In regular times, there is no role for the Premier, Minister, or Cabinet when the Chief Public Health Officer issues a public health order such as the whooping cough, TB, any sexually transmitted disease, and we find out about the same time as the general public. When we're in a public health emergency that I've declared on the recommendation of the Chief Public Health Officer, it is a different situation. The office of the Chief Public Health Officer now has regular briefs with the Premier, myself, and Cabinet on any new orders or amendments being developed, and then, we look at how to brief Cabinet, Regular Members, and then make the orders public. This is what's happens now and the lead up to the official announcement on easing up the restriction on phase two of Emerging Wisely. When we look at the extension of the public health emergency, the Chief Public Health Officer and I discuss, and if the same conditions that necessitated the declaration in the first place, if they still exist, as long as the conditions, meaning the public health risk, presented by COVID-19 to our smaller communities still exist, I am prepared to continue to keep signing off the extension of the public health emergency order.
Diane Archie on Question 296-19(2): COVID-19 Pandemic Border Restrictions
In the Legislative Assembly on June 4th, 2020. See this statement in context.
Question 296-19(2): COVID-19 Pandemic Border Restrictions
Oral Questions
June 4th, 2020
Page 1044
See context to find out what was said next.