'We're a careful country': Freeland contrasts Omicron responses of Canada, U.S.
CTV
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland sought to make a clear delineation between the Canadian and American approach to fighting the fifth wave of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters about Ottawa’s response to the recent surge of Omicron cases, Freeland was asked to explain why the White House is reassuring Americans that holiday gatherings are safe if vaccinated, and that the variant is not a cause for panic, while the Canadian government is urging people to stay home and reduce contacts.
“I do want to sort of strongly push back against this notion that the federal government, and I would also say provincial governments too, that any of us are in any way offering a counsel of panic or a counsel of despair. That is totally not the case,” she said.
“Quite the contrary, I think Canadians should be reassured that we are ready for this as a country….we’re a careful country, and I think that’s a really good thing.”
She and Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos also referenced Canada’s low mortality rate through the pandemic.
