Public health is not dependable without independence

Provincial public health officials have legislated authority to act independently in emergencies, but organizationally, they remain beholden to their political masters and government employers.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam convenes a press conference in August to discuss the state of the pandemic. The federal government must leverage Canada’s internationally recognized public health expertise and immediately establish and fund an independent pandemic response observatory, write Hakique Virani and Elaine Hyshka of the University of Alberta.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY ELAINE HYSHKA AND HAKIQUE VIRANI

November 25, 2020

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy