Nikki Buechler
Pontiac Jan. 11 2022
Dr. Horacio Arruda has resigned from his post as Quebec’s public health director, a position he has occupied for almost 12 years.
His letter of resignation, which was accepted by Premier Francios Legault on Monday, came as hospitals throughout the province are overwhelmed by the virulent Omicron COVID variant, despite the . . .
enactment of restrictive safety measures over the recent holidays.
The province has enacted some of the strictest pandemic response measures in the country, which has triggered vociferous criticism in reaction to his policies. Yet despite enforcing curfews and other restrictions, COVID cases continue to surge.
Dominique Anglade, leader of Quebec’s Liberal Party, has publially criticzed provincial leadership, calling the situation in Quebec “problematic,” explaining: “people don’t know anymore what they should be doing. The government has a responsibility to clarify the situation for the population.”
Dr. Arruda was appointed for a three-year term in June 2020. He defended his department’s decisions, saying his policies were enacted amid “a context of uncertainty and a rapid progression of knowedge.”
Despite offerig to remain in the position, his successor has already been chosen. The new director of public health for the province will be Dr. Luc Boileau, who is currently leading the Institut national d’excellence en sante et services sociaux (INESSS).
