Premier Scott Moe has been talking tough with COVID-19.
Some of this tough talk was necessary. But other times, it was little more than talk that won鈥檛 change much at all.
Where Moe鈥檚 tough talk was most necessary and welcomed was his talk about getting tough with individuals and businesses defying the COVID-19 rules.
Moe has also talked about how the virus spread might be slowing in Saskatchewan, but the kindest thing one might say about such talk is that it鈥檚 way too early.
Saskatchewan was doing well in the COVID-19 fight in December until a Christmas bump, Moe said, adding that the numbers have started to level out.
It is fair to say that the province is 鈥� at least as of the writing of this column 鈥� seeing somewhat steadier daily case counts.
It鈥檚 also quite likely that January will see more COVID-19-related deaths in Saskatchewan than any month. This follows a record number of Saskatchewan COVID-19-related deaths.
Moe should instead give us straightforward talk on the entire situation, so people will be more accepting of any tough measures that could might be needed.
But it鈥檚 also here where Moe鈥檚 tough talk of clamping down may be most appreciated.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference broadcast provincewide, Moe spoke passionately about getting calls and petitions from frustrated hockey parents over their kids not being able to play as grownups flout the COVID-19 rules by partying it up in bars.
Moe hit a strong note when he suggested that it is some adults who are acting like selfish and immature kids unwilling to take responsibility and that 鈥渉arsher punishment鈥� might be needed for such adults.
Credit Moe for pulling no punches here.
But let鈥檚 hope his Saskatchewan Party government is more than talk. Moe is dead right that a few businesses unwilling to follow the rules might be the very reason why other businesses and individuals would be stuck with even tighter restrictions. But it鈥檚 all rather meaningless if it鈥檚 not followed up by actions.
As they say, talk is cheap and, right now, we aren鈥檛 exactly seeing this government put more money towards enforcement to ensure that people are following the rules.
In fact, Moe didn鈥檛 even explain last week why his government won鈥檛 publicly name rule-breaking businesses in the same way it puts out news releases for small businesses that break occupational health and safety rules. Instead, the government seems to be relying on social media to do so.
It鈥檚 unlikely that tough works with those who are far removed from this jurisdiction.
That would surely be the case of Moe鈥檚 tough talk 鈥� borrowed from Ontario Premier Doug Ford 鈥� about 鈥渟ticking a firecracker up the ying yang of the chief executive officer of Pfizer to encourage him to get vaccines to this country and his province sooner.鈥�
Maybe Moe鈥檚 frustration was sincere 鈥� even if it was just mimicking what Ford said.
It might even be what people really want to hear. But, really, what good does it do?
Pfizer is an international company with $59 billion in annual revenues 鈥� four times that of Saskatchewan.
Do Moe or Ford think the president of Pfizer is going to be intimidated into getting drugs here fast?
Sometimes tough talk is needed. Sometimes, it鈥檚 just talk.a
