2020 by the Young Diplomats Society

Canada and Australia: A Skin
Deep Resemblance?
In a multitude of ways, Canada and Australia have a lot in common, from our sparse populations and immense
size to our ethnic diversity and economic output. Even our colonial past and constitutionally enshrined
monarchical system is tied to the same small island in the North Atlantic thousands of kilometres away.
Yet each nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded radically different results. As of December 1,
2020, Australia has recorded close to 28,000 COVID-19 cases and 908 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Canada has recorded a total of 400,000 cases and 12,211 deaths with over 5,000 new daily cases
while the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has predicted a worst case scenario of 60,000 new daily
cases by the end of December.
AT THE OUTSET
Behind the early numbers were a string of differing public policy decisions leading to drastically different
outcomes. The formative decisions were made early. Both nations discovered their first cases on January 25 and
implemented physical distancing measures by mid-March. However, while Australia imposed travel bans on
international arrivals from China on February 1, Canada did not, citing the advice of the World Health
Organisation that such a restriction was not necessary.
Further, on March 15 Australia ordered a 14-day self-isolation direction for anyone arriving in the country
followed quickly by mandatory quarantine in hotels. Two weeks later, Australian cases began to decline. By
comparison, self-isolation in Canada was only announced and enforced from March 25.
ENDURING THE PANDEMIC
As the pandemic dragged on, Canada’s deeper structural deficiencies began to show. Decades of government
cutbacks and decreased public spending have reduced the Federal government’s power to intervene and ensure
that provinces conform to health care standards. Perhaps most strikingly, by mid-year 82 per cent of all
COVID-19 related deaths in Canada occured in long-term care homes, while in the same period in Australia
such homes accounted for only 25 per cent of mortality rates. Federal cuts to healthcare in Canada have led to
an estimated CAD$31 billion shortfall by 2017, leading the nation's universal healthcare system to rely heavily
on the private sector.
In light of escalating COVID-19 cases, by November 2020 Canadian media outlets were heralding the success
of Australia’s ‘extreme’ second lockdown in Melbourne and imploring their own government to head the lessons.
While Canada’s largest city Toronto has moved back into lockdown as of November 23, the measures are not
as strict as those seen in Melbourne and health experts still warn that the nation is on the brink of being
overwhelmed by the pandemic over winter.
Without doubt, Australia was aided greatly by luck and circumstance. Our unique isolation by sea and our
ability to effectively manage the influx of people and goods, gave Australia an advantage against the virus.
Yet even in lieu of these conditions, it is undeniable that swift government action, effective stimulus and a
preparedness to implement hard lockdowns have effectively managed the spread of the virus in Australia.
Canada’s immediate challenge is to regain control over its recent surge of cases which began in September
2020. Ultimately, the perils of managing an unprecedented global virus have revealed more of Australia’s
differences with Canada than our similarities. Beyond the pandemic, lessons will surely be learnt in managing
the immediate governmental response. However, deeper changes to federal administration and attitudes
towards health and aged care will be more challenging to overcome.
DECLAN CURTIN