Canada Isn’t Prepared for a Pandemic

Is the Canadian government armed and ready for the swine flu? According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, they have a long way to go. In a letter to Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, the federation expressed concern that police, firefighters and utility workers won’t be protected during an outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which is expected to become even more rampant during flu season. The letter asks that workers be the first group to get access to vaccines and anti-viral drugs during an emergency– a crucial time for police to control the masses and transit workers to shuttle people to hospitals. Canada currently has a 500-page “pandemic plan,” but the document lacks any detail on if or how front-line workers would be protected during an outbreak. Time is ticking.