to ban public gatherings and protests. .“There was a protest planned for this weekend, a group of people who don’t agree with wearing a mask or following restrictions,” Rankin said at a press conference..“So, government went to court to seek an injunction, and that was granted.”.Nova Scotia Chief Medical Health Officer Richard Strang admitted the injunction sought to prevent people from hearing alternate messages to that made by the government..“Bringing large numbers of people together can present some risk but the other purpose of the injunction is to prevent groups that are spreading, deliberately spreading false information… The information itself, if listened to, creates risk to the public as well. So [there] certainly is a need to manage that misinformation campaign.”.These health bureaucrats have been delegated too much power for Cooper’s liking..“Oh yes, whatever you say, Bonnie. Oh yes, whatever you say, Deena. Oh yes, whatever you say, Teresa. Well, sorry, what they’re saying is barely half of what is out there in terms of evidence. And what they’re saying essentially enhances their power and the power of their alleged political bosses who are quite happy to let the medical people give the good news, bad news,” he said..Cooper said the “politics of fear” has reached new levels, but it infected politicians before the pandemic struck..“The last political leader that did not behave the way the editorial board or the Globe and Mail or the Toronto Star would like him to was probably Stephen Harper. His successors, whether Liberal or Conservative, look at that, and say, we don’t want to go down that road because Stephen Harper was vilified. And they’re afraid,” he said..“They are as afraid as the fear they want to instill in the rest of us. And they’re not Machiavellian, using fear to control the Canadian population. They’re as scared as they want the rest of us to be. And that’s new.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan.
University of Calgary political scientist Barry Cooper remains frustrated with fearful politicians who parrot the mantras of medical authorities, implement heavy-handed measures, and shut down debate..In an interview with Western Standard, the co-author of COVID-19 The Politics of a Pandemic Moral Panic said pandemic responses have lacked reason and courage..“The fearfulness, particularly in the last two years with respect to COVID, has paralyzed any sort of serious consideration of what alternatives might be, and they’re out there,” Cooper said..“If (Erin) O’Toole had genuine political courage, he would be articulating those positions. But instead, he cedes the floor to (Justin) Trudeau’s anxieties or pretended anxieties…That’s just outrageous what these guys are getting away with, and O’Toole’s not calling them on it. Why would you vote for a guy like that?”.On August 13, the Liberal government announced vaccine passports for federal workers and staff and passengers in federally regulated travel such as airplanes, trains, and boats. .In Quebec, Premier Francois Legault banned the unvaccinated from “non-essential services” such as sporting events, restaurants and bars..“I don’t know what Legault believes in, except like Trudeau, he likes power…He’s just spewing outrageous things that nobody calls him [on]. Jason [Kenney] did sort of, but that’s only because he criticized Alberta.”.The Parti Quebecois called for democratic debate before implementing vaccine passports, but Legault said no..“I don’t want certain people – whom I won’t name – to come explain that there’s a conspiracy, it’s not good to be vaccinated, that in the end, we’re putting a microchip in people’s arms to follow what they’re doing, stories like that. I don’t think we need that in Quebec,” said Legault..Such comments did not quell suspicion, Cooper said..“These things about, we’re not going to discuss vaccination passports because that will open people to conspiracy theories. Hello?” said Cooper with a laugh..“That’s admitting that you’re part of the conspiracy because that’s what conspirators do. They work in the dark, which is what Legault is doing.”.In mid-May, Premier Ian Rankin applied to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for an emergency injunction to ban public gatherings and protests. .“There was a protest planned for this weekend, a group of people who don’t agree with wearing a mask or following restrictions,” Rankin said at a press conference..“So, government went to court to seek an injunction, and that was granted.”.Nova Scotia Chief Medical Health Officer Richard Strang admitted the injunction sought to prevent people from hearing alternate messages to that made by the government..“Bringing large numbers of people together can present some risk but the other purpose of the injunction is to prevent groups that are spreading, deliberately spreading false information… The information itself, if listened to, creates risk to the public as well. So [there] certainly is a need to manage that misinformation campaign.”.These health bureaucrats have been delegated too much power for Cooper’s liking..“Oh yes, whatever you say, Bonnie. Oh yes, whatever you say, Deena. Oh yes, whatever you say, Teresa. Well, sorry, what they’re saying is barely half of what is out there in terms of evidence. And what they’re saying essentially enhances their power and the power of their alleged political bosses who are quite happy to let the medical people give the good news, bad news,” he said..Cooper said the “politics of fear” has reached new levels, but it infected politicians before the pandemic struck..“The last political leader that did not behave the way the editorial board or the Globe and Mail or the Toronto Star would like him to was probably Stephen Harper. His successors, whether Liberal or Conservative, look at that, and say, we don’t want to go down that road because Stephen Harper was vilified. And they’re afraid,” he said..“They are as afraid as the fear they want to instill in the rest of us. And they’re not Machiavellian, using fear to control the Canadian population. They’re as scared as they want the rest of us to be. And that’s new.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan.
