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“A bit scared” is probably a good place for Ontarians and Canadians to be right now. A government that’s willing to treat its citizens like grown-ups, to level with them about its best guess as to what we’re facing, reduces the risks of panic, complacency and despair all at the same time. This is the genius of transparency. “It’ll be nice outside this weekend, but please stay home,” Ford said at his Friday press conference. “Help us write an ending to this story that future generations will look back on and be proud of.”

The premier has attracted much praise for his performance during this crisis, and it is deserved. His last misstep was advising families to head off on March Break as planned, viruses be damned, but that might as well have been 100 years ago. We were all clutching at optimism. Former premier Kathleen Wynne, who clearly understands Ford, graciously said she heard a man “trying to calm the waters… out of the goodness of his heart.”

Since then Ford has struck the right tone: often visibly alarmed, but calm, scripted and plain of speech. He has been gracious to everyone on the right side of the fight, from doctors and nurses to supermarket clerks and frantic, unemployed people stuck at home, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to his fellow premiers of all political stripes, and even to journalists. And he has been galvanizingly withering to those on the wrong side, most notably a few price-gouging businesses who have been helpful enough to offer themselves up as common enemies.