Ottawa

‘A work in progress’

It is, rather obviously, a bit soon to declare her handling of the swine flu outbreak a resounding success, but Canadian Press files a good quick take on Leona Aglukkaq’s performance in the early going.

The caution exhibited by the former health minister for the Nunavut territorial government apparently doesn’t just apply to pandemic decisions. Aglukkaq deflected almost all questions during her three news conferences to her officials, including chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones…

Aglukkaq called the three opposition health critics Sunday before speaking to reporters about the flu outbreak, then arranged an in-depth briefing for them with her officials Monday. Her Sunday call, said Bennett, was “to ask for advice and also to make sure we were on the same page and comfortable with the path going forward.”

NDP health critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis described the Conservative minister’s gesture as a new experience — “quite a shock, actually.” “For a rookie minister, she’s on top of this file and she’s responded very effectively,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “She’s probably one of the better rookie MPs in the House.”

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