Your theory is trivially debunkable by the numbers in the table.
The individual casues of death on in 2022 sum up to 334,121. The total number of deaths for the year is indicated as 334,081. If they're double/triple-counting ailments, they wouldn't match up. (I preusme the mismatch of ~40 is a typo or something in one of the rows.)
Is it? The official Canadian definition calls for a “clinically compatible disease”, and “discretion may be used”. COVID also only needs to be a “contributing factor”.
You're very, very selectively quoting. Here's the full bit:
> A probable or confirmed COVID-19 case whose death resulted from a clinically compatible illness, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death identified (e.g., trauma, poisoning, drug overdose).
> A Medical Officer of Health, relevant public health authority, or coroner may use their discretion when determining if a death was due to COVID-19, and their judgement will supersede the above-mentioned criteria.
> A death due to COVID-19 may be attributed when COVID-19 is the cause of death or is a contributing factor.
Basically, if you test positive for COVID and die of pneumonia or sepsis, they're comfortable calling it a COVID death... but "discretion may be used" by the coroner to override that assumption in either direction. That's sensible; they have more specific info than a general guideline.
As the third paragraph also indicates, "due to COVID" is different from "cause of death".
The full quote is worse! You did read the definition in my original link of a “probable case”, right? You can be a “probable case” if you have similar symptoms and were near a known case.
>”due to COVID” is different from “cause of death”
Yes, in this wording “a death due to COVID may be attributed…” is the bit that goes on the death certificate. Reading the full sentence, it clarifies COVID has only to contribute to a death for it that to be recorded as COVID death.
Reading these official definitions, if you die with a raised temperature and a cough, and were near other COVID cases, that’s all that is needed to be a COVID death.
Your theory is trivially debunkable by the numbers in the table.
The individual casues of death on in 2022 sum up to 334,121. The total number of deaths for the year is indicated as 334,081. If they're double/triple-counting ailments, they wouldn't match up. (I preusme the mismatch of ~40 is a typo or something in one of the rows.)