Canadian Government Executive - Volume 26 - Issue 02

T he COVID-19 crisis has placed unprecedented de- mands on public servants in all jurisdictions in the country. Their response has been highly praised as innovative, agile, and compassionate. It is no exag- geration to say that we are setting the bar for global best practices with respect to how governments are navigat- ing the social and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Though times have been tough before, we have never seen any- thing like this. Canadians are looking to their governments for help. No doubt, as we move to a recovery phase, we will cast a critical eye on the response to COVID-19. This is healthy. It won’t all be positive; the key is to learn lessons that we can take with us. As businesses were forced to close abruptly in mid-March, which triggered a loss of more than a million jobs in that month alone, Canadian workers were immediately divided into two cat- egories: those who could continue working from home, and those whose jobs could not convert to an online platform. Universities have moved classrooms online, many public servants are writing and collaborating from home offices, while health professionals work on the frontlines, taking on the greatest risk to keep oth- ers safe. The construction, fitness, restaurant, tourism, and “touch” industries (such as massage therapists and hair and nail salons), among others, have been largely forced to close due to the reali- ties of physical distancing. Some dining rooms and pubs can con- tinue to do business via take outs, but this is no substitute for the world they knew before. As the curve flattens, each province will pursue its own recovery strategy, suited to the particular needs of its people and economy as well as the province’s experience with the spread of COVID-19. Federal and provincial governments have set up financial aid programs for both individuals and businesses to mitigate at least some of the damage. Former Clerk of the Privy Council Mel Cappe has noted that, in the effort to disperse financial relief as quickly as possible, the public service has opted to roll money out now COVID-19: Uprooting and Transforming Work in Canada By Lori Turnbull The LAST WORD Canadians are looking to their governments for help. No doubt, as we move to a recovery phase, we will cast a critical eye on the response to COVID-19. This is healthy. It won’t all be positive; the key is to learn lessons that we can take with us. 28 / Canadian Government Executive // March/April 2020 Prime Minister Trudeau speaks with media at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. March 11, 2020. Photo: PMO/CPM.