Neudorf’s statements about new Canadians wrong

By Letter to the Editor on March 27, 2021.

Editor:
I was utterly appalled at the claim made by Mr. Nathan Neudorf in the Lethbridge Herald article of 19 March 2021 (https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/03/19/province-taking-notice-of-high-city-covid-numbers/) that the sharp rise in cases is specifically due to “socio-economic factors, multi-generation families and the number of people for whom English is a second language”.
This claim on his part flies in the face of the report from our own chief medical officer, whose statements concerning social gatherings of various kinds “where restrictions are not followed” are based on broad, medically-aware information, as sound public communication should be.
Mr. Neudorf’s claims appear baseless, and are both reprehensible and dangerous.
In the first place, they spread misinformation and allow members of our community to believe that only certain marginalised groups are responsible, and therefore that only they need to take action to stop the recent exponential spread of the virus.
In the second place, they do a cruel disservice to those same marginalised groups who are working low-paying, high-risk jobs in our community, whose work is considered essential but whose safety is not.
In short, it is wrong both factually and morally for Mr. Neudorf to point the finger at new Canadians and accuse them of “contributing” to the rapid spread of COVID-19.
He is guilty of baseless statements, and of stoking misguided anger and resentment against these members of our community. In my view, he has shown himself to be unworthy of the public
Beth Gerwin
Lethbridge