YG comments on news release’s timing
The territorial cabinet communications team provided a statement Monday afternoon explaining why a news release announcing significant new COVID-19 restrictions was sent out at 7 p.m. last Friday.
The territorial cabinet communications team provided a statement Monday afternoon explaining why a news release announcing significant new COVID-19 restrictions was sent out at 7 p.m. last Friday.
The timing of the release, along with what many people are saying is ambiguous, confusing language, caused controversy among members of the public, especially on social media and with the opposition parties.
No one was available in government offices all weekend to answer Yukoners’ questions on the announcement.
As well, Sport Yukon has said it couldn’t even obtain clarifications from government communications personnel all day Monday.
The statement from the cabinet read: “We work to provide updated information as soon as it is available.
“The situation with COVID-19 is very dynamic, and we are actively responding to new developments.
“As we have throughout the pandemic, we make new public health recommendations public as soon as we can.
“This allows for businesses, organizations and individuals to plan for upcoming changes to public health measures.”
A COVID-19 update session was scheduled for this afternoon at 3:00 pm, as opposed to the usual Wednesday morning scheduling. https://facebook.com/yukongov/videos
As of Monday afternoon, there were 351 active cases and 82 new cases over the weekend.
Comments (32)
Up 4 Down 3
EJ on Jan 23, 2022 at 8:42 pm
@Groucho Yes, it seems there is no difference between the conservatives and liberals. They are both using the same playbook. Perhaps there is little point in even voting these days. Unless it is for some new party (not the NDP) perhaps. Otherwise it's just more of the same.
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Roy on Jan 23, 2022 at 2:31 pm
@Mike
I’m still waiting for you to post a link. You made the claim - it’s up to you to back it up. Its not our job to refute your unsubstantiated claim - it’s your job to back it up with some proof. That’s how this works. Sorry if your teachers and parents never taught you that.
You say it’s on every Covid stat - if that’s not a lie or an exaggeration then it should be incredibly easy for you to pick any of these sites and post any one of them here.
Til then we are left to believe you are just making this up….
10 omicron deaths in the world - show us where you are getting this from…
Up 11 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Jan 22, 2022 at 4:27 pm
@EJ
To prove my point, look at the dramatic shift in messaging since Friday the 21st on how the public should deal with COVID, From Dr. Tam to Bonnie Henry the CMOHs are beginning to back-peddle the 7 or 5 day islolation practice to basic cold & flu practices: "If you feel sick, stay home & Go back to work/life when you feel better."No tests are required as in the months past. Give it a week and media will change their song from the daily tally of new infections and deaths to something more benign. Even here in Whitehorse we're being told our hospitals are not overun with COVID cases.
We are past the fear mongering portion of the show and should be getting ready for the "You're on your own" stage where governments are befuddled on how to correct the problems with the economy and quality of life diminished by their preventative policies for COVID. Inflation is surging, supply chain problems limit goods and groceries, Jobs, jobs, jobs and other issues will be given lip-service by the politicos who do not have any answers for us. I'm glad we're all in this together.
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Mike on Jan 22, 2022 at 11:47 am
@Roy
The information on 10 deaths worldwide is in every stat report out there. Pick one and read not only that but there has been several news reports about it. You try and feed fear into people over nothing I said prove me wrong. Send me one link that says otherwise. Facts are facts and what you spew or hear is horse manure.
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Groucho d'North on Jan 21, 2022 at 10:02 am
@EJ
You must look past the political party rivalry to understand that the provinces & territories are obliged to work with the Federal government despite which party is in power. There are numerous program areas they work togother on including housing, health, energy & transportation and numerous others.
Also consider the Feds are the supply point for all the vaccines and all the money too of course. Some times it's more beneficial to work together than barking and criticizing each other - that's what the House of Commons is for.
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EJ on Jan 20, 2022 at 3:27 pm
So Groucho, you are saying that the core messaging from the Liberals in Ottawa is disseminated by all the provincial and territorial governments regarding Covid?
I must say I'm surprised that you think all of the conservative provinces, which is the majority, are simply going along with what the Liberals want. Surely big provinces like Ontario and Alberta have their own resources and don't have to toe the line for Ottawa! So why are these Conservative governments allowing the Ottawa Liberals to tell them what to do?
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Groucho d'North on Jan 20, 2022 at 10:42 am
@ Right On
If you have been paying attention you would have noted that the public messaging related to the many facets of the COVID pandemic have originated in Ottawa. That's where the brain trust and connection to WHO, CDC, Health Canada and similar medical authorities gather and plan. Most of the provinces and territories do not have the scope of resources to determine strategic pandemic planning or medical prevention advice to the masses. This group of medicos and the political advisors back east produce the over-arching messages of COVID for the local government representatives to announce. This demonstrates some illusion of national cohesion as the messages are similar across the nation and follow the agreed upon strategy to promote to the public. Local messaging is in relation to commerce, public gatherings and constraining the citizenry and is usually created locally - following recommended national guidelines - to the jurisdiction so it is relevant.
What confounds me is how politcians around the globe jumped on the pandemic bandwagon very early in the game. Normally they run and hide from issues of this size and consequence. I look forward sometime in the future to reading the reports of how well the pandemic was marshalled.
It appears that not very much was learned from dealing with the SARS epidemic of 2002 as the same communications errors are being made today.
Up 7 Down 4
bonanzajoe on Jan 19, 2022 at 8:12 pm
DL: These amateur tyrants don't check out the truth. They have their own agenda and are going to stick with it. And those of us that do search out the truth, can't do anything about things.
Up 7 Down 13
Roy on Jan 19, 2022 at 6:54 pm
@Mike
If you’re gonna make up fake news about there only being 10 deaths due to omicron at least leave a link to where you found that garbage.
Omicron is the dominant strain. It’s like 80-95% of cases right now. The same people saying “it’s everywhere! We’re all gonna get it! Stop the restrictions!” are also trying to say that the daily death count in North America is driven by other covid strains?
Get a grip. You guys can’t keep your lies and conspiracies straight.
Post a link to any media source that says only 10 omicron deaths. Even the furthest right wing tabloids are sophisticated enough to know that kind of lie won’t work.
But I’ll wait for your link. If you don’t have one we can consider you a fake news peddler.
Up 16 Down 17
Right on on Jan 19, 2022 at 1:55 pm
@Dallas You are right on! We need to elect a government that ignores so called medical experts and doctors who clearly don't know what they are doing. The Liberals are just doing what the medical folks tell them to do. See now if we had the Yukon Party in power, they would ignore this BS advice and instead govern by populism which is what we the people want!! Medical professionals should not be making medical decisions for the territory, it should be politicians making the decisions so they can be held accountable. Vote Yukon Party next election!
Up 24 Down 9
Mike on Jan 19, 2022 at 10:57 am
Ok folks let's state some FACTS. WORLDWIDE omicron has been blamed for - now get ready for it... 10 deaths. That's not Territory, Canada, North America, this is worldwide. I challenge anyone to contest it. This is the biggest scam in the world and everyone is being played. This liberal government has lied about FACTS and promoted a vaccine that has far longer lasting implications than covid 19. 99.5% survival rate but if you get vaccinated you stand a 95% survival rate.
All vaccinated people will get covid making the vaccinated the danger to the rest of the world. Anyone thinking that this is a conspiracy theory do your homework and open your eyes people you are Guinea Pigs. Start to finish this vaccine has saved nobody, these mandates have saved nobody and argue all you want, those are the facts.
Up 20 Down 8
Dave on Jan 19, 2022 at 10:57 am
How is Russia able to have 127,000 soldiers massed on the Ukraine border without Covid decimating them? That situation is the absolute pinnacle of what should be a massive and decimating Covid breeding ground. Covid should be spreading like wildfire through the Russian troops as they travel back and forth amongst each other. Why aren’t the Russians back home hiding in their homes like Canadians are supposed to do? Maybe Sandy can call Russia and ask what their secret is. (I wish the Russians were back at home, I make this point for Covid purposes)
Up 49 Down 7
Groucho d'North on Jan 19, 2022 at 10:22 am
The Silver Liberals have been in office for five years now and have issued numerous media releases each with a strategy on how they would follow up to public reactions. The information released Friday evening was by design as they did not want to answer questions on why these restrictive measures were being thrust onto business operators. Mistakes weren't made, a poorly considered and irresponsible strategy was applied.
Unaccountable cowards.
Up 28 Down 2
Former Yukoner on Jan 19, 2022 at 9:46 am
In the eastern province where I now live if you get Covid the government has turned things into a ‘do it yourself’ exercise. You aren’t supposed to try and get any hospital care unless you are very sick, meantime you must track down all your contacts yourself and then you are required to submit a bunch of information including your contacts to the bureaucracy online.
So what it has come down to is no longer about your health or well being unless you are on your deathbed in which case you may get some care and you just as easily may not. This is now just another paper exercise all about protecting the government and the system from collapse and these politicians and bureaucrats are very scared because they and the system were not prepared. This is in spite of having the early warning wake up call from SARS back in 2003 where obviously no lessons were taken to heart.
Lord help you if you have cancer or some other life threatening illness because you are SOL now as your treatment is being cancelled and postponed indefinitely. These people with postponed and cancelled treatment for other illnesses are dying every day and that is not recorded in the Covid death numbers of course.
The so called ‘Rapid Tests’ here also now require you to book an online appointment to get one which also has a days to weeks long waiting list so what’s the point of rapid test?
Up 13 Down 57
English is Easy on Jan 19, 2022 at 9:40 am
I don't think anyone was confused about the wording. It's there in plain English. If organizations like Sport Yukon are unable to understand then they need to hire more literate people. This is just a temporary measure to prevent the spread of a highly transmissible virus. Another week and they will scale back the measure.
Up 35 Down 5
Yukon Parent on Jan 19, 2022 at 9:22 am
YG always issues these announcements and news releases after regular office hours on a Friday. I guess, hoping everyone will forget about it by Monday? Can't wait for people to wake up.
Up 31 Down 13
DL on Jan 19, 2022 at 12:16 am
By now it’s more than obvious that the covid vaccine doesn’t prevent transmission of the virus.
The vax mandate should be stopped right now.
Moreover, these CMOs and politicians have failed to disclose to us the rising evidence of severe adverse effects and deaths from these covid vaccines. The data is available for analysis, if you bother to look. Here’s one example:
Relationship Between Covid-19 Vaccination and All Cause Mortality
By Guy Hatchard – December 2021
https://hatchardreport.com/relationship-between-covid-19-vaccination-and-all-cause-mortality/
This Omicron variant is reportedly mild. There is no emergency, and absolutely no reason for continuing these destructive restrictions which cause far more harm that the virus.
Up 27 Down 14
Who gives a f*** on Jan 18, 2022 at 8:05 pm
A government news release that imposes a bunch of unlawful restrictions on you was sent out at the wrong hour of the day, and that’s your objection to it? My kingdom for control is right now. You make it so easy, paeons. It’s no wonder we’re hostage to a drama teacher and a small town principal.
Up 21 Down 14
Dallas on Jan 18, 2022 at 7:13 pm
If people are dumb enough to vote Liberal and NDP…… I think you get my point hahaha
Up 39 Down 8
Salt on Jan 18, 2022 at 4:10 pm
One silver lining to this insanity is the massive amount of people being awakened to the arrogant, arbitrary idiocy of our politicians and bureaucratic institutions. Their credibility is being vaporized.
Up 22 Down 11
bonanzajoe on Jan 18, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Typical left wing socialist propaganda. Sounds like JT made up that drama soaked excuse.
Up 23 Down 2
Monday on Jan 18, 2022 at 3:53 pm
I agree with 'Yukoner'. The government should have sat on this information and released it Monday. The new orders only come into effect today so that still would have given everyone 24 hours.
Up 35 Down 6
not buying this drivel on Jan 18, 2022 at 3:38 pm
The board of my organization spent the weekend sending emails around wondering if we could still have our event. Meanwhile Catherine Elliot and Sandy Silver took the weekend off after dropping this bomb. Do they really think the rest of the world approaches work like they do? We aren't all working for the government where it doesn't matter whether things happen or not. The insane amount of money Catherine is being paid might lead a person to expect that she'd be more aware of how the people affected by her pronouncements make a living. Maybe she could even give up a weekend for her $60,000 a month salary, to follow up and address questions if she is really so concerned about getting information out as quickly as possible.
Up 101 Down 14
Anonymous on Jan 18, 2022 at 2:45 pm
I'm done arguing about it. I have only one word left to sum up my feelings on the issue. That word is NO.
Up 96 Down 15
Forced to Comply on Jan 18, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Time for oganizations to plan LOL that's rich! A weekend plus a day to plan how you're going to keep your business afloat with even less operating hours. At this point businesses are going to start shutting down and not reopening. But great job! We'll be so much safer without people being able to support local businesses! I bet our government overlords will be so pleased with how this will contribute to our already growing economy, and by that I mean their communist fake economy they keep patting themselves on the back for.
Up 73 Down 10
Juniper Jackson on Jan 18, 2022 at 2:12 pm
eh? Can you say that again? sounds like.. jibber jabber.
Up 92 Down 10
Roy on Jan 18, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Government please also explain why you think omicron comes out after 10 pm...
Where did this time come from - are you using a magic 8-ball to come up with these rules?
Amateur hour in the Yukon. Kate will have some concerns. Currie will trade some juvenile text messages.
Up 76 Down 10
Al on Jan 18, 2022 at 1:42 pm
As usual - too little, WAY TOO LATE !! Sorry no gold star - rather a lump of used coal.
Up 106 Down 6
Jaycee on Jan 18, 2022 at 1:35 pm
I can see sending the information out as soon as possible. That's fine. The problem is sending the poorly worded information out and then hiding from it all weekend.
If it is that important that it gets sent out on a Friday at 7:00 pm then it should be important enough to call a press conference, so the public can understand why and get clarity on the information. The way this was presented by the Liberal Government was a total failure. Poor timing and clarity and even worse communication.
Up 102 Down 25
rod on Jan 18, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Nobody cares anymore about these stupid, ludicrous restrictions! For gods sakes even your own “help line” can’t interpret these restrictions to the public!
Stop reporting this dribble and open sh$t back up. All this crap for a common cold!
Up 100 Down 6
Yukoner on Jan 18, 2022 at 12:38 pm
We are going to allow businesses, organizations and individuals to plan for upcoming changes to public health measures by releasing very vague press releases on Friday night so everyone can spend the whole weekend confused and frantically figuring and cancelling things to comply with unknown rules.
Up 82 Down 13
AdmiralA$$ on Jan 18, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Been waiting nearly 700 days for a solid comment from this cabinet....and more no nothing circular answers found here.
Par for the course. One day they will make the birdie I am sure.