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#IStandWithDrTam: Twitter shows support for Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer amid criticism

Bryan Meler
·Editor, Yahoo Canada
Updated ·4 min read

People have taken to Twitter to support Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, amid criticism of how she’s handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday morning, Twitter’s leading trend in Canada was “#IStandWithDrTam”, as thousands of Canadians expressed their gratitude, while dismissing the hate.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has been publicly calling out Tam and Canada’s public health agency, for relying on the World Health Organization’s guidance, especially at the start of the outbreak. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump accused WHO of colluding with China to cover of up the real ramifications of the virus.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has also called out Tam, saying he won’t wait for Health Canada to play “catch up” with other “peer” countries in approving medications, tests and vaccines for the fatal virus.

As Canada’s death toll continues to climb, even surpassing Public Health’s modelling data predictions, Kenney and others have said that Ottawa should have closed its border sooner to contain the spread. They blame Tam’s advice to the federal government for the delay, which has led to news organization Rebel Media forming a petition to get Tam fired.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers have come to Tam’s side, but they are also not the only Canadians to express their belief in their country’s chief public health officer.

Many of have taken to Twitter to express their discontent with how the Canada’s Conservatives have been approaching the situation, accusing them of acting with hate.

Other political figures, such as the parliamentary leader of Canada’s Green party Elizabeth May, have decided to come by Tam’s side amid the pandemic.