It’s fashionable to be cynical.
But sitting at home watching CNN and CTV, it’s hard not to feel reassured, at least partially, by our leaders and journalists.
The simple sight of people doing their level best to do what they can, to offer a calming presence, to ask the tough questions, to take the hard decisions —in a time of crisis, the fact everyone is being upfront with citizens is reassuring.
Justin Trudeau and the premiers emerge each morning to update us on actions taken. Reporters holding those decisions to account, whilst acknowledging, as Joyce Napier said as I write this on CTV, “this is a government that has to roll with the punches”.
Mayors, including ours, are doing all they can for their municipalities. Even Donald Trump is trying to get his act together.
And public health officials emerge as national heroes — reassuring, offering common sense and superhuman hard work in the face of life and death. Dr Theresa Tam is a national hero.
Grocery store employees — kids and moms making minimum wage — restocking shelves, policing aggressive patrons hoping to hoard; pharmacists and even Uber delivery drivers, doing their jobs in the face of crisis.
Middle-aged and elderly clergy at places of worship learning how to Facebook Live their services, to comfort their parishioners, of every faith.
Corporate executives making decisions to support their employees with paid leave, even as revenues dry up; citizens naming and shaming those who do not.
The economy is nosediving, but measures are in place to mitigate the crash, and I have no doubt the recovery will be driven by the entrepreneurship, pent-up by days at home, of Canadian innovators. Capitalism at its best.
It is time for government to step in with an emergency, universal basic income, to support everyone in this terrifying time. Tax it back next year from those who were fine, don’t worry about paperwork delaying getting cash to the vulnerable.
Our response has not been perfect; delays are days we cannot get back. There are still naysayers and idiots not getting the message, more
worried about a night at the pub than the health of my nana.
Yet, still, in all of this — we are doing our level best.
Italians singing from their balconies, penguins exploring an empty zoo, ridiculous memes online — these are the indelible, hopeful, funny images that will endure.
On Monday morning, my baby sister gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl. Life goes on, even if I had to meet my niece only over FaceTime.
