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Pandemic Panic: How Canadian Government Responses to Covid 19 Changed Civil Liberties Forever Paperback – Nov. 7 2023
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In October 2022, the economist Emily Oster wrote a plea for a “pandemic amnesty”. After detailing various ill-conceived public health policies throughout the pandemic, Oster concluded that “The standard saying is that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. But dwelling on the mistakes of history can lead to a repetitive doom loop as well.” She reasoned that many admittedly poor, public health decisions were made in an information vacuum and that the salubrious thing to do going forward would be to forgive and forget.
Oster was concerned about the fraying social fabric because of polarizing online discourse and urged the need to move forward. However, our anecdotal experience has shown a second common response to pandemic mishaps- going blank entirely on what occurred during the pandemic. We have observed a phenomenon of the surreal, sometimes inane, often unprecedented and unusual public health measures taken over the roughly three-year pandemic period being “memory holed”, where the mind completely fogs over. Many times in the course of writing this book, we have messaged one another upon unearthing one public policy absurdity upon another: the City of Toronto taping off cherry blossoms, Quebec requiring unvaccinated people to be chaperoned in plexiglass carts through the essential aisles of big-box stores.
We are not psychologists, but no doubt there is an evolutionary benefit to allowing a collective trauma to dissolve into the slip-stream: it’s unproductive to dwell on how we got by and how our government coped in real-time. Our memories are warped, first, by the “primacy effect”― our tendency to remember “firsts” exemplified by people universally naming George Washington when asked to recall former U.S. presidents. Most people have a crystal clear memory of the moment their plague year started in earnest― for us and many others; it was March 11, 2020, the day the NBA suspended games for the rest of the season.
- Print length280 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherOptimum Publishing International
- Publication dateNov. 7 2023
- Dimensions14.9 x 1.9 x 22.5 cm
- ISBN-100888903499
- ISBN-13978-0888903495
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Review
“The pandemic was a huge event – politically, culturally, economically, personally. During the pandemic, governments around the globe behaved erratically and regularly contradicted themselves. But at least those other countries have conducted inquiries into how they handled the pandemic. They did the work. Canada, so far, simply has not done that. This book is a vital investigation into the way governments in Canada dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a valuable and detailed mastication into an event that can no longer be swept under the carpet.” -- Adrienne Batra ― Editor in Chief Published On: 2023-09-30
In Pandemic Panic, Christine Van Geyn and Joanna Baron set out an authoritative and compelling account of the assault on civil liberties in Canada during the Covid era. It's meticulously researched and easily digestible for people of varying degrees of familiarity with the subject matter. This should be required reading for every judge and politician in Canada. -- Andrew Lawton ― Journalist and Broadcaster Published On: 2023-09-19
The Covid-19 global pandemic continues to send shockwaves through our world, from mental health to culture and our civil liberties. Co-authors Joanna Baron and Christine van Geyn take us through the latter with cogent legal analysis as well as real-life examples of people struggling with our legal and political systems. Whatever one thinks of this extraordinary time of vaccine mandates, lockdowns and protest, the authors illustrate what’s at stake for personal freedoms, now and in the future. This is a must-read for experts and people who just want to understand what happened and why. -- Tony Clement ― PC, Former federal and provincial Cabinet Minister and Canadian broadcaster Published On: 2022-09-18
About the Author
Christine Van Geyn is an outspoken advocate for freedom in Canada and was appointed the CCF Director of Litigation in 2020. Christine earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Ethics, Society and Law at the University of Toronto, Trinity College. She earned her JD at Osgoode Hall Law school, and also studied at New York University School of Law. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2012. Before joining CCF, Christine practiced commercial litigation and then was the Ontario Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, where she was involved in several high profile constitutional challenges
Joanna Baron has been the CCF’s Executive Director since 2019. Previous to that, Joanna was the founding Director of the Runnymede Society. A native of Toronto, Joanna studied classical liberal arts at St. John’s College, MD, and earned civil and common law degrees at McGill University. She clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2013. Following her clerkship, Joanna worked in barrister’s chambers in London, UK as a Harold G. Fox Scholar. Following her return to Canada in 2014, Joanna practiced criminal law with the late Edward L. Greenspan, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ernest Preston Manning PC CC AOE (born June 10, 1942) is a Canadian retired politician. He was the founder and the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada. A Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance 2000, which in turn merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to form the Conservative Party of Canada. in 2003. Manning represented the federal constituency of Calgary Southwest in the House of Commons from 1993 until his retirement in 2002. He served as leader of the Official Opposition from 1997 to 2000.
Product details
- Publisher : Optimum Publishing International (Nov. 7 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 280 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0888903499
- ISBN-13 : 978-0888903495
- Item weight : 381 g
- Dimensions : 14.9 x 1.9 x 22.5 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #87,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #83 in Healthcare Current Events
- #109 in Civil Rights
- #111 in Politics in Government
- Customer Reviews:
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Customers say
Customers find the book easy to read and well-researched. They appreciate the detailed description of history and the factual content. The writing style is described as smart and balanced, with a balanced approach.
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Customers find the book easy to read and worth their time. They say it's thoughtful and a must-read for Canadians.
"...As a physician and non-lawyer, I found this short book well worth the time to read." Read more
"I pre-ordered the book and was not disappointed with the content...." Read more
"Great book..." Read more
"Must read for any Canadian..." Read more
Customers find the book's content well-researched, with a clear description of the history and legal implications. They appreciate the factual and organized content, describing both sides from a legal perspective. Readers consider it the best book on the subject so far, providing a detailed description of one of the darkest moments in Canada's history.
"...Using simple language, they explain nuanced legal issues that I have not found elsewhere -- you'd never get them from reading the news...." Read more
"Written well, showing both sides from the legal aspect. Highly recommend it." Read more
"This book is a very well researched documentary on the degradation of civil liberties in Canada...." Read more
"...In this regard it is perhaps the best book written on the subject so far. Detailed, researched, precise...." Read more
Customers find the book well-written and easy to read, with a balanced and apolitical approach. They appreciate the detailed information, commentary, and legal aspects.
"...Using simple language, they explain nuanced legal issues that I have not found elsewhere -- you'd never get them from reading the news...." Read more
"Written well, showing both sides from the legal aspect. Highly recommend it." Read more
"Great book written with a remarkable balanced, apolitical approach by the authors...." Read more
"...Easy to read, but packed with lots of detail, commentary, legal and historical references...." Read more
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2024Verified PurchaseHaving followed the pandemic closely, I did not expect to learn much from this book. Boy, was I ever wrong.
The authors begin each chapter with a vignette from which they launch into a clear description of the legal implications. Using simple language, they explain nuanced legal issues that I have not found elsewhere -- you'd never get them from reading the news.
For example, the courts struggled to know what to do with challenges to infringement on the right of assembly, because there's so little case law on the topic (outside of religious rights of assembly). Even some of the most important cases brought forward to challenge infringements on rights of assembly ended up being dropped, so no case law came into existence.
As a physician and non-lawyer, I found this short book well worth the time to read.
- Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2024Verified PurchaseWritten well, showing both sides from the legal aspect. Highly recommend it.
- Reviewed in Canada on July 2, 2024Verified PurchaseGreat book written with a remarkable balanced, apolitical approach by the authors. I suspect it will be one of the most honest, complete accounts of life in Canada during the pandemic as it relates to charter and constitutional rights and freedoms for future generations.
- Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2024Verified PurchaseWhy are you reading this? Order the book and discover how poorly we were treated in the covid times. I will never forget what happened and this book will help others understand how wrong it all went.
- Reviewed in Canada on May 13, 2024Verified PurchaseA good look into how the Canadian judicial system operated during and after COVID. I was familiar with a few of these cases and the rulings still stir up bitter feelings. Indeed, case laws has been established in the wrong direction but what appalled me most were the less than impressive opinions given by the Justices in explaining their unfortunate rulings
it's what you get when you have a judicial body fully deferent to the government and showed their bias as Chief Justice Wagner did. That's a major red flag and should worry any Canadian.
There was no moral courage up and down in Canada and we paid the price with the erosion of our civil liberties. It was a sober and difficult book to read because I'm not sure we can fix any of this. We no longer have medical autonomy or rights in Canada. We're going to have to fight for those back it appears.
It'll be difficult with Justices dismissing cases on procedural grounds never giving plaintiffs the right to present their evidence - and the evidence is plainly in the favour of those who opposed the unethical and futile restrictions that caused great harm to the civil order. People haven't been given a fair chance to present their cases for a shot to be made 'whole'. Worse, the concepts of 'judicial notice' and mootness' has been used as a cop-out. Not a good development in law.
Our Charter, it must be said, is weak and needs to be strengthened. The main difference between our Charter and the U.S. Constitution is in the latter, the people have final say. In ours, the government does and it's written that way.
As a bit of a non-sequitur, I don't share their opinion about the vaccines but it's ok. The book's value is in that it makes a wider and deeper point about the loss of medical rights of Canadians.
Be brave an stay free Canada.
- Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2023Verified PurchaseI pre-ordered the book and was not disappointed with the content. I received the book a couple of days ago and am almost finished reading it already. Thank you to the authors for standing up for the little guys. I won't be forgetting the events during the pandemic like so many seem willing to do.
- Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2023Verified PurchaseYears ago there was some truth to the politics that we observed. Laws, policies and rules were implemented and followed by those elected. Now we have the House of CLOWNS and the Senate of FOOLS. Through this book we now find out that every piece of legislation that was put in place to protect us; the citizens, mean nothing. Governments from the lowest to the highest ranking can suspend any of our guaranteed freedoms and rights because .....well, just because. Governments can unleash their gestapo members; otherwise known as police forces, on a "snitch" phone call or rumour leaving innocent people angry, intimidated and fined.
Finally; these authors send a lot of the writing about discriminatory practices; that even judges do not understand, and totally forget about the harm and adverse reactions
The other issue with this book is that many issues were not "well researched". It seems the writers picked up the legacy news and used their information as evidence - a fatal flaw.
Better research and identifying and holding members of their own profession accountable for their actions would have strengthened both the contents of the book and the credibility of the authors.
Finally; another area of disappointment is the time spent on their interpretation of discriminatory practices - that even judges have a "a hard time" interpreting. Had they spent their time on investigating the hardships of all people who refused the injection and all people who suffered adverse events because of taking the injection; their time would have been much better spent and the book would have received a much higher rating.
- Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2023Verified PurchaseThis book is a very well researched documentary on the degradation of civil liberties in Canada. Easy to read, but packed with lots of detail, commentary, legal and historical references. I applaud the authors for keeping the content factual and well organized.