A concerted government approach to swine flu

There couldn't be a better time for the Institute for Research on Public Policy to make its report on Canada's ability to respond to public heath emergencies and offer recommendations for better co-ordination.

Planning for the Next Pandemic, by Kumanan Wilson and Harvey Lazar came out first in a condensed version in 2006, three years after Canada - notably Ontario - went through the SARS epidemic. Even after all this time, the authors say there remain shortcomings in policy and co-ordination in Canada and recommend, among other things, a streamlined communications approach and changes to federal legislation to allow Ottawa to take unilateral action to meet a natinal health crisis.

Comments

[John Warren]

Jim Fluherty

Provincial Minister of Finance during the SARS Outbreak
Federal Minister of Finance during the Swine Flu Outbreak

Is this irony or what? Seems he is plagued by the flu and this is some kind of retribution for slashing health systems both times. Too bad everyone else has to suffer.