COVID-19 Resources Canada has prepared this petition in collaboration with experts and the public asking the Ontario government to improve its public health data transparency to promote public trust and involvement in Ontario’s COVID-19 response.
Public trust and involvement are essential for controlling the COVID-19 epidemic in Ontario while protecting the financial, social, physical and mental health of Ontarians. Compassion, understanding and a sense of community and common values are crucial for building and maintaining public trust and involvement.
Ontarians care about the wellbeing of our neighbours and loved ones. We are all capable of making sacrifices for the common good, if we understand the reasons for these sacrifices, the necessary actions, and are given enough time to respond. We need clear, transparent, timely communication of evidence and its use in decision-making processes and what we need to do to help each other.
Clear, transparent, timely communication is essential for effective crisis responses in democracies. It is vital for earning public trust, and for establishing shared goals that most people understand, support and can strive toward. Without transparency and clear, compassionate dialogue with all Ontarians, we will not be able to work together to beat the COVID-19 epidemic.
To promote public trust and involvement in Ontario COVID-19 responses, and foster compassion, understanding and a sense of community and common values, we, the undersigned residents of Ontario, petition our political and public leaders to adopt the following recommendations:
cc:
Members of the Provincial Command Table, Ministry of Health
Christine Elliott, MPP, Minister of Health
Dr. Merrillee Fullerton, MPP, Minister of Long-Term Care
Members of the Executive Council of Ontario
Steven Davidson, Secretary of Cabinet
Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Ontario
Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Ontario
Andrea Horwath MPP, Leader of the Official Opposition
Mike Schreiner MPP, Leader of the Ontario Green Party
Steven Del Luca, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
All Members of the Legislative Assembly
Petition prepared by COVID-19 Resources Canada info@covid19resources.ca