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JOCELYNE LLOYD: Don't say 'recession' or 'health-care crisis'

Those of us who were covering and consuming news in 2008 remember the admonishment not to mention the word recession, lest we cause it to happen.

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The theory is that consumers will continue spending unabated as long as they think the economy is stable. As soon as they have reason to believe their paycheques might be cut or their investments will stop accruing, they’ll hoard their cash. When the public stops buying everything from homes and cars to fridges and restaurant meals, the economic machine falters and a vicious cycle into a recession begins.

As a member of the media, however, I do not believe in hiding the truth from people. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that if the public had the information about the causes of the 2008 global financial crisis earlier, governments might have been forced to take steps to mitigate its effects sooner.

Now, P.E.I. is in a different crisis that we are being encouraged to downplay. I mean, our finances aren’t great right now, either, but I’m referring to the erosion of trust in the health-care system. Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t have said that out loud.

Earlier this month, The Guardian had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Alika Lafontaine when the former head of the Canadian Medical Association was in Charlottetown for the........

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