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Premier François Legault admits that the curfew — 10pm to 5am — is an “extreme measure.” He commits to lifting it as soon as possible, based on criteria that only he and his team will determine. It is especially troubling that a government can impose such a drastic measure with so few countervailing mechanisms designed to foster democratic debate and limit the duration of this rights-depriving policy
In Quebec, the curfew and other restrictive steps are adopted under a decree declaring a state of public health emergency. When such a decree is adopted by cabinet, the government can do just about anything in the name of protecting public health. Such a decree has a limited, 10-day duration, but can be renewed an unlimited number of times, with no debate whatsoever in the National Assembly. In the case of the COVID-19 crisis, the declaration has been renewed every 10 days for nearly two years!
Another worrisome aspect of the measures put in place not only in Quebec but also in other provinces is that they are arbitrary. Understood, all provincial governments are seeking to reduce contacts. But why is it that in Quebec, a gathering in a private home is limited to “occupants of a single residence, a single person can join with their children in another family circle”, while in Ontario, it is restricted to five persons? Why is it that in Quebec, a maximum of 25 persons can attend a funeral, while in Ontario, the limit is “50 per cent the capacity of the room?” In Quebec, the maximum number of customers in a retail store is one per 20 square meters, in Ontario, it’s 50 per cent capacity? What is the science behind these elaborate requirements?
As well-intentioned governments are in this difficult situation, you cannot but get the feeling that these restrictions were designed by committees of bureaucrats, with a strong dose of politics involved (“What do the polls say?”) but with little regard for Canadians’ fundamental rights.
Regarding the curfew specifically, the Legault government has pointed to a few studies that would appear to show that such a policy is effective in reducing the spread of the virus. But many find these reports unconvincing. The premier also appeals to our common sense: fewer people in the streets, fewer contacts, less contamination, fewer Covid cases. This is fragile support for such a draconian measure.
Legault asserts that the public health situation in the province is “extreme,” which in his mind justifies extreme initiatives. It is true that, for unexplained reasons, there are more COVID patients in hospital today in Quebec than there are in Ontario, even though Ontario’s population is 1.7 times that of my home province. Is the situation so bad that the government should, in effect, imprison all the province’s inhabitants in their homes? That police officers should roam the streets in search for the few who find themselves outside their home past 10pm, and issue a $1000 to $6000 ticket to any offender they find?
It is striking that Canadians, and specifically Quebecers, continue to obey the rules. After the announcement of the curfew in Quebec last week, there was one, pitiful demonstration in Montreal: a few dozen people showed up; 57 were served with fines.
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-quebecs-curfew-is-extreme-but-francois-legault-will-get-a-pass