It was after a rainstorm in May, 2000, that water contaminated by E. coli washed into the Ontario town of Walkerton’s water supply. The town’s water treatment centre proved inadequate to the task of ridding it of the deadly bacteria. Within days, thousands would become infected, seven would die and countless others would suffer lifetime consequences as a result of one of the greatest public health tragedies in Canadian history.
I have no reason, at present, to doubt that officials at AHS have acted promptly and appropriately behind the scenes, but given the scale and scope of the situation, the lack of communication to the general public by politicians and public health leaders has been nothing short of astonishing. On Friday morning, three days after Ms. LaGrange and Dr. Joffe’s first appearance, Premier Danielle Smith joined the two at another press conference. Financial support for the families was announced – the kind of support that might have dissuaded parents from enrolling their children at other daycare facilities before the outbreak had run its course, had it been offered sooner.