Like many I’ve been trying to get my head around today’s Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/april/23/reopen-saskatchewan-plan

Basically, I’ve been trying to sort the practical relevance for people in SK.

A lengthy thread if you will indulge me...

Because it’s been a long bloody day, I’ve decided to group my thoughts around the classic Clint Eastwood flick, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Because, well, it’s been a long bloody day

First, THE GOOD

It became apparent to me this weekend that people were getting stir crazy. Not from a truant or disorderly perspective but because, a month in, we are wrestling with the uncertainty of it all.

People by their nature need meaning. We look to our leaders - be they political, religious, intellectual or artistic - to explain a current state of affairs.

When things aren’t explainable because we lack information, we get anxious. We break ranks. We stop listening.

There is enormous pressure on leaders everywhere to distill these things. The most effective leaders are ones that speak honestly, clearly and with empathy. You see stunning examples of this around the world and in our country.

In trying to explain this, there is a balance. Too loose and we risk an outbreak. Too tight and we risk economic distress. I believed @PremierScottMoe last night when he spoke of this. I believe these are exceptionally hard decisions.

There is a lot I like in the plan. I like that it emphasizes a methodical safety based approach and that it defers to public health recommendations.

I like that it is thought out and that it is very prescriptive as to safety measures (we had to create these as a business before)

I also like that it builds on past orders and attempts to give people an idea as to where they sit with this.

That’s THE GOOD.

Now THE BAD.

Well, maybe that’s harsh. I don’t think that some of what is offered is bad, per se. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the order, timing and staging of specific businesses.

I think an important thing to remember is that there was a great swath of businesses considered essential under prior orders. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/-/media/files/coronavirus/public-health-measures/critical-public-services-to-address-covid-19-and-allowable-business-services.pdf

I suppose that some will find comfort from now being able to safely golf and camp, but then I’m not a golfer

On May 19, Phase II expands allowable personal services and retail and at some point in the future Phase III expands to restaurants at 50% capacity.

I’ve got friends in all of these sectors. To a person they are really worried.

They are worried that reopening cannot be done safely right now.

They worry reopening is not at all commercially viable (50% capacity still requires 80+% staff)

These are the “good ones”. You know who they are. They will only reopen if it makes public health sense &, once they do so, will operate responsibly.

There will be many that will not.

Enforcement will be very difficult.

To prohibit something is clear - it means you can’t do it.

But to permit something is a different beast - it is exactly that, permissive. You “may” but you don’t “have to”

But whether a public facing business like a resto or a clothing store can operate safely is subjective.

I can tell you that unless we are confident that we can operate our taproom in a way that does not expose our staff or our guests to material risk, we won’t.

We will continue to look to public health recommendations.

But the fact that we must interpret this causes complexity.

This will create division in the business community. Some will argue that it is unsafe to operate & will remain closed. Some will argue it is safe & will open. We as consumers will need to make informed decisions and interpret safety on the fly.

That becomes very uncertain.

I’m all for permissive regulation - believe me - but this point in the pandemic makes me wonder.

By creating that uncertainty we are accepting more risk than the potential reward?

That in my view is THE BAD.

And now THE UGLY, and it’s where I am starting to get frustrated.

What I was hoping to see was detail on a substantive testing & contact tracing plan. That is the only way that we can proceed with real confidence.

I didn’t see that - perhaps it’s there & I missed it, I’m tired

I appreciate that this was by its nature an economic plan but I am still hoping to see increased supports for our inner city, vulnerable communities. I am hearing this from both the left & right.

There is real danger if the virus infects these segments of our community.

I would like to hear detailed assurances about the readiness of our health care system and our support for our front line. I want to hear details about our stock piles, our alternate facilities and contingency plans.

Those facts don’t scare me, they reassure me.

I want to hear about how we are improving supports for those struggling financially. I can tell you there are many challenges with the current programs that slows down funds to the people that need it.

If you are aren’t getting support, you become anxious and break rank. Get it?

We don’t know how long we are in this for.

We do know what we are doing is working.

Why rush to change approach without fully addressing THE UGLY?