Canadian Government Executive - Volume 27 - Issue 03

LIVING WITH COVID: GOVERNMENT, MEDIA & SOCIETY T he spreading of COVID-19 around the world has brought about unprecedented challenges for government messaging. Along with daily death tolls and grim stories of economic and social disruption, governments have sought to proactively shape public expectations and actions through various public health restrictions – all the while providing novel support programs for citizens, non-profits, and businesses. Since the outset of the pandemic, a key distinction in public sector voices is that of politi- cal versus professional (i.e. elected officials and especially Ministers, and appointed officials, especially Chief Medical Officers). Whereas the former realm is ultimately responsible for the overarching responses of each government, the latter realm not only informs internal political discussions but has also emerged as a separate, external source of public advice and guidance predicated upon science and objectivity. Alignment matters. For instance, whereas BC Government daily media briefings have typi- cally featured shared appearances by the Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer, the Premier of Ontario and the Province’s Chief Medical Officer have instead held separate press BY JEFFREY ROY GOVERNING DIGITALLY 24 / Canadian Government Executive // May/June 2021 Prime Minister Trudeau meets with Premier Ford in Brockville. August 21, 2020. Photo: PMO/CPM