Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

Bambi just discovered this video posted on YouTube on April 22, 2020. Wow, thank you Mr. Belaey (be safe whilst having fun)!

Except for a daily 30-minute biking in front of her favourite French TV show, Bambi has not turned the TV on since the beginning of the pandemic. On one hand, she did not have the time yet. On the other, she did not feel that need… and no she has never watched any Netflix movie in her life yet. If you think, she is boring, wait until you hear how many glasses of wine or beer she has consumed, despite weekly virtual Ducky’s with friends on Fridays eve ? (Ducky’s is our pub in town).

Anyhow, she turned the TV on this evening/night to watch “Tout le monde en parle” on the French CBC because she read on the internet that Mr. Justin Trudeau is one of guests.

Well, this is one of the rare times where she saw a natural and apparently human “Justin”. No preaching, no hiding behind words. He seemed to have simply allowed himself to be… himself.

Mr. Trudeau answered all the questions (most, if not all, were tough ones!) from the best of his capacity. He did an excellent job, even on the issues that Bambi did not agree with him on. He even had good words about the provinces and the opposition parties. He also remembered that he is leading a minority government.

Bambi thinks that our PM is at his best when he allows himself to be somehow spontaneous (as much as you can be on TV and when you are an actor by profession).

Thank you, Mr. Trudeau, for not wearing a mask tonight (no, she is not referring to a covid-19 mask!). Bambi means thanks for sounding genuine, even in your eyes we could see authenticity tonight. Indeed, in general, citizens can sense when a politician appears disconnected or not from them.

Perhaps for the first time since this pandemic, Bambi was able to listen to our PM calmly until the end. Yes, it is nice to see him not preaching, not arrogant, answering all the questions. Obviously, all this was in French. So, we did not hear him saying one thing in one language (politically meant for Québec) and the other thing in the other language (politically meant for the rest of Canada). That used to be frustrating for Bambi during the electoral campaign.

Thanks for Mr. Trudeau for taking the time to come to the show. Bambi is sure it has boosted the morale of many viewers.

Of note, it was also nice to hear a federal politician and a provincial minister agree with each other in such a harmonious way (they were not interviewed at the same time, as Mr. Trudeau had to return home, 2 hours further away).

By the way, this Minister was Mr. Pierre Fitzgibbon. He is the Minister of the Economy and Innovation of Québec. He talked about the re-opening of several sectors of the economy. He seems to be a very reasonable man.

Among the guests, there was the inspiring Dr. Joanne Liu, former President of Médecins sans frontières (Doctors without borders). She interrupted her sabbatical leave (devoted to writing a book on the Ebola epidemic in Africa) to rush back to Canada, just to help with the covid-19 pandemic. Thank you!

There was also a fascinating, talented pharmacist, Mr. Olivier Bernard (hosting a scientific and fun show) as well as Ms. France Beaudoin, a Canadian TV host.

The funniest guest was a comedian called, Mr. Arnauld Soly (see the video below… ok the content is in French, sorry, but it is hilarious ?. You can watch him making a parody of a covid-19 conspiracy theory that the coronavirus originated from… Montreal. It seems that his joke went viral on Facebook. Some viewers from abroad truly believed him. Can you imagine?

In addition to this funny comedian, it was good to learn that Ms. Beaudoin will be moderating a TV variety show for Mothers’ Day!

It is also moving to hear how she and her family organized a virtual surprise party for her mom’s birthday (81 years old with 50 family members on Zoom… and the platform did not crash ?)! She also organized a virtual wedding party for her stepdaughter in lieu of a cancelled wedding.

To conclude this post, Bambi will say what she has always thought: She enjoys watching Radio-Canada more than the CBC. Although technically, it is the same public institution, she feels that there is more critical thinking on behalf of journalists and TV show hosts from Québec, compared to those from the English-Canada. Bambi cannot put her finger on the why though. Perhaps because in Québec there is less political correctness still and, thus, more intellectual depth (not just cliché ideas). Perhaps because it is a different culture. Perhaps because the journalists may be truly more independent than many of those hired by the CBC, despite the governmental overfunding as well (the latter financial reality is unfair to other Québec media, which are as talented). Last but surely not least, it remains possible that the increased political diversity of Québec also plays a certain role. For instance, some of the Radio-Canada TV show hosts, or guests, could at times have sympathy for the sovereignty of Québec (even if they love Canada, for sure).

The beauty of Québec is its historic intellectual diversity and flexibility. It is precisely the latter that has allowed Québeckers to culturally survive and even flourish, despite being a minority in North America. Not surprising that when it comes to the “francophonie” of Lebanon, Québec has been a beautiful example.

Just to give you an idea about how reasonable this province is, at the very beginning of the pandemic, it temporarily relaxed its French law (Loi 101) to allow the fast importation of much needed cleaning products without bilingual labels. So, if the Government of Canada cannot ensure a translation now, it is OK. Not a big deal for the government of Québec (even if the Bloc Québécois is also right in wanting to ensure that citizens do understand what they are purchasing for safety reasons).

Enough of blahblahblah, here is the funny video!

The CBC documentary below was produced in 2012, surely not during the covid-19 pandemic of 2020 ?:

Talking about the freedom of press, here is what our Deputy PM, a former journalist herself (+ spouse of a journalist), rushed to tweet today:

That is what she said today, that is on May 3rd, 2020….

Below is what she did in July 2019… Mmm, not that congruent with her message of today, ironically at a press freedom conference in the UK.

The piece of good news in the short news documentary below is the following: The mainstream media, including CTV News and CBC, stood up for Rebel Media‘s right to have access to a press freedom conference with Ms. Freeland. That was a beautiful moment of Canadian solidarity. Bravo to our journalists!

What was funny in that story is that Ms. Freeland’s staff (likely on her behalf?) accepted Al Jazeera… but not Rebel news to her press conference. Al Jazeera, yes ?. You cannot be more “propagandist” than Al Jazeera in life. For instance, Al Jazeera usually reports on all the countries of the world… BUT their own, Qatar. Yes, this is how free press looks like in this country.

Anyhow, to conclude this post on a positive note, thank you Roula (Ms. Azar-Douglas) for your professional, independent, ethical, critical, and smart work as a journalist. Thank you for teaching critical thinking to your students. You reassure Bambi that professional journalism is alive, even during turmoils and pandemics. Thanks also for the inspiration… Happy Word Press Freedom to you! By the way, Happy Day to another inspiring journalist, Mr. Wark, and to all our local journalists too ?!

As usual, thanks to the New Wark Times for always keeping us informed and for the beautiful tribute to Reverend John:

Mount Allison chaplain moving to new post in Ottawa

Below, Bambi feels the urge to comment on the above article.

To begin with, bravo and congratulations to Reverend John for his new position in Ottawa! Well, Bambi is happy for Canada’s capital to have him… even if we are losing him to it.

Likely like so many Sackvillians, older and younger ones, Bambi has mixed feelings: On one hand, she is thrilled for Reverend John and his family for their move (post-pandemic, of course). On the other hand, she feels sad to know that he (+ Dodie, her building’s neighbour ?) will be leaving our town and campus.

Bambi considers herself honoured to have met Reverend John in her life.

Actually, her favourite spot on Mount Allison University’s campus is its beautiful chapel. She often visits it, spends time silently sitting in it, either contemplating or praying.

One day, she came in to pray for her dad. After she finished doing so, she opened her eyes, In front of her was the chapel’s stained glass with its cross. At the exact same time she did open her eyes, the sun shined again (it was a very dark winter day). Well, the sunshine’s rays illuminated that beautiful stained glass, shining through the cross. Symbolically, this beautiful scene was like a message of hope for Bambi (at least, she took it that way). Well, thankfully, her dad has been doing well ever since, despite ups and downs. That was about 10-11 years ago, following a diagnosis of lung cancer.

Anyhow, a couple of times after that incident, Bambi bumped into Reverend John at that chapel. Even with her eyes closed, she could sense that he was stepping out of his office and the chapel. She may be wrong but she felt that he seemed to be walking on the tip of his toes, likely in order not to bother ?. What a man our Dear Reverend John… full of humanity!

This is why, in her mind, Bambi cannot conceive Mount A chapel without him.

For her, it was only logical to ask to consult him, with her spouse, when they had their first miscarriage (their three losses are like a reproductive pandemic to them, so to speak… Luckily, there is a happy life “post-pandemic”, even in the middle of a real covid-19 pandemic). Anyhow, to come back to Reverend John, he was there for them with his ears, heart, and soul.

Bambi recalls having had a funny conversation with one of her sisters at that time, asking her: “Why do you want to talk to a priest, I do not understand?”. One must say that her sister has always teased her in life by saying: “I am happy for you because you have an imaginary friend” (she means Jesus ?). Well, when Bambi described Reverend John to her, she immediately understood what type of man he was… the cream of humanity.

A year later, when she organized/moderated a community event in town on pregnancy losses (Louis, her spouse was one of two male speakers), Reverend John kindly showed up. Bambi will never ever forget his big hug at the end of that breakfast event (especially that during pandemics a friendly hug seems prehistoric).

On a different note, she now realizes that she has officially missed her chance of taking a course with Reverend John. He has been highly recommended by friends and Mount Allison University alumni, as being “the best teacher of the best course!”

The world is small… Who knows? Perhaps one day, if/when she will be in Ottawa, especially if she has enough time, she will try to visit Reverend John’s new church (she knows it and likes its architectural charm).

Until then, she will conclude this post by saying: Thank you Reverend John for all your inspiring academic contributions and support to students over three decades. You have celebrated weddings, funerals/memorials, and all sorts of beautiful Christian events. Not only that. You have turned your church into a mosque, a temple, a synagogue, and/or just into a cozy temporary home to non-believers. You have welcomed newcomers/refugees. You have cared for youth as well as seniors. Bambi has even fun/funny memories of a “laughter club” in the chapel’s basement (a great idea of Dr. Claxton-Oldfield ?).

Your open-mindedness knows no boundaries, Reverend John… Please keep on being whom you are whilst nurturing (and enjoying) your faith.

Be safe, you/Dodie et al. Enjoy your move and your new parish!

Much love, fond/grateful and friendly regards.

Ms. El Kouri’s article was published today in La Presse:

https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/31cf5acd-2125-41f1-ad51-eecc77aba7d1__7C___0.html

Below you will find an English translation.

For Bambi, this article was moving to read for several reasons:

First, it describes how one of our best Canadian hospitals is operating in a pandemic, not so gloriously…

Second, we witness the tough journey of covid-19 hospitalized patients. Luckily, some are healed. Others, many others, die.

Third, this disturbing yet beautiful story is about a resilient 77-year-old woman who finally chose to live. In doing so, morning after morning, she kept her focus on positive thinking/visualization of her loved ones, with the help of a talented psychologist! Good for her and her family, as she survived (a happy ending!).

Last but surely not least, the talented clinical psychologist featured in the story is none other than Dr. Mirella De Civita, Bambi’s colleague and good friend for over 26 years!

Mirella (or Dr. De Civita) is one of the most intelligent (brain/mind, heart, soul), compassionate, and yet humble clinicians you can ever meet. “Miraculous grandma” was truly blessed to have her “by her side” every morning… by phone whilst in a traumatizing quarantine.

This being said, you can read the story of “Miraculous grandma”, as “told” to us by Ms. Elkouri. Thanks to the latter for sharing it:

“On her hospital bed, Jacqueline Henrie, 77, gasping for air, said, “I want medical aid in dying“.

With her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, she did not expect to survive COVID-19. Her children also believed her to be doomed.

A week before her hospitalization, when she started having symptoms, Jacqueline first thought it was related to her lung disease. She started taking the antibiotics already prescribed by her doctor. Five days later, overcome by abnormal fatigue, unable to eat, she consulted. She was put on a waiting list for a COVID-19 test. She was told to call 911 if necessary. She did so on the morning of March 21st after stating to have trouble breathing.

Transported by ambulance to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, she believed that evening that her hour had come. “I was choking and was not able to catch my breath“.

That’s when she said to the nurse, “I want to see the doctor. I want medical aid in dying“.

“It will be alright,” replied the nurse, smiling.

She felt like she was in a daze. Feverish, weak, short of breath. “All I said to myself was: when does death come? “

We sent her to a COVID-19 unit, which appeared to be still in the organization. A negative pressure room with no phone or bell to call for help. “Even if we were shouting, we couldn’t hear us with the noise of the engines. The nurse on duty gave my neighbor who had a cell phone her personal number so that she could be called if necessary. “

Madly worried, her son, Nicolas, left her grandson’s smartphone for her at the entrance to the hospital so that they could talk to each other. A nurse was kind enough to show her how to use FaceTime.

The news she gave her children live from her hospital bed was anything but reassuring.

“I was completely disconnected from life. I was talking to the kids, but it was like they weren’t my kids. However, I am an emotional, sensitive person. But I felt nothing, nothing, nothing”. She was waiting for death.

After two days, Jacqueline was sent to another room, along with other patients with covid-19. During the night, one of them died, and the room had to be disinfected from top to bottom. “I was next door. I haven’t slept all night. “

She was then transferred to a third bedroom, without a toilet or sink. Dehydrated, she often had to beg the staff for water. “Once, it was the cleaning lady who fetched me water. She encouraged us all the time”.

One of her roommates, who had mental health issues, used to vomit and answer nature’s call on the floor. Between them, there was a simple curtain.

“A nurse said to me,”Watch her, because I don’t have time“.

“She cried five, six times a day. I was the one who had to watch her. She fell twice. I was calling for help. It was taking time. I would say to them, “But what if she was your mother?”

At times, the lady came to bed naked, in Jacqueline’s own bed, without anyone intervening. In the bedroom, the smell was foul. The commodes with excrement stayed there for hours. It was impossible to wash for a whole week.

Although grateful to the doctors and hospital staff, who did their best in an extremely difficult environment, Jacqueline deplores the inhuman conditions of hospitalization. “I understand that they are overworked. It’s not funny. They must dress in their protective gear and undress between each room. But what I found the worst was the lack of humanity“.

How can we explain such a situation when we were still at the very beginning of the pandemic and there were very few COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, which is facing an outbreak today?

Response from the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal [CIUSS means Integrated health and social services centres]: it is difficult to say without knowing exactly where in the hospital this patient was. What we recognize is that the hospital is dilapidated. “Hospital staff are trying to do their best in a physical environment that is not always optimal,” writes Catherine Dion, Communications Advisor to the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.

In the days following the declaration of a health emergency, it was necessary to quickly adapt the healthcare settings – review the ventilation systems of certain units, intensive care, etc. “It is indeed possible that some patients witnessed the agitation that reigned as we prepared to face the pandemic“.

Regarding the quality of care, we say we are “surprised“. “We invite the lady to lodge a complaint with the service quality and complaints commissioner, who can do the appropriate follow-up with the teams concerned“.

***

While Jacqueline remained convinced that the only way out was death, her daughter, Lucie, said to her: “Mom, would you accept that Mirella calls you to try to give you courage? “

Dr. Mirella De Civita is a psychologist. She is a good friend of Lucie. When she learned that her mother was hospitalized, she offered to help.

“Mirella, it is a heart on two legs. Someone very generous, even if she is very busy“.

– Lucie, daughter of Jacqueline

Jacqueline agreed. From their first conversation, she felt an impulse when hearing the soft voice of the psychologist. “I felt like a 3 or 4 year old child who is told a story and who wants it again and again. She asked me to do visualization. For example, imagine myself in a place where I feel good with all the people I love. I imagined myself in the dining room of my daughter, who often receives the whole family. Then she told me to imagine that I got up and cuddled two people of my choice. Surely, they were my son and my daughter. And there I saw my whole world again… ”

They repeated the exercise every morning at 8 a.m. “It was my” boost “for the day. After that, I said to myself, “You have to heal. You have children, grandchildren … Life is still good. You have your little dog too…“.

When she told her grandchildren about her visualizations, they thought it was a little strange and teased her, she says laughing. “They said, ‘What did Grandma smoke?“

The fact is, many scientific studies show that guided meditation can improve well-being and decrease patient suffering. For Jacqueline, the benefits have been immense. “If I hadn’t had Mirella, I don’t know how I would have done it“.

The psychologist is very moved by this recognition, but specifies that it was Jacqueline who did all the work. “I am only a compassionate friend who wanted to help by using my expertise, my knowledge. I didn’t act like her psychologist. I would not have been able to live all this with her if she had not made this choice herself“.

What is particularly difficult for patients with COVID-19 is the weight of loneliness. With the help of Mirella, Jacqueline no longer felt alone. She could feel the compassion that made her want to live again.

Of course, it goes without saying that visualization or meditation are not remedies for COVID-19, specifies the psychologist. “Without the medical care that Jacqueline received, I would not have been able to help her overcome the virus“.

***

When Jacqueline started to complain again, her son saw this as a good sign. She told a nurse that she would rather have given birth once a day than experience what she experienced during her hospital stay. “It would have been less difficult!“

In principle, she should have been hospitalized for two weeks. But after 13 days, she couldn’t take it anymore. She was able to get her leave. Thus, on a rainy Thursday evening, Nicolas, who shared a duplex with her, found her outside the door of the hospital. He was moved when he saw her. Accompanied by a nurse, she was in a wheelchair. Still weak and emaciated. But very much alive.

“It was time for me to go out.” Otherwise, I would have escaped during the night!“

She didn’t want to get into the car too quickly. “Let me just get some rain and some air!”

The return home was both happy and unsettling. Her poodle, Choupette, who refused to eat during her absence, has become even more “sticky” than ever. But nothing seemed the same anymore.

“I felt like I was landing in another world“.

A strange world where you can no longer hug your children and grandchildren even after you think you are dying and have found a taste for life again.

Her grandchildren named her “Miraculous Grandma”.

She doesn’t like it too much, she said laughing. But she admits that this is how she feels: “miraculous” of COVID-19”.

First, here is the article:

https://www.rebelnews.com/trudeau_bans_website_and_facebook_group_as_part_of_firearm_ban

Second, in addition to a facebook group, a locksmith company, called Bartlett Entreprises (located in Saint John, NB) is now banned :).

If this is not sloppiness, what is?

A federal politician, a conservative MP (official opposition), dared to express an opposition-related opinion. Now, his party under the weak leadership of Mr. Andrew Scheer is questioning his comments about Dr. Tam and asking him to apologize. He was even accused of being racist, a classical accusation in today’s society. Bambi knows something about this accusation for having been labelled racist herself ?. Same for her spouse, ironically for having said that it would be good to treat everyone equally. What a racist couple ?!:

Ontario Conservative MPs pass motion demanding Sloan apologize for attack on Tam

In politics, as in in life, a citizen is supposed to have a brain in order to use it. Yes, using one’s brain to think, confront ideas with others, make own mistakes, and to learn from the latter. Not use our brains just to repeat clichés of trendy opinions, without much thought.

On this blog, Bambi has constructively (at times maybe severely) criticized politicians, in Canada, in Lebanon, in Québec, in New Brunswick, in Sackville, etc. Specifically, she has allowed herself to write posts about the work of Mr. Trudeau, Ms. Hajdu, Dr. Tam. Concerning Mr. Trudeau, she allowed herself to express unfavourable (she has much to say here) as well as favourable comments (she has the decency to acknowledge/applaud the good work). She has also made jokes or sarcastic comments about Mr. Scheer more than a couple of times. As far as Lebanon is concerned, she has written several posts during the revolt and more recently. She even reported on the excellent work of the new Lebanese government concerning covid-19. One must know how to give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, even when we are not fond of that Cesar.

Anyhow, what we have witnessed today is hypocrisy within the Conservative Party of Canada. As mentioned above, one of its MPs, called Mr. Derek Sloan, expressed concerns about Dr. Tam’s work. He wondered if she has been more loyal to the  Chinese or to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s interests; the latter being “hijacked” partly by China, partly by countries that China tries to invest in, namely some African countries, etc.

Now, Mr. Sloan’s party is asking him to apologize for having expressed his opinion. He seems to refuse to do so. At least, thus far, he seems to have the guts not to do so… because frankly, why should he apologize? We may agree with him or not. Why can’t we leave it there? Why should we always censor and/or foster self-censorship?

Without having ever heard of this Mr. Derek Sloan in her life before, Bambi recalls having posted on this blog a thoughtful commentary by her friend Aline A. on Lebanon a few months ago (see below): In it, Aline A. literally used similar words to those used by this politician:

“… Add to this, how we as Lebanese, are sometimes like double agents, serving the interests of foreign countries more than our own. Perhaps some were tempted by this or that reward from this or that external force. They even changed their policies accordingly. This politician works for Iran. The other for Saudi Arabia. Yet another for the United States. Some even work for this and that at the same time.”:

“Lebanon cannot govern itself: Could placing it again under French Mandate help protect it?” (Reflections by Ms. Aline A.)

Was Ms. Aline A. being “racist” against Lebanese politicians? Of course, not ?. It is called voicing an opinion or having critical thinking. Something we are discouraging in Canada nowadays. We may agree with Aline or not. We may tell her: This is your opinion. We do not share it.

Same for this Mr. Sloan. We can tell him, this is your opinion, period.

In the past, politicians and some journalists labelled another federal politician, Mr. Maxime Bernier, “racist” because his opinion differed on a certain topic. He finally was not re-elected. The irony is that his new party includes people from all sorts of ethnolinguistic or religious backgrounds. Some citizens voted for him (Bambi was one of them), because they saw in him the hope of a change of this mindset.

Anyhow, Bambi has news for those politicians who are asking this MP to apologize: She is not OK with their request of asking the Liberals to fire Dr. Tam, even if she was the first to criticize Dr. Tam, Ms. Hajdu, and Mr. Trudeau himself. She even joked that our PM should have not been re-elected in the first place ?. She is saying so, even if he makes good decisions from time to time. Even if Dr. Tam is fired, our issues will not be solved.

Indeed, Canada, and the rest of the world, need to learn from this tragic pandemic not to be commercially (perhaps even also ideologically for some of us?) too dependent on China. It is not normal that a large percentage of the world’s medication and hospital safety supplies (e.g., for surgeries, etc.) are made in China.

Furthermore, regardless of China or Dr. Tam, the tragedy of our world is that inspiring politicians are rare to find. We rather see mediocre public servants, both Mr. Scheer and Mr. Trudeau are part of them, with all due respect to both. Why can’t people, politicians or not, stand up for their values, have independent opinions, refrain from accusing others of being traitors (or racists!), just for having a different opinion.

The WHO Committee in question is called the “Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme”:

https://www.who.int/about/who_reform/emergency-capacities/oversight-committee/en/

As a reminder, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the covid-19 crisis a pandemic only on March 12, 2020!

http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic

Bambi has expressed her earlier frustration regarding this delay, that may have prevented countries from preparing well:

To what extent did the WHO’s delayed warning about the coronavirus pandemic delay the world’s preparedness? And what about Canada’s further delay(s)?

The UN can be too funny, even in times of virus outbreaks

Anyhow, Bambi got interested in comparing the responses of Dr. Tam and Dr. Ammar, both Directors of Public Health agencies in their respective countries, Canada and Lebanon.

Just for the record, Canada seems to have unhealthy ties with China (alignment to a large extent). Well, Lebanon has comparable unhealthy ties, but with Iran. Yet, despite some initial delay in closing its airport and land border with Syria (likely for political or military reasons), the Lebanese Government learned fast that we cannot waste much time in pandemics. Up to now at least, It has been doing an excellent job in protecting citizens (i.e., outstanding compared to the initial response of Canada!).

Again for the record, we are talking about a tiny bankrupt country on the verge of collapse. Their politicians may be corrupt when it comes to money… but they seem to be competent, knowing how to be as “covidwise” as possible.

Now, the Ministers of Health, Ms. Hajdu (Canada) and Dr. Hassan (Lebanon) are both relatively new to their positions. However, Hajdu was sworn in earlier, in November 2019 (http://www.netnewsledger.com/2019/11/21/patty-hajdu-sworn-in-as-minister-of-health/). As for Dr. Hassan,  he took the responsibility of his Ministry of Health on January 23, 2020, as per the Lebanese Ministry of Health Twitter account. Just as reminder, the Lebanese government was formed end of December, 2019 when Bambi was visiting Beirut in the middle of a revolt (i.e., after three months of revolt, without a government).

First, here is a picture of Dr. Ammar (the Dr. Tam of Lebanon, so to speak):

To begin with, and as a reminder, on January 26, our own Dr. Tam tweeted the following:

Here is what the Honourable Hajdu, our Minister of Heath repeated on the same day:

Well, on the exact same day… or rather night (January 26 to after midnight of January 27, 2020), look where the Lebanese Minister was! He was at the Beirut airport in person checking on the medical operation of screening patients, their temperature and testing in case of symptoms. Bambi knows the time from a video posted on that governmental Twitter account. She took a screenshot of it. Below, we can read in Arabic: “What is Dr. Hassan doing at the Beirut airport after midnight“?

Does Canada have any excuse for its slow and careless response, with our borders or masks, etc.? Masks that it did not stockpile, as it was supposed to. Masks that it shipped to China in the middle of a pandemic. Well, no, at least according to Bambi.

This being said, did Canada improve after the fiasco of its initial response? Yes thankfully, especially on the economic front (despite miscoordination with provinces at times). It also ended up closing the US border (now oddly, it is already ready to open it to illegal migrants coming to Québec). Thankfully, overall, Mr. Trudeau and his team took good decisions to support Canadian businesses and citizens. For that, they should be commended. However, for their initial response, Bambi is sorry to say that tiny bankrupt Lebanon managed to beat them. Not very glorious, especially that we could have learned lessons from the SARS crisis. Doing worse than a tiny bankrupt country… Frankly, is this something to be proud of, as Canadians?

To conclude this post, if you are curious to know why did Bambi do all the timeline comparisons, here is why: 1. She LOVES Canada and wants us to do better; 2. It breaks her heart to see many deaths in our country; 3. She is very sad to see fellow citizens impacted by the tragic economic crisis; and… 4. last but not least, she came across the following documentary (see below) that intrigued her, to say the least. Indeed, if the 400-page document of briefings that is cited is accurate, she learned that Dr. Tam may have ignored internal advice from people from her own Ministry twice. One briefing even cited credible sources, namely the American CDC and from the UK.

Of note, this same documentary referred to Dr. Tam’s tweet of January 26, 2020 (see above). After hearing about it, Bambi had the fun idea of doing her own search, just to double-check the information. She also thought of searching to see where Lebanon was at that exact time, especially that Drs. Tam and Ammar are colleagues who are involved with the same WHO committee :).