SHOCKING FOOTAGE — a video shared roughly 12 hours ago by Sky News Australia showed Melbourne police roughing up resident’s and intimidating them. One resident can be seen being forcibly taken down by an officer who grabs the man by his neck and drags him to the ground. What was the crime? Being out for a walk while Premier Dan Andrew’s stage four lock-down restrictions are in effect.
Another resident can be seen walking away from the officers when his hand is grabbed from behind by an officer. The resident then responded “Don’t touch me mate, F**k off!” The scenario escalated quickly when the officer shoved a pepper spray canister into the resident’s face and thrust his hand under the man’s chin in a choking like manner, while proceeding to push the man back into a group of Melbourne’s finest.
Later, another resident can be overheard speaking to a nearby officer “he’s my brother,” he said, then the officer replies “yea no worries, we won’t hurt him.” This comment is quickly followed by a freudian slip when the officer is asked “what did he do”, and the officer replies “I don’t know.”
Why bring up Melbourne?
If Ontarian’s remain passive on the COVID narrative we could soon find ourselves in another lock-down here in Ontario and possibly across Canada. Don’t forget Premier Doug Ford stole the people’s representation in the House Of Commons when he enacted Bill 195. A bill that gives power to the Premier to plunge Ontario back into a lock-down — all without debate from elected member’s of parliament. How’s that for freedom?
Under Bill 195, the Premier has the potential to hold emergency powers for up to two years!
That’s a potential of two years without any elected representative debating or presenting bills.
Two years without discussion around the province’s past or current handling of COVID and what the best approach going forward is.
Our province’s plan going forward must consider the health of Ontarian’s as a whole, not just through the lens of COVID. We must consider the long-term consequences of each decision and not treat COVID-19 as the sole issue of our public discourse.
COVID policies have decimated small businesses with 27 to 30 per cent of hospitality businesses expected to close permanently. As of a month ago, only 62 percent of small businesses were open, and only 26 percent were making normal sales. It’s important to consider this when we claim COVID policies are “saving lives,” because when unemployment goes up it is accompanied with an increase in suicides, overdoses and even homicides.
A 2017 National Bureau Of Economic Research paper showed that as one United States counties’ unemployment rate increased by one per cent, the opioid death rate per 100,000 rose by 0.19 (3.6 per cent). If we extrapolate this data to the general population based on reported opioid deaths in 2018, it would mean a corresponding 1684 American lives lost as a direct result of job loss (46802 deaths in 2018 x 3.6 per cent increase = 1684).
Does Mr. Ford consider that the economic losses of Ontario also carry a considerable human cost? Yes, the overdose numbers of Canada are different than the United States, but the general point remains.
What has failed to happen during this “pandemic” is a consideration by the ruling elite to view their decisions in any context other than “save lives from COVID”. The health and well being of a nation runs deeper than preventing a very mild illness where the vast majority display little to no symptoms.
A public debate on COVID policy is desperately needed among experts of dissenting opinions to truly understand if our current approach is the best approach. We as Canadians like to believe we are logical people, so why aren’t we asking for a public debate on the most pressing issue of our time?
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