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Almost anyone who meets him will agree. Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick is a nice guy. But is he too nice?
In a relatively long Zoom interview with KelownaNow, Letnick was asked about the NDP government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but when it was over, the opposition critic for health had launched absolutely no criticism.
We conducted this interview via Zoom on Monday, so some of the material is a bit dated. But we give it to you now because it's remarkable. Not so much for what's in it, but for what isn't.
Often, an opposition party is so prone to criticism we tend to get almost numb to it. But in the age of COVID-19, it's different. Maybe it's like wartime when it feels better to rally behind our leaders because that's exactly what Letnick is doing. When asked about the messaging coming from the government during daily briefings, he had this to say.
"We are following evidence-based decision making which is wonderful," said Letnick. And he didn't keep his praise to Dr. Bonnie Henry, it extended to the health minister too.
"Adrian Dix is really doing a good job as a communicator of everything that's going on on the health side," added Letnick. BC's overall approach was to order certain kinds of businesses to close but left it up to retailers to make up their own minds. That too gets the thumbs up from Letnick.
"I think it was natural and normal and acceptable," he said.
In fact, despite a series of town halls on the subject, nothing about the messaging or the tone seems to have warranted even constructive criticism.
"I think that Dr. Henry has made it very clear from the beginning to stay at home but get outside," said Letnick.
When asked why it is should take so long to re-start elective surgeries in our hospitals, we thought for sure the Liberal health critic would offer at least a hint of impatience, but no.
"It's easier to stop everything than to re-energize and start it again," was his take.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and our minister of health have a lot to worry about right now. For the time being, criticism from the opposition health critic isn't on the list.
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