Quebec
Government's New Rules and Laws Said to Control COVID-19 A Stand Bound to Aggravate the Crisis -
Pierre Chénier -  
On October 1, the Quebec government issued an Order-in-Council
with new measures it says are aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in
Quebec (see FYI). Recent data show outbreaks of COVID-19
across Quebec, with cases of infection on the increase in all regions.
Hospitalizations and deaths are also increasing. The daily number of
new reported cases has increased from 799 on September 28 to 1,191 on
October 4. COVID-19 related hospitalizations went from 247 to 361 in
the same period. Forty-four deaths were reported between September 28
and October 4. By comparison, the number of daily new infections was
below 300 between June 1 and September 15.  The Quebec
government says it is appealing to the "consciousness" and the "sense
of responsibility" of Quebeckers to implement the Order-in-Council and
prevent further spread of the disease. But in the same breath the blame
for the increasing cases is put on what it calls the laxity of an
increased number of people, especially the youth holding parties.
The Order-in-Council introduces new police powers, yet Premier
François Legault says there is no witch hunt intended.
Public gatherings will be banned, while the government and ministers
are granted impunity to do as they please, so long as it is done in the
name of protecting "the health of the population." Furthermore
these same Orders-in-Council, Ministerial Orders and Special Powers are
being used to attack frontline health care workers, to silence their
voice and dismiss their numerous proposals to alleviate and overcome
the crisis. Far from heeding their voice and proposals, the state has
granted itself the power to override their negotiated contracts so that
their working conditions can be changed at will. The
already untenable working conditions, exacerbated by the pandemic, have
resulted in massive resignations in health care and social services,
making the fight against the pandemic even more difficult. In fact, the
pandemic has been used to further the restructuring of the state,
stepping up the anti-social offensive to destroy the institutions of
civil society that created some space for the people to intervene,
replacing them with the undisputed power of the ruling elite and
government executives. Meanwhile, COVID-19 testing
and tracing are chaotic. Schools have been reopened without respect for
the government's often repeated two-metre distancing guideline. The
Superior Court just defeated the application of the Autonomous
Teachers' Federation (FAE) for an interim injunction to force the
Quebec government to inform the FAE and Quebeckers of its plan for
accelerated COVID-19 testing in the school system. No such plan exists!
And we are to believe that governments of police powers and deployment
of police forces are going to solve the problems? "Consciousness"
and "responsibility" do not exist up in the air, Premier Legault. They
are embodied in institutions, in processes that exist in real life and
can be used to achieve the aims that society sets to uphold the
well-being of all, especially in times of crisis. Orders-in-Council
will not stop the spread of the disease. Police measures do not
inculcate social consciousness. Taking up social responsibility and
mobilizing people in their collectives and organizations can and this
is what the workers and people have been doing since the very beginning
of this crisis. This is what must be stepped up and these efforts must
be supported by the state.
This article was published in
Number 67 - October 6, 2020
Article Link:
Quebec
Government's New Rules and Laws Said to Control COVID-19: A Stand Bound to Aggravate the Crisis -
Pierre Chénier
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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