MPs Praise Regional Medical Officer’s Compassionate Tone Amid Polarizing Vaccine Rhetoric

MPs Praise Regional Medical Officer’s Compassionate Tone Amid Polarizing Vaccine Rhetoric
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 2, 2021. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
Isaac Teo
Updated:

MPs are praising the top public health doctor serving Haldimand and Norfolk counties in southwestern Ontario for saying he is against “any attempt to foment hate,” as some politicians and others have spoken in anger or vitriol about those who have chosen not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Matt Strauss, acting medical officer of health (MOH) for the region, posted a screenshot on Twitter on Jan. 8 showing the status of those in the intensive care unit in Ontario on that date, with 123 unvaccinated cases, 18 partially vaccinated, and 137 fully vaccinated.