Mayor Lee Brain wades into the debate on Pandemic themes and federal mandates through lengthy commentary on his Social Media page

Lee Brain, has joined in on the debate over the ongoing themes related to COVID response and his political statement for the current times is one that is certain to gain a reaction.

The municipal politician who is soon to be exiting his current position as Mayor of Prince Rupert is using his social media feed that normally is focused on municipal themes and the sharing of his vision planning, to now express a wide range of opinions towards the recent introduction of the Emergencies Act by the Federal Government.

With a disclaimer that he is speaking as a citizen and not as a representative of civic government Mr. Brain has embarked on a lengthy review of how he views the current sate of affairs related to  COVID. 

As well as to the current level of opposition to mandates that make for some of the elements of those protesting in many jurisdictions in the country, but especially in the national capital at this moment in time.

From his commentary Mr. Brain notes:

I’ve been very supportive of the efforts governments have made to keep us safe during the pandemic and have worked collaboratively alongside them for the past 2 years. 

However, yesterday's announcement of the use of the Emergencies Act is more than concerning to me. Folks, this whole ordeal could have been avoided in the first place if an open and transparent discussion happened regarding federal employment mandates, and whether their continued use at this juncture is needed given the data on Omicron. 

Whether you agree with it or not, the protests have become a beacon for millions of ordinary Canadians (both vaccinated and not) who were clearly feeling the same things to also express their concerns - regardless of who organized it. 

However, many federal leaders have done everything other than actually acknowledge the root of the issue. By continuing to condemn and demean people, the federal government has stoked the flames of division, entrenchment and escalation. 

This condemnation has lead to the empowerment of people of all stripes and beliefs to jump on the bandwagon to make this protest whatever they feel it represents to them - which has now ballooned well beyond its original intent and into a global phenomenon.

As part of his review he outlines his view of the impact of the Employment mandates and transits into areas of health care that one might safely state may not quite be his speciality.

Employment mandates did their job in increasing vaccination rates during Delta - some called it 'coercion', others called it encouraging people to do 'the right thing'. Whether you agreed with that approach or not, the data we now have with Omicron illustrates a different story today. 

There is little evidence that supports further employment mandates across all federally regulated industries (which there are many) will result in less transmissions, less hospitalizations or a significant increase in vaccination rates. 

Trying to squeeze the remaining 15% of the population into compliance is like a politician trying to get a 100% approval rating - it just ain’t gonna happen. People at the bare minimum deserve to work and get groceries to feed their families folks, given this is more about personal risk vs a collective risk now. 

All employers are required to have COVID safety plans, and many have already been working safely for the past two years during the worst parts of the pandemic.

One area of note however towards his thoughts on such employment mandates, is that the City of Prince Rupert did institute it's own COVID vaccination mandates for employment, a measure that remains in place to this day.  

It was a local edict which was put in place very quietly in November of 2021, with no public discussion of that element in Council, nor was it a topic that he as Mayor spoke out towards as it was introduced.

Further towards the discussion across Canada and currently taking place in Parliament in Ottawa, Mr. Brain has appeared to have chosen a side of the debate, a position that seems aligned with the current shift to the right for the Conservative party, or more to the themes of the People's Party of Canada. 

A place in the debate however, that would seem to be at odds with a majority of the population that has seen other concerning themes and other less wholesome elements to the social disruption that has been found across much of the country.

As citizens, we must be cognizant to not allow a temporary crisis become the means for permanent over reaching government policies and never ending biometric identification systems. 

A balance must now be struck. Public health officials and provincial governments are currently mapping out a cautious and safe transition towards ending mandates and restrictions this year. Many have already announced their plans, and many countries and jurisdictions around the world have already done so as well. 

And by the time all the provinces open up again, those who are unvaccinated in federally regulated industries will be losing their jobs - yet they will still be able to freely roam in society without limitation. 

That just simply doesn't make any sense at this stage. I understand the arguments about choice, collective responsibility, etc - we all support our healthcare and frontline workers. But it’s time for a compromise - and listening to all sides of the issue - and to find our humanity for each other again - and that will only happen with leadership from the top. 

I encourage all federal leaders and MPs to come together to deescalate this situation - and I believe one of the primary pressure valves are employment mandates, specifically. 

 With much respect to all, Mayor Lee Brain 

Some of those observations on limitations towards being able to freely roam, seem rather opposite to the very thoughts and actions he and council had of just a few years ago. 

Back when the City of Prince Rupert put forward its own plans for the limitations  on local freedoms in the early days of the pandemic. 

An over-reach of municipal powers, that the Provincial government rightly at the time put an end towards, though that decision by the Premier and Solicitor General at the time one which he as Mayor and some on council had much anger towards.

Yes, it's a pivot reflective of different situations now, but one not without just a bit of irony for those who have been following events since the beginning of the pandemic.

Mr. Brain's private mainfesto embracing themes of populism, while using a forum normally associated with his work as Mayor, does raise some very significant questions however and does politicize his office locally whether he intends or not. 

That has not gone un-noticed by a few of those responding to the issues he speaks towards, though as has been the case for many of his previous posts on a range of themes, a large number of his audience cultivated over the last eight years appears to be in strong support for the most part to his themes.  

You can review both his social media rumination and the feedback to them here.

Whether his comments through his civic based forum make for discussion by his current council partners at City Hall won't be known until the end of the month and the next council session.  

At which time perhaps we'll hear if the rest of Council shares his current view on the events of the moment and whether those themes will guide this Council moving forward through the year.

Follow along as the path unfolds through our Council Discussion archive.