That's my biggest gripe too. It was clear from the start even with the variation on the info coming out that a mask would help. Anything that causes a respiratory infection means a mask would help, even when it was assumed that COVID only spread through fomites a mask would still limit people spreading the particles. If they just said a non-medical mask is enough to protect you and even recommended DIY masks that met certain standards (ex. amount of face covered) and how to wear it properly then the freakout with N95 masks wouldn't have happened. Especially if they just made note of the N95 masks being ideal for hospitals where you're dealing with someone confirmed positive and you're working on them and can't be 2m away.

So much of the pandemic response not just from Canada but other countries as well has been bungled up by being reactive and not proactive. On top of that we don't start school early in the year so all of the info that came out about ventilation and how it's spread with younger people would've been really helpful if they even considered it. Same for re-opening bars and gyms.

People rag on Florida and other hard hit areas as people being stupid but it's the government that makes the call and all people look for (unfortunately) is a green light to do what they want. If Ford was as lax about the restrictions and masks as they are down there we'd be a hell of a lot worse.