NO MEDIA WELCOME: JASON KENNEY REAPPEARS, VIRTUALLY, ANSWERING CURATED QUESTIONS VIA FACEBOOK LIVE
ALBERTA PREMIER JASON KENNEY DURING HIS RE-EMERGENCE ON FACEBOOK YESTERDAY (PHOTO: SCREENSHOT OF FACEBOOK VIDEO).
Alberta Politics
DAVID CLIMENHAGA
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 02, 2021, 1:49 AM
Having been spotted out for shawarma in Calgary Tuesday night, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney cautiously emerged back into the artificial light of political life yesterday.
Rather than making an actual public appearance and risking having to answer rude questions by the province’s media, uncharacteristically uncooperative after Mr. Kenney’s two-week vacation ran to 23 days during which the province drifted leaderless through the fourth wave of the pandemic, Mr. Kenney settled for an hourlong Facebook Live audience with Alberta’s digitized commoners.
Please stand by, the premier of Alberta will be with you in a moment (Photo: Jason Kenney/Facebook).
Beamed from his Calgary office, the premier shrugged, grimaced and gesticulated, offering rambling, often uninformative and occasionally incoherent responses to questions typed into their devices by supposedly random Albertans.
Clearly this is a man in love with the sound of his own voice, and untroubled by the lack of anyone else’s.
The effect of the premier’s surreality TV production was mildly disconcerting and sometimes comedic in a Monty Pythonesque manner, as when he favourably compared how his United Conservative Party Government has handled the COVID-19 pandemic to the way the Alberta NDP didn’t deal with it when it wasn’t in power.
But if it had been, Mr. Kenney explained earnestly, it would have been “just massively devastating. … Misery, and depression, mental-health crisis, addictions crisis, bankruptcies, financial collapse, would be incalculable.” Plus obesity, childhood obesity, he added moments later.
Well, nothing like that happened on his watch, did it?
Having dispensed with what the NDP didn’t do, Mr. Kenney moved along to a variety of other topics, imparting little news.
DAVID CLIMENHAGA
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 02, 2021, 1:49 AM
Having been spotted out for shawarma in Calgary Tuesday night, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney cautiously emerged back into the artificial light of political life yesterday.
Rather than making an actual public appearance and risking having to answer rude questions by the province’s media, uncharacteristically uncooperative after Mr. Kenney’s two-week vacation ran to 23 days during which the province drifted leaderless through the fourth wave of the pandemic, Mr. Kenney settled for an hourlong Facebook Live audience with Alberta’s digitized commoners.
Please stand by, the premier of Alberta will be with you in a moment (Photo: Jason Kenney/Facebook).
Beamed from his Calgary office, the premier shrugged, grimaced and gesticulated, offering rambling, often uninformative and occasionally incoherent responses to questions typed into their devices by supposedly random Albertans.
Clearly this is a man in love with the sound of his own voice, and untroubled by the lack of anyone else’s.
The effect of the premier’s surreality TV production was mildly disconcerting and sometimes comedic in a Monty Pythonesque manner, as when he favourably compared how his United Conservative Party Government has handled the COVID-19 pandemic to the way the Alberta NDP didn’t deal with it when it wasn’t in power.
But if it had been, Mr. Kenney explained earnestly, it would have been “just massively devastating. … Misery, and depression, mental-health crisis, addictions crisis, bankruptcies, financial collapse, would be incalculable.” Plus obesity, childhood obesity, he added moments later.
Well, nothing like that happened on his watch, did it?
Having dispensed with what the NDP didn’t do, Mr. Kenney moved along to a variety of other topics, imparting little news.
BY NEWS STAFF
Posted Sep 3, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney poses for a photo as he hosts the Premier's annual Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Alta., Monday, July 12, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
CALGARY – Premier Jason Kenney’s approach to addressing the public through Facebook Live after weeks of silence may not have been the best way to address the COVID-19 situation, according to one expert.
The premier said during his live event on Wednesday that his decision to go on vacation was made in part because August is usually a quieter time for politics.
READ MORE: Premier Kenney breaks silence, answers questions on Facebook Live
But that’s not the most concerning part, says Associate Professor of Policy Studies at Mount Royal University Lori Williams.
She says it’s worrisome that other officials were not around to address the public health crisis unfolding in the province during Kenney’s absence.
“It looks evasive. It looks like they don’t want to answer questions because they don’t have the answers to provide it,” Williams said.
“It doesn’t look like the government knows how it wants to respond to this fourth wave, this crisis that Alberta faces in a worse way than any other province.”
Wiliams adds the fact that Kenney’s first public address was during a Facebook Live event–and not one where people could truly ask questions–adds to the evasive look.
“Those who watched, saw the premier choose which questions he wants to answer. He also read the question, so you heard the question as read by the premier. There were no follow-up questions,” she explained.
“That isn’t full public accessibility.”
She says this is an example of the UCP once again breaking public trust, which will create an uphill battle for the party to regain confidence.
CALGARY – Premier Jason Kenney’s approach to addressing the public through Facebook Live after weeks of silence may not have been the best way to address the COVID-19 situation, according to one expert.
The premier said during his live event on Wednesday that his decision to go on vacation was made in part because August is usually a quieter time for politics.
READ MORE: Premier Kenney breaks silence, answers questions on Facebook Live
But that’s not the most concerning part, says Associate Professor of Policy Studies at Mount Royal University Lori Williams.
She says it’s worrisome that other officials were not around to address the public health crisis unfolding in the province during Kenney’s absence.
“It looks evasive. It looks like they don’t want to answer questions because they don’t have the answers to provide it,” Williams said.
“It doesn’t look like the government knows how it wants to respond to this fourth wave, this crisis that Alberta faces in a worse way than any other province.”
Wiliams adds the fact that Kenney’s first public address was during a Facebook Live event–and not one where people could truly ask questions–adds to the evasive look.
“Those who watched, saw the premier choose which questions he wants to answer. He also read the question, so you heard the question as read by the premier. There were no follow-up questions,” she explained.
“That isn’t full public accessibility.”
She says this is an example of the UCP once again breaking public trust, which will create an uphill battle for the party to regain confidence.
Bell: UCP COVID hide-and-seek … and then Kenney appears
Author of the article: Rick Bell
Publishing date:Sep 02, 2021 •
Author of the article: Rick Bell
Publishing date:Sep 02, 2021 •
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks at the annual Premier's Stampede Breakfast in downtown Calgary on Monday, July 12, 2021. Gavin Young/Postmedia
Alberta’s Best Summer Ever is over.
Boy, is it over.
Bet nobody in the government of Premier Jason Kenney looked into their crystal ball and saw the current nastiness with a virus not behaving according to plan.
Still, you’d have to think somebody in the Kenney government surely had something significant to say about the fact the happy news, the clear sailing storyline of a couple of months ago is not turning out the way it was sold.
Somehow we would see some direction on where the Kenney government is now going.
But what do we get as the clock ticks.
Crickets.
And crickets are seen by some as cowardice, by others as confusion. By still others, the word ostrich comes to mind.
Are the Kenney people figuring, hoping, praying, crossing their fingers COVID riding the wave would turn around on its own in short order?
People talked about this state of affairs happening during summer holiday time. Hold your horses. You’ll get your answers.
Yes, politicians deserve holidays, but is no one around to mind the store especially when Albertans want some idea of what the authorities have in mind, if anything?
The numbers in hospital go up, worse than ever expected by the Kenney government experts.
The story quickly descends into farce.
Newshounds ask questions.
Where is Kenney? Where is Health Minister Tyler Shandro?
Where is Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s top public health doc?
We get reports, alleged sightings of the premier. Hide and seek.
Who is he, Jason Bourne or Jason Kenney?
As Aristotle, one of the premier’s favourite philosophers, said: Nature abhors a vacuum.
While the cat’s away others begin filling in the blanks, doing their own thing.
Edmonton city council brings back masks indoors.
On Friday, Calgary city council will start a chinwag on their next move against COVID and politicians of all political stripes take aim at the premier and his people.
When Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra are schooling the premier, you know it’s trouble.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley is said to be preparing to weigh in on the situation Thursday
The official opposition has been having a field day on this one. It’s like watching a soccer game where one team is behind because of own goals, scoring on themselves.
The rumour mill churns.
Talk of Shandro appearing Thursday. Ditto for Hinshaw. Long overdue. No notification at press time.
Alberta’s Best Summer Ever is over.
Boy, is it over.
Bet nobody in the government of Premier Jason Kenney looked into their crystal ball and saw the current nastiness with a virus not behaving according to plan.
Still, you’d have to think somebody in the Kenney government surely had something significant to say about the fact the happy news, the clear sailing storyline of a couple of months ago is not turning out the way it was sold.
Somehow we would see some direction on where the Kenney government is now going.
But what do we get as the clock ticks.
Crickets.
And crickets are seen by some as cowardice, by others as confusion. By still others, the word ostrich comes to mind.
Are the Kenney people figuring, hoping, praying, crossing their fingers COVID riding the wave would turn around on its own in short order?
People talked about this state of affairs happening during summer holiday time. Hold your horses. You’ll get your answers.
Yes, politicians deserve holidays, but is no one around to mind the store especially when Albertans want some idea of what the authorities have in mind, if anything?
The numbers in hospital go up, worse than ever expected by the Kenney government experts.
The story quickly descends into farce.
Newshounds ask questions.
Where is Kenney? Where is Health Minister Tyler Shandro?
Where is Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s top public health doc?
We get reports, alleged sightings of the premier. Hide and seek.
Who is he, Jason Bourne or Jason Kenney?
As Aristotle, one of the premier’s favourite philosophers, said: Nature abhors a vacuum.
While the cat’s away others begin filling in the blanks, doing their own thing.
Edmonton city council brings back masks indoors.
On Friday, Calgary city council will start a chinwag on their next move against COVID and politicians of all political stripes take aim at the premier and his people.
When Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra are schooling the premier, you know it’s trouble.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley is said to be preparing to weigh in on the situation Thursday
The official opposition has been having a field day on this one. It’s like watching a soccer game where one team is behind because of own goals, scoring on themselves.
The rumour mill churns.
Talk of Shandro appearing Thursday. Ditto for Hinshaw. Long overdue. No notification at press time.
Minister of Health Tyler Shandro and Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided, from Edmonton on March 22, 2021, an update on COVID-19. PHOTO BY CHRIS SCHWARZ/GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA
There was noise about Hinshaw heading for the exit and this is said to be not true. But what pops into my inbox at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday? The rumour again.
There is talk of a big gabfest of the Kenney government’s COVID inner circle Wednesday. This much is coming from many sources but it’s not coming from any official on the premier’s team.
A provincial wear-your-mask law is reported to be on the agenda.
So are restrictions around gatherings.
It sounds like the smart money believes those trial balloons won’t fly, at least not yet.
The status quo is the odds-on bet at the $2 window. For now.
Will the Kenney crowd pass the buck and let the cities do the heavy lifting on the mask issue, maintaining their politics pure?
Is their modelling, their government projections of where COVID could go, ready to be released?
Again there is unofficial chatter.
Could the projections show the likely scenario is somewhere between where we are now and where we were last Christmas?
Could the worst-case scenario show it could be as bad as last Christmas, the season of the lockdown?
A lockdown would finish off the Kenney government. They know that and they say they aren’t going there.
They’ve also say no to a provincial government vaccine passport, where the fully vaccinated would be allowed in places where those not fully vaccinated would not be allowed.
But who knows?
We’re only the people.
Jeromy Farkas is a Calgary councillor running for mayor who backed Kenney’s Open For Summer plan because it was supported by Hinshaw.
Here’s what he says Wednesday on the hide and seek game.
“It’s impossible to say listen to the doctor’s advice if her lips are sealed. If the good doctor is quiet, people will look to others.
“People are scared. The province dropped the ball and others are picking up that ball and running with it.”
Stop … hold the presses.
With little fanfare, Kenney appears live on his Facebook page taking select questions confirming he talked to Hinshaw Wednesday. He is reportedly vague. He thinks he is being accountable.
One thing is certain. Once again he is not leading the parade but following it.
There was noise about Hinshaw heading for the exit and this is said to be not true. But what pops into my inbox at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday? The rumour again.
There is talk of a big gabfest of the Kenney government’s COVID inner circle Wednesday. This much is coming from many sources but it’s not coming from any official on the premier’s team.
A provincial wear-your-mask law is reported to be on the agenda.
So are restrictions around gatherings.
It sounds like the smart money believes those trial balloons won’t fly, at least not yet.
The status quo is the odds-on bet at the $2 window. For now.
Will the Kenney crowd pass the buck and let the cities do the heavy lifting on the mask issue, maintaining their politics pure?
Is their modelling, their government projections of where COVID could go, ready to be released?
Again there is unofficial chatter.
Could the projections show the likely scenario is somewhere between where we are now and where we were last Christmas?
Could the worst-case scenario show it could be as bad as last Christmas, the season of the lockdown?
A lockdown would finish off the Kenney government. They know that and they say they aren’t going there.
They’ve also say no to a provincial government vaccine passport, where the fully vaccinated would be allowed in places where those not fully vaccinated would not be allowed.
But who knows?
We’re only the people.
Jeromy Farkas is a Calgary councillor running for mayor who backed Kenney’s Open For Summer plan because it was supported by Hinshaw.
Here’s what he says Wednesday on the hide and seek game.
“It’s impossible to say listen to the doctor’s advice if her lips are sealed. If the good doctor is quiet, people will look to others.
“People are scared. The province dropped the ball and others are picking up that ball and running with it.”
Stop … hold the presses.
With little fanfare, Kenney appears live on his Facebook page taking select questions confirming he talked to Hinshaw Wednesday. He is reportedly vague. He thinks he is being accountable.
One thing is certain. Once again he is not leading the parade but following it.
Nenshi says he's 'lost any faith' in province's COVID action as council prepares to talk pandemic
'I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we'll figure out how'
'I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we'll figure out how'
Author of the article: Madeline Smith
Publishing date:Sep 02, 2021 •
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi was photographed outside council chambers during a break in debate on when to lift mandatory masking bylaws on Monday, June 21, 2021. PHOTO BY GAVIN YOUNG/POSTMEDIA
The province announced Thursday that 70 per cent of Albertans are now fully vaccinated, as Calgary city officials got ready to debate whether or not additional municipal measures need to be implemented to combat COVID-19.
Restoring Calgary’s mask bylaw and mandating proof of vaccination in city-owned facilities are among the issues that will be on the table at city hall when council’s emergency management committee meets Friday afternoon.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he’s “lost any faith in the ability of the province to do anything” about the rising fourth wave of COVID, as city council is set to weigh whether to take steps themselves.
If there’s a push for the city to take action to address the pandemic, a special meeting could quickly be called to get the measures in place.
Nenshi blasted the UCP government’s lack of action Thursday, as active COVID cases increased to nearly 13,000 province-wide, with 487 people in hospital — more than double the number of hospitalizations in Alberta less than two weeks ago.
“People are getting sick and dying, and this is not time for amateur hour. Ultimately, I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we’ll figure out how,” he said. “I still remain hopeful that the province will step up to the plate and actually do its job.”
The province, meanwhile, issued a news release Thursday encouraging Albertans to get vaccinated with two shots.
“Vaccines take significant pressure off of our health system by reducing the severity of symptoms for the vast majority of people who are fully immunized,” Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said in the news release.
Earlier this summer on July 5, council quashed the bylaw requiring face coverings across Calgary’s public indoor spaces at a time when fewer than 1,000 active COVID cases existed across Alberta and daily case counts numbered dozens, not hundreds.
Nenshi said there has been more appetite among council members lately to restore the mandate, especially if the province doesn’t reinstitute mask rules.
Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart wrote on Twitter this week that “hundreds and hundreds” of Calgarians have emailed her asking for the mask bylaw to return. And at least one other councillor who voted in favour of lifting the mandate two months ago signalled support for its return.
Coun. Jeff Davison said he’s been hearing “panic” from the public around COVID-19, and it’s time for council to discuss how to protect Calgarians, including potentially following Edmonton’s lead and restoring a mask bylaw.
Coun. George Chahal was among the four councillors who voted against lifting mask rules in July. At the time, he said he wanted to ensure Calgarians who were still waiting had a chance to get their first and second doses of a COVID vaccine.
“I’m hoping that we’ll have a conversation (Friday) and bring back the bylaw to ensure the health and safety of all Calgarians,” he said Thursday.
Face coverings are still currently required in any city-operated facilities, including recreation centres.
Provincial rules require masks on public transit, in taxicabs and in ride-hailing vehicles.
Vaccinations
Some, including mayoral candidate Jan Damery, have been calling for the city to impose its own city-wide proof of vaccination policy in the absence of a provincial “vaccine passport” system like ones that have been rolled out in Manitoba, Ontario, B.C and Quebec.
But Nenshi said while council has the authority to require Calgarians be immunized against COVID to access city facilities, broadening that mandate to private businesses is trickier territory. Plus, the city would have to purchase an app or create its own system for verifying vaccination status.
Another topic the committee will tackle Friday is requiring vaccination for city employees.
Officials are currently working on a system for regular, mandatory rapid tests for unvaccinated employees. But the City of Calgary hasn’t gone as far as some municipalities like Toronto, which now requires employees to be fully vaccinated or face discipline, including dismissal.
Calgary also has the option of returning to a state of local emergency. The city ended the previous state of emergency in mid-June after more than six months — by far the longest in Calgary’s history.
Nenshi said the enhanced co-ordination provided by a state of local emergency is essentially already happening, after 19 months of coping with the pandemic. Still, it’s a lever the city could choose to pull.
For now, he said regardless of any possible council decisions, he encourages Calgarians to wear masks in public spaces to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
“Whether or not there is a law, do the right thing for your own safety and the safety of those around you and wear a mask.”
The province announced Thursday that 70 per cent of Albertans are now fully vaccinated, as Calgary city officials got ready to debate whether or not additional municipal measures need to be implemented to combat COVID-19.
Restoring Calgary’s mask bylaw and mandating proof of vaccination in city-owned facilities are among the issues that will be on the table at city hall when council’s emergency management committee meets Friday afternoon.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he’s “lost any faith in the ability of the province to do anything” about the rising fourth wave of COVID, as city council is set to weigh whether to take steps themselves.
If there’s a push for the city to take action to address the pandemic, a special meeting could quickly be called to get the measures in place.
Nenshi blasted the UCP government’s lack of action Thursday, as active COVID cases increased to nearly 13,000 province-wide, with 487 people in hospital — more than double the number of hospitalizations in Alberta less than two weeks ago.
“People are getting sick and dying, and this is not time for amateur hour. Ultimately, I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we’ll figure out how,” he said. “I still remain hopeful that the province will step up to the plate and actually do its job.”
The province, meanwhile, issued a news release Thursday encouraging Albertans to get vaccinated with two shots.
“Vaccines take significant pressure off of our health system by reducing the severity of symptoms for the vast majority of people who are fully immunized,” Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said in the news release.
Earlier this summer on July 5, council quashed the bylaw requiring face coverings across Calgary’s public indoor spaces at a time when fewer than 1,000 active COVID cases existed across Alberta and daily case counts numbered dozens, not hundreds.
Nenshi said there has been more appetite among council members lately to restore the mandate, especially if the province doesn’t reinstitute mask rules.
Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart wrote on Twitter this week that “hundreds and hundreds” of Calgarians have emailed her asking for the mask bylaw to return. And at least one other councillor who voted in favour of lifting the mandate two months ago signalled support for its return.
Coun. Jeff Davison said he’s been hearing “panic” from the public around COVID-19, and it’s time for council to discuss how to protect Calgarians, including potentially following Edmonton’s lead and restoring a mask bylaw.
Coun. George Chahal was among the four councillors who voted against lifting mask rules in July. At the time, he said he wanted to ensure Calgarians who were still waiting had a chance to get their first and second doses of a COVID vaccine.
“I’m hoping that we’ll have a conversation (Friday) and bring back the bylaw to ensure the health and safety of all Calgarians,” he said Thursday.
Face coverings are still currently required in any city-operated facilities, including recreation centres.
Provincial rules require masks on public transit, in taxicabs and in ride-hailing vehicles.
Vaccinations
Some, including mayoral candidate Jan Damery, have been calling for the city to impose its own city-wide proof of vaccination policy in the absence of a provincial “vaccine passport” system like ones that have been rolled out in Manitoba, Ontario, B.C and Quebec.
But Nenshi said while council has the authority to require Calgarians be immunized against COVID to access city facilities, broadening that mandate to private businesses is trickier territory. Plus, the city would have to purchase an app or create its own system for verifying vaccination status.
Another topic the committee will tackle Friday is requiring vaccination for city employees.
Officials are currently working on a system for regular, mandatory rapid tests for unvaccinated employees. But the City of Calgary hasn’t gone as far as some municipalities like Toronto, which now requires employees to be fully vaccinated or face discipline, including dismissal.
Calgary also has the option of returning to a state of local emergency. The city ended the previous state of emergency in mid-June after more than six months — by far the longest in Calgary’s history.
Nenshi said the enhanced co-ordination provided by a state of local emergency is essentially already happening, after 19 months of coping with the pandemic. Still, it’s a lever the city could choose to pull.
For now, he said regardless of any possible council decisions, he encourages Calgarians to wear masks in public spaces to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
“Whether or not there is a law, do the right thing for your own safety and the safety of those around you and wear a mask.”
Bell: Kenney's UCP, the COVID tire fire and a decision on masks
Author of the article:Rick Bell
Publishing date:Sep 03, 2021 •
Author of the article:Rick Bell
Publishing date:Sep 03, 2021 •
Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Tyler Shandro reveal the Open for Summer Plan as Alberta crosses the 70 percent first dose COVID-19 vaccine uptake on June 18, 2021. PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS /Postmedia
Get out those masks. Wash them good. Best be prepared.
Now nothing is certain with the government of Premier Jason Kenney until top public health doc Deena Hinshaw and/or Health Minister Tyler Shandro and/or the big man himself gives the official pronouncement from on high.
But it is said bringing back the provincial must-wear-a-mask-indoors law made the final cut, a.k.a. the shortlist of options for Kenney and his crew of COVID-19 decision-makers to chew over.
We will see where it lands when the dust settles.
You see, there was a long and drawn-out gabfest of United Conservative members of the legislature Thursday.
I know. I sat outside Calgary’s MacDougall Centre, the government’s southern Alberta HQ, the better part of Thursday afternoon hoping someone would come out and say something.
I went back to the keyboard empty-handed.
In person and by computer, the UCP politicians wrangled over what to do about COVID.
They jawed over it. They pushed and pulled and wrestled not only with the virus but with the politics of the situation.
We are a little more than a couple months and a universe away from Kenney’s proclamation of Best Summer Ever, when almost all restrictions were sent packing, the worst was thought to be over, far better times were ahead and the Best Autumn Ever and the Best Winter Ever would follow.
All that was missing was the Mission Accomplished sign.
For some in the Kenney ranks, sad, shocked, disheartened, gut-punched, it now feels closer to Mission Impossible.
Overall, Alberta’s COVID numbers are the worst in the country. The number of people in hospital with COVID is going up, along with the number of people in intensive care.
It is also known Alberta Health Services has told the Kenney government the capacity for hospitals to handle another wave of COVID is considerably less than we were told in the past.
It has shrunk
Get out those masks. Wash them good. Best be prepared.
Now nothing is certain with the government of Premier Jason Kenney until top public health doc Deena Hinshaw and/or Health Minister Tyler Shandro and/or the big man himself gives the official pronouncement from on high.
But it is said bringing back the provincial must-wear-a-mask-indoors law made the final cut, a.k.a. the shortlist of options for Kenney and his crew of COVID-19 decision-makers to chew over.
We will see where it lands when the dust settles.
You see, there was a long and drawn-out gabfest of United Conservative members of the legislature Thursday.
I know. I sat outside Calgary’s MacDougall Centre, the government’s southern Alberta HQ, the better part of Thursday afternoon hoping someone would come out and say something.
I went back to the keyboard empty-handed.
In person and by computer, the UCP politicians wrangled over what to do about COVID.
They jawed over it. They pushed and pulled and wrestled not only with the virus but with the politics of the situation.
We are a little more than a couple months and a universe away from Kenney’s proclamation of Best Summer Ever, when almost all restrictions were sent packing, the worst was thought to be over, far better times were ahead and the Best Autumn Ever and the Best Winter Ever would follow.
All that was missing was the Mission Accomplished sign.
For some in the Kenney ranks, sad, shocked, disheartened, gut-punched, it now feels closer to Mission Impossible.
Overall, Alberta’s COVID numbers are the worst in the country. The number of people in hospital with COVID is going up, along with the number of people in intensive care.
It is also known Alberta Health Services has told the Kenney government the capacity for hospitals to handle another wave of COVID is considerably less than we were told in the past.
It has shrunk
.
Dr. Heather Patterson was photographed outside the Foothills Hospital ER where she works on March 15, 2021. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The Red Zone, where the doo-doo hits the fan and it’s crunch time in the hospitals, is closer than previously thought.
Maybe the white flag would have to be raised over Kenney’s best-laid plans. If not a surrender, there would need to be a retreat.
It would be a bitter pill to swallow.
One wag painted Thursday’s UCP political huddle as a real tire fire, plenty of heat generated. Tire fires are hard to control, tough to extinguish and toxic.
Some people will be real steamed if we go back to masks, including individuals among the seven out of 10 eligible Albertans fully vaccinated who have done what they were told and hoped for better.
Others will speak of freedom.
No one is expecting Kenney’s government to roll out a vaccine passport as the other big provinces have done, where only the fully vaccinated can go to bars, restaurants, concerts and the like.
The fully vaccinated will wear masks like everyone else, if that’s how the ball bounces.
The final choices are reported to have got the once-over by Kenney and his crew of COVID decision-makers Thursday. But more discussion with his inner circle is expected Friday morning.
We await the final verdict on what is known as Take Out The Trash Day, the time to deliver bad news when fewer souls are paying attention, the Friday before a long weekend.
Among other things getting a serious look apparently include asking the unvaccinated to limit their socializing.
Also, putting in an earlier last call on booze service in bars and restaurants.
Those look like they’re getting a green light. But again, no confirmation from those who wield the thumbs up or down.
One trial balloon is thought to have been shot down: Paying people to get the jab.
Was $50 the amount of the payout? Was $100 considered?
Anyway, that brainwave bit the dust as of press time.
On Friday, we may also see what’s in the crystal ball for where COVID-19 could be headed in this province
The Red Zone, where the doo-doo hits the fan and it’s crunch time in the hospitals, is closer than previously thought.
Maybe the white flag would have to be raised over Kenney’s best-laid plans. If not a surrender, there would need to be a retreat.
It would be a bitter pill to swallow.
One wag painted Thursday’s UCP political huddle as a real tire fire, plenty of heat generated. Tire fires are hard to control, tough to extinguish and toxic.
Some people will be real steamed if we go back to masks, including individuals among the seven out of 10 eligible Albertans fully vaccinated who have done what they were told and hoped for better.
Others will speak of freedom.
No one is expecting Kenney’s government to roll out a vaccine passport as the other big provinces have done, where only the fully vaccinated can go to bars, restaurants, concerts and the like.
The fully vaccinated will wear masks like everyone else, if that’s how the ball bounces.
The final choices are reported to have got the once-over by Kenney and his crew of COVID decision-makers Thursday. But more discussion with his inner circle is expected Friday morning.
We await the final verdict on what is known as Take Out The Trash Day, the time to deliver bad news when fewer souls are paying attention, the Friday before a long weekend.
Among other things getting a serious look apparently include asking the unvaccinated to limit their socializing.
Also, putting in an earlier last call on booze service in bars and restaurants.
Those look like they’re getting a green light. But again, no confirmation from those who wield the thumbs up or down.
One trial balloon is thought to have been shot down: Paying people to get the jab.
Was $50 the amount of the payout? Was $100 considered?
Anyway, that brainwave bit the dust as of press time.
On Friday, we may also see what’s in the crystal ball for where COVID-19 could be headed in this province
.
NDP leader Rachel Notley shows off her plan for a vaccine passport at a press conference in Calgary, Alberta. PHOTO BY DAVE DEGAGNE & BRAD GIBBONS /jpg
Meanwhile at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, where you’ll need to be fully vaccinated to see the Stamps through this football season, NDP Leader Rachel Notley backs a vaccine passport.
Notley says it is almost beyond the ability of words to describe how the Kenney government went missing as COVID ramped up.
She says Kenney is perfectly entitled to take time off but somebody should have been in charge.
The NDP leader fails to mention with this government, Kenney is the all-knowing ventriloquist.
And, as you know, when the ventriloquist is away, no dummy can speak.
rbell@postmedia.com
Meanwhile at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, where you’ll need to be fully vaccinated to see the Stamps through this football season, NDP Leader Rachel Notley backs a vaccine passport.
Notley says it is almost beyond the ability of words to describe how the Kenney government went missing as COVID ramped up.
She says Kenney is perfectly entitled to take time off but somebody should have been in charge.
The NDP leader fails to mention with this government, Kenney is the all-knowing ventriloquist.
And, as you know, when the ventriloquist is away, no dummy can speak.
rbell@postmedia.com
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