Premier of Alberta under fire as COVID-19 surges


May 5, 2021 Reuters


Alberta Premier Jason KenneyAlberta Premier Jason Kenney’s mixed public-health messaging as the province grapples with a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is undermining efforts to tackle the outbreak, experts say, while infuriating voters across the political spectrum.

Canada’s oil-rich western province has the highest COVID-19 rates in North America per capita sharp increase.

The COVID-19 resurgence is stoking frustration towards United Conservative Party leader Kenney, who throughout the pandemic has tried to walk a fine line between urging people to follow official guidance, and assuring Albertans they are entitled to their rights and freedoms.

“It’s confusing, he’s trying to please everybody,” said Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor at the University of Calgary specialising in health law and policy. “He’s trying to walk this middle ground but not doing public health or the economy any favours.”

Alberta’s economy shrank 8.1% in 2020, the biggest contraction among the provinces, according to Statistics Canada.

An Angus Reid poll from April shows 45% of Albertans said COVID-19 restrictions in the province go too far, while another 45% said they don’t go far enough. Three-quarters of Albertans polled said Kenney was doing a poor job of handling the pandemic.

Hardcastle said the premier’s public comments are fuelling non-compliance with health measures.

“His message will be that we have restrictions, and almost in the same breath he says people are not following them anyway. That just gives people justification to break rules,” Hardcastle said.

Kenney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cultural differences between Alberta and the rest of Canada are also contributing to resistance to pandemic restrictions. Canada’s energy heartland, which sometimes refers to itself as the Texas of the North, has a preference for a hands-off approach from government.

Rural communities pride themselves on a frontier spirit, which Kenney appealed to during his 2019 election campaign. That rural conservative base is the backbone of UCP support, but Kenney’s attempts to appease those voters while also introducing restrictions is backfiring.

A “no more lockdowns” rodeo took place in central Alberta last weekend, attracting an estimated 2,000 people. An Edmonton pastor on trial for breaking COVID-19 in his church services said he was encouraged by Kenney’s comments last year that the pandemic was a type of influenza.

Members of Kenney’s own caucus are also rebelling. Sixteen UCP lawmakers signed an open letter in April slamming restrictions.

“What Albertans need is a leader they can trust… who when they make decisions make them on the basis of evidence, of science, and not on their own political needs and challenges,” Rachel Notley, leader of the opposition NDP, told a news conference on Tuesday.

Voter dissatisfaction with the premier has been mounting since Christmas, when Kenney was slow to reprimand a UCP politician who ignored government advice and travelled abroad.

Alberta’s next election is not scheduled until spring 2023 but Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said frustration over Kenney’s handling of the pandemic could linger.

“A lot of people are going to remember how angry they were during this time,” Williams said. “It looks like Jason Kenney is being driven not by health and economic concerns, but by concerns about his political future. That may be the most damaging thing of all.

Jean rips Kenney for ‘new base’ comment, says premier has ‘failed’

POOR KENNEY GETS ATTACKED FROM HIS RIGHT WING BASE 

“When a politician rejects the people whose votes he campaigned for, it is always his fault and never theirs,” said Brian Jean.

May 4, 2021
By Dave Naylor

WESTERN STANDARD


Former Wildrose Leader and UCP co-founder Brian Jean tore a strip off of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for telling the UCP caucus that “If they are our base, I want a new base.”

“You might want a ‘new base.’ Albertans want better leadership,” Jean said in a Tuesday night Facebook post.

“When a politician rejects the people whose votes he campaigned for, it is always his fault and never theirs.”

“The UCP was created to unite a wide variety of Albertans,” Jean continued. “They were attracted to the thought of Alberta being governed by a common-sense party that listened to them, that answered their questions and that was straight with them. Premier, if many Albertans have stopped doing what you want, that is on you.”


Jean was referring to a Sunday incident when Kenney told a closed-door UCP caucus meeting “I want a new base” as he slammed the rogue anti-lockdown rodeo in Bowden.

Kenney used the meeting to rail against the ‘No More Lockdowns Rodeo’, which attracted approximately 4,000-5,000 attendees over the weekend.

Three UCP MLAs, who spoke to the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity, said another MLA spoke up and reminded Kenney that the people who went to the rodeo were the “base” of the UCP’s support.

“If they are our base, I want a new base,” Kenney told the meeting, according to the three MLAs.


Kenney called the story “false.”

But it didn’t sit to well with Jean, who also blasted Kenney for his latest COVID-19 lockdown tightening and restrictions.

“You have failed to answer their questions. You have failed to give them the data and information they were looking for. You have failed to keep them persuaded,” Jean wrote.

“Leaders bring people together. Leaders listen and explain and convince. Leaders answer questions and provide the information that people need to understand things. A leader is sometimes in the hot seat – take it. It is your job.


“A few weeks ago, I wrote about how AHS is hiding critical health data from Albertans – you have done nothing about that. I wrote about how the CMOH wasn’t being asked the right questions and how to fix that. You ignored that too. I made suggestions on how you could reach across the political aisle and unify Albertans. Your response was to arrogantly reject even those Albertans who voted for you.

The mayor of Alberta's COVID-19 hotspot says Kenney government won't share modelling data

“Premier, Albertans have lost confidence in you. Those who didn’t vote for you have concluded that you are even worse than they feared. Those who did vote for you, know that you are not governing as they would have hoped.”

Jean was first elected as a Tory MP in a Fort McMurray-area riding in 2004. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2011. He resigned in 2014, and the next year become the leader of Alberta’s Wildrose Party.

After the party merged with the UCP, Jean ran to become leader but lost to Kenney.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

Vote accepted

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RECENT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN ALBERTA?

• They're going too far60%
• They aren't going far enough26.67%
• They're about where they should be13.33%
   BOE Report
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Kenney says after death threats he wants to make it clear — 'extremists are not [the UCP's] base'

BUT THEY ARE HE IS IN DENIAL 

Premier speculates that some Albertans are in 'COVID-denial'

BUT THEY ARE HIS BASE 

Sarah Rieger · CBC News · Posted: May 04,2021

Premier Jason Kenney says he has received death threats in regards to the public health measures he's taken during the pandemic. (Jason Kenney/Facebook

Premier Jason Kenney says he is making it clear to his caucus that extremists are not the United Conservative Party's base, after receiving death threats from members of that group.

In a Facebook livestream on Tuesday, shortly after introducing new public health restrictions, Kenney said after a recent news conference he received two messages in short succession, one of which threatened his 83-year-old mother who lives alone.

He said the messages read: "You will be executed for your crimes against humanity" and "We know where your mother lives."

I think there's a small minority of the population creating their own reality … and maybe they're acting accordingly.- Premier Jason Kenney

Kenney said he told his caucus that people sending those types of messages or purporting "insane" conspiracy theories are not his party's base.

"These people, we don't want people making death threats, people threatening to lock up Dr. [Deena] Hinshaw, people organizing rallies with Tiki torches based on the neo-Nazi rally in Virginia — those are not our supporters. Those are not Alberta Conservatives, those are not mainstream Albertans," Kenney said.

"Those are voices of extremism and hatred."

WHICH IS WHAT UCP IS 

He also read out a message that he said could best be described as "tin-foil hat" from the organizers of a recent rodeo that was held in protest of public health restrictions near Bowden.

The message described Kenney as a "tyrannical being" and said his actions — barring large gatherings during a pandemic — violate human rights.

While Alberta Health Services is exploring its legal options toward the organizers of that rodeo, RCMP and the province took no action during the weekend regarding enforcement.

Alberta Health Services explores legal options after hundreds attend rodeo

The premier said he appreciates skepticism and debate about government overreach, and said he's been "viciously attacked" for tolerating that type of debate.

He said he welcomes different views, as long as they are within the common goal of keeping the broader population safe and minimizing COVID-19 spread.

Protesters against public health restrictions, including a woman in a fake nurse's costume covered in dolls meant to represent dead babies, gathered at several locations around Calgary over the weekend, including briefly disrupting traffic on 17th Avenue S.W. on Saturday. (Submitted)

Kenney has been criticized by health professionals and the Opposition for waiting too long to bring in new restrictions and failing to enforce those rules that are in place — but some of the criticisms of his actions to protect public health have come from inside his own caucus.

Almost half of the party's back-bencher MLAs signed a letter in early April against public health measures, commentary Kenney said he condones as long as the MLAs do not break health restrictions themselves.

Shortly before the letter was released, two of the signatories left a coalition against health restrictions after one of the organizers invoked Hitler, while another has falsely claimed that the worst of the pandemic is over and helped to spread misinformation by hinting the federal government could be creating COVID concentration camps.

Alberta is currently combating the highest case numbers of the pandemic so far with 23,623 active cases, a positivity rate of 12 per cent and an R-value of 1.12.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced basic fines for violations of public health measures are doubling to $2,000, and repeat offenders would face tougher enforcement protocols. 0:30  VIDEOS Kenney says after death threats he wants to make it clear — 'extremists are not [the UCP's] base' | CBC News

The province has the highest active case rate of anywhere in Canada or the U.S., more than twice the rate of the next highest province, Ontario.

Kenney speculated that Alberta might have a larger problem with non-compliance with health measures to protect others than other provinces because many are in "COVID-denial."

"I think there's a small minority of the population creating their own reality based on the Facebook pages they follow or whatever silos of information they're getting and maybe they're acting accordingly."

OUCH BITCH SLAPPED FROM THE RIGHT
GUNTER: Province counting on Albertans to voluntarily follow new, unenforceable restrictions

Author of the article: Lorne Gunter
Publishing date: May 04, 2021 •

SUN/POSTMEDIA

Facebook video screen grab of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announcing new public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Postmedia Network

Oh, lucky us. Albertans get to relive April and May 2020 when our province was in its deepest lockdown.

Let no one be fooled, the measures announced Tuesday evening by Premier Jason Kenney will not bring our province’s COVID infection rate down directly.


We are shutting schools to in-person learning, even though schools aren’t spreading the infection.

People aren’t catching COVID while they’re having their hair cut or their nails done, yet we’re closing all salons for three weeks.

Outdoor patios at restaurants aren’t a big source of spread, but they’re being closed, too.

Most workplaces aren’t hotspots (the few that are, typically aren’t offices or stores), yet office workers are urged to work from home and retail stores are forced to reduce capacity to 10 per cent.

The same goes for gyms. Very few have outbreaks, but they are closed, too, by government order.

So if most of the places and activities that Kenney shuttered Tuesday night are not causing COVID, why in heaven’s name did he close them?

Why did he also limit outdoor social gatherings to five people (from 10) and from no more than two family groups? Was there a lot of evidence from the province’s vast army of contact tracers that beers around a firepit was driving the recent third-wave spike?

Nope.

All these measures — plus further limits on funerals, worship services and youth and adult sports — are not designed to stop the spread. They’re designed to keep you at home for three weeks, so your socializing doesn’t increase the infection rates.

The schools are a good example. There are a lot of schools and classrooms subject to isolation because one or two students either have COVID or are suspected of having it.

That’s not the same as an outbreak.

Once enough teachers and staff are in isolation, even though very few of them have actual COVID, there aren’t enough substitutes and replacements around to cover.

So the schools aren’t being forced online specifically because there is a lot of infection in them. They’re closing in-person learning because as soon as kids are made to stay home, public health officials know 20 to 25 per cent of the workforce will have to stay home, too, to look after their kids.

Had daycares been closed as well, the portion of working people forced home would rise to more than 30 per cent.

Closing schools is about limiting adults’ mobility, not stopping a spike among kids’.

So will all this arbitrariness work? Only if Albertans decide to limit interpersonal contact on their own.

There aren’t enough police, peace officers, judges and jails in Alberta to enforce these recycled regulations if ordinary citizens refuse to listen.

The provincial government and police might be able to stop another rogue rodeo like the one last weekend in Bowden. But could they stop two? Or six?

And one GraceLife Church can be fenced off, but a dozen? That seems impossible.

The second-wave restrictions last December worked because Albertans on their own agreed to give up Christmas with family. There weren’t enough officials in the province to patrol each home and make sure no feast was happening.

Same applies with the regs announced Tuesday.

I suspect enough Albertans will say, “OK, OK, fine. We’ll put with this one more time.” And over the coming weeks infection rates will come down. (Infections, hospitalizations and deaths may already have plateaued.)

After that, vaccination rates should be high enough to prevent another spike.

But ordinary Albertans aren’t as fearful of the pandemic as they were a year ago when these tactics were first tried. So if enough decide not to follow the old rules again, there isn’t enough law enforcement to force them.

Alberta protests against COVID measures a 'slap in the face' to health-care workers: doctor

Events where virus could spread 'just adding to the burden': Dr. Gabriel Fabreau

CBC Radio · Posted: May 05, 2021 

Protesters against public health restrictions gathered at several locations around Calgary over the weekend. (Submitted)

223
comments


The Current 19:38New restrictions, growing frustration as COVID-19 cases soar in Alberta


Large anti-lockdown protests in Alberta are "a slap in the face" to health-care workers fighting the third wave, says a doctor in Calgary.

"We know that there's a significant probability that that event is going to become a super-spreader event, and that those people or people that attended rallies such as that, will become our patients," said Dr. Gabriel Fabreau, an internist at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary, and an assistant professor at the University of Calgary.

"We're doing everything we can to save every life we can … anybody and everyone, irrespective of their beliefs, but that's just adding to the burden," he told The Current's Matt Galloway.

"When everyone's working as hard as they are, it's a bit of a slap in the face."

Fabreau said he had to send three patients to the ICU on Sunday night, and tell their families the news over the phone.

"Knowing that all of that is preventable with better adherence to public health measures earlier — you know, it hurts," he said.



Hundreds in Alberta defy public health orders as COVID-19 cases surge3 days ago
3:22  Despite restrictions on gatherings in Alberta, hundreds defied the rules at protests and even a rodeo. Meanwhile, Premier Jason Kenney faces calls to take more action as he suspended the provincial legislature. 

Alberta's per-capita COVID-19 case count became the highest in North America this week, with an all-time high of 22,920 active COVID-19 cases recorded in the province at the weekend. On Tuesday, the seven-day average of daily new cases also broke records when it hit 1,973 cases.

All Albertans aged 12 and older will be eligible for vaccines by Monday, premier says

Over the weekend, hundreds of people attended a rodeo 30 kilometres south of Red Deer, Alta., billed as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions. Alberta Health Services said it is exploring its legal options over the event, which contravened public health orders banning outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

On Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced that the fine for violating public health measures will double to $2,000. The maximum fine for serious offences remains $100,000.

He also announced new public-health measures Tuesday evening, intended to curb the spread in schools, places of worship, businesses and private gatherings.

ANALYSISCOVID denialism and the Alberta context

"If exponential growth of COVID-19 in Alberta continues, it would begin to push the outer limits of even our surged and expanded hospital capacity within weeks," Kenney said Tuesday.

"We must not and we will not force our doctors and nurses to decide who gets care and who doesn't."


The Current 1:19

Anti-masker exposed health care workers to virus, says doctor

Dr. Gabriel Fabreau says he recently treated someone who hid COVID-19 symptoms when going for surger

Fabreau said he's relieved stronger measures are being introduced to slow the spread, but also frustrated they weren't introduced sooner.

"No matter what happens now, we know there's a lag so it'll be another two weeks of increasing hospitalizations, and we worry about the sustainability of that," he said.
Kenney rejects 'tin-foil hat' conspiracies

Dr. Gabriel Fabreau says he's relieved that stronger measures are being introduced. (FaceTime)

On a Facebook livestream Tuesday night, Kenney said he had received a message from organizers of last weekend's rodeo, who described him as "tyrannical" and accused him of violating human rights for limiting public gatherings in the pandemic.

Kenney described the message as "tin-foil hat," and said people buying into "insane" conspiracy theories are not a part of the United Conservative Party's base.

Melanee Thomas, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary, said that "saying it that way doesn't help much, but also it is pretty clear that that is part of the base."

She pointed to a public letter against public health measures in April, signed by several UCP MLA backbenchers. At the time Kenney said dissent within UCP caucus was OK, as long as MLAs did not break health restrictions themselves.

Kenney says after death threats he wants to make it clear — 'extremists are not [the UCP's] base'

During Tuesday's livestream, the premier said he has been "viciously attacked" for tolerating skepticism and debate about government overreach, but that he still welcomes differing views as long as they do not pose a risk to public health.

Thomas said "the positioning that he's taking, the language that's being used" suggest politics might be at play.

"They strike me as much more about political goals and maintaining internal party unity than they are about acting on advice from public health experts, and epidemiologists to actually get it under control," she said.

Kenney has faced criticism for delaying the implementation of restrictions, relying on personal responsibility, and failing to enforce measures when they are put in place.

Melanee Thomas highlighted resistance to COVID-19 restrictions within the premier's own party. (David Bell/CBC)

Tim Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, thinks that a "confused patchwork approach to policy has frustrated Albertans."

That makes it harder to tackle the pandemic because "those that are not following the restrictions and those that are protesting against the restrictions are clearly embracing misinformation," he said.

'Incredibly frustrating': Calgary mayor wants courts to uphold COVID-19 measures

OPINION Kenney is invoking a circuit breaker — but not the kind Alberta needs

He told Galloway that "being frustrated, feeling distress, feeling untrustworthy towards your government means you're more likely to embrace misinformation."

He warned that polarization of public opinion could be one of the legacies of the pandemic across all of Canada.

"Early days, we very much were in it together, but we have become more polarized," he said.

"Still, let's always remember most Canadians... support vaccination, support these lockdowns, want to get through this together."

Written by Padraig Moran, with files from CBC News. Prodcued by Alex Zabjek and Rachel Levy-McLaughlin.

Hear full episodes of The Current on CBC Listen, our free audio streaming service.

COVID-19 vaccine approval too little, too late for Alberta teachers, support staff

'How do you have gratitude, and say thank you for this when it comes so late? It's hard to be optimistic at this point'

Author of the article: Eva Ferguson
Publishing date: May 04, 2021 • 

Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS / POSTMEDIA

With less than two months remaining in a stressful, disruptive school year, front-line school staff say this week’s approval to book their vaccinations has arrived too little, too late.

Vaccine bookings became open to teachers on the same day Premier Jason Kenney announced K-12 students will all move to online learning on Friday.

“I know this is a real disruption for both kids and parents,” Kenney said in a 6 p.m. address Tuesday, where he did not take questions from reporters.

“But with the current level of community spread, we have about 80,000 students and staff in isolation, and we’ll soon reach a point where many schools won’t be able to operate.”

Younger students will join older grade 7 to 12 students who have been learning online in Calgary since mid-April, a two-week break that turned into four when local school districts asked for an extension.

All students are expected to go back to class by May 26, after the long weekend.

“This has come way too late,” said Troy Killam, president for the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 40, representing caretakers.

“We’ve had members that have already contracted COVID, or they are living with fear of spreading it to family members, many living in multi-generational households.

“It’s been an incredibly stressful year, our staff are working overtime, long days, and they’re exhausted, being in such close contact with kids for so long. It’s been really hard on their health, but also their mental wellness.”

Alberta has spiralled into a concerning third wave of COVID variant spread in recent weeks, averaging more than 2,000 cases on most days. The province tops the country for cases per capita.

Additional restrictions announced Tuesday included reduced capacity in retail and restaurants, as well as funerals and places of worship.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange will join Kenney on Wednesday morning for a news conference to answer concerns about the closure of schools on Friday.



The province’s vaccine rollout is now offering immunization appointments to more than 52,000 teachers, 29,000 support staff and 24,000 child-care workers. Bookings are open through Alberta Health Services’ online booking tool, 811 and at participating pharmacies.

Teachers, substitute teachers and administrators at public, separate, francophone, charter, private/independent/ECS operators and First Nations schools are eligible, as well as bus drivers, education assistants, custodians and others who support schools.

Staff working in licensed child-care programs such as daycares, out-of-school care, preschool programs and family day homes are also eligible.

Still, staff are feeling disillusioned and exhausted, said Rae-Ann Royal, chair of the Calgary Board of Education Staff Association.

“How do you have gratitude and say thank you for this when it comes so late? It’s hard to be optimistic at this point.”

Royal said many of the 5,000 members, including educational assistants, librarians, lunchroom supervisors and office receptionists, say students have become increasingly less compliant as the school year goes on, creating more stress for front-line staff.

“I worry every day about the staff, when we know things are becoming more and more lax, with kids running around not wearing masks.

“We have seen so many staff having to isolate at least four or five times this year already.”

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said the union has been advocating for months for teachers to be prioritized for vaccines.

“I really wish staff had been prioritized much earlier, with large class sizes it is very difficult to socially distance.”

Schilling added that since Bill 71, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, was passed in the legislature April 21, teachers and support staff will be provided up to three hours with pay for vaccine appointments.

Killam added caretakers will also be paid for any time needed to get vaccinated.

PODCASTS | THIS MATTERS

Alberta’s COVID crisis, explained | The Star


By Adrian CheungPodcast Co-Host/Producer
Wed., May 5, 2021

Guest: Alex Boyd, reporter in the Star’s Calgary Bureau

Alberta’s COVID-19 case numbers per capita are the worst in Canada and higher than almost every U.S. state. The test positivity rate in the province has reached 12 per cent. While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced new restrictions to combat these trends, what decisions led up to this crisis? Why has Alberta resisted stronger restrictions, and how does political culture and industry play into the decision making? We explain how Alberta charted a different course than the rest of Canada and where it’s headed next.


Adrian Cheung is a co-host and producer on the Star’s podcast team. He is based in Toronto. Reach him via email: adriancheung@thestar.ca

'Continuing his pattern of overpromising and under delivering': Notley responds to new restrictions

Notley raised questions surrounding UCP MLAs, saying she is concerned to hear they oppose the new measures.“I call on Jason Kenney to finally throw these MLAs out of his caucus. If you can’t support keeping Albertans safe, then you just can’t sit in the government caucus. Period.”

BY JOSH RITCHIE
Posted May 4, 2021 

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks during an announcement in Edmonton on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson


CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley is responding to the new restrictions announced by Alberta premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday.

“This announcement should have helped and I’m sure it just created more questions,” she said.

Notley questioned how the new restrictions will work across the province, calling them a “profound failure” if they are implemented on a regional basis.

WATCH: Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley responds to new restrictions


“The regions described last week were based not on evidence, or science, but on the location of UCP MLAs,” she said. “That means many, many Albertans will be let down.”

Notley went on to say Kenney is continuing his pattern of “overpromising and under delivering” by creating false hope and making false promises, setting up further challenges and disappointment in the weeks to come.

“I’m referencing, in particular, the announcement that these measures will apply for slightly over two weeks only, this is confusing and it creates instability and unpredictability.”

RELATED: All Alberta schools to go online, retail capacity reduced, restaurants back to take-out only

She says these new measures are going to have an immediate impact on small business owners struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic, adding they do not have adequate support.

Notley then called on Kenney to provide much greater support to help these businesses out.

“With broader eligibility and greater grants, and to enact many other measures we’ve proposed to support small businesses outlined at AlbertasFuture.ca.”

Notley then shifted her focus to schools and how Kenney “minimized the problem in schools for months.”

“He claimed school boards were safe and sat on his hands while school boards, teachers and parents begged for help,” she said. “He’s failed each and every student in our province.”

She then called on the UCP government to immediately establish an Alberta Learn From Home fund to help support families as students move online.

Notley then raised concerns with workers in the province having to choose between getting paid, or staying safe.

She says since most of these workers don’t have a sick pay program, they will continue to work at our grocery stores, gas stations and more.

“We know scientists in Ontario have suggested that provision of sick pay could drop infection rates by 50 per cent, yet today there was no mention of that from Jason Kenney at all.”

Finally, Notley raised questions surrounding UCP MLAs, saying she is concerned to hear they oppose the new measures.

“In advance, I condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. And, I call on Jason Kenney to finally throw these MLAs out of his caucus. If you can’t support keeping Albertans safe, then you just can’t sit in the government caucus. Period.”

Braid: Kenney faces a test to regain trust of public and his party

Kenney has given too much comfort to those who flout the rules. They simply scorn his frequent scolding

Unchecked, a truly alarming protest movement has sprung up, aspiring almost to insurrection. It’s hard to miss the similarity, at least in language, with what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Author of the article :Don Braid • Calgary Herald
Publishing date:May 04, 2021 • 

A few hundred anti-mask protesters came out to rally against the tighter restrictions by Premier Jason Kenney at the McDougall Centre in Calgary on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. PHOTO BY DARREN MAKOWICHUK/POSTMEDIA

The Kenney government is taking the province back to the hard regimen of last spring — patios, gyms, hair salons and personal services to close; K-6 schooling will go online; outdoor gatherings limited to five people; and much more.

This will be enormously painful to many businesses, families and individuals.

But for the next few weeks, there’s really no other way.

The UCP’s special cabinet committee debated for hours Tuesday before coming out with rules that will infuriate many in Premier Jason Kenney’s uneasy caucus.

As we’ve seen in Alberta, rules don’t work without public compliance and enforcement. Both have slipped badly, along with public faith in frequent promises that the crisis will end quickly.

A new poll from Marc Henry’s ThinkHQ shows that 44 per cent of Albertans feel COVID-19 problems will extend into 2022.

A small number think we’ll return to something like normal life by the end of summer, or maybe October.

In total, just 46 per cent believe the ordeal will be over at any point this year.



A month ago, on April 6, Kenney said effusively: “If we just stick to our guns for a few more weeks, we’ll head into what I truly believe will be the best summer in Alberta’s history.”

At that point, the variant strains didn’t dominate. Vaccination was starting to push down deaths. Kenney had some cause for optimism, although many medical experts said he was wrong.

Then the third wave took over, increasing hospitalizations and giving Alberta the highest infection rate in all of Canada.

Saskatchewan and B.C. had similar challenges but are doing much better.

Alberta’s plight is stark and obvious. We are the new epicentre of COVID-19 in Canada. We’re far behind in medical and economic recovery.

This has finally snapped trust in the mantra that if we just do everything right for a little while longer, it will soon end.

The crazy thing is that the UCP line could finally be close to the truth. Vaccine is flooding into the provinces. That will surely push the infection numbers down and ease pressure on the hospitals.

But it won’t be easy for the UCP to win back public confidence.

Kenney has given too much comfort to those who flout the rules. They simply scorn his frequent scolding.

The resistance has spread right into his own caucus, with MLAs who themselves spread ideas that can prolong the pandemic in Alberta.

Marc Henry says, “Kenney has been trying to ride two horses at once. It doesn’t work.” Except in the rodeo.

Unchecked, a truly alarming protest movement has sprung up, aspiring almost to insurrection. It’s hard to miss the similarity, at least in language, with what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

ALBERTA POLITICS / Jason Kenney steps up to rostrum, announces new COVID-19 restrictions, then skedaddles

ALBERTA PREMIER JASON KENNEY AT HIS 9.5-MINUTE SPEAKING APPEARANCE YESTERDAY EVENING (PHOTO: SCREENSHOT OF ALBERTA GOVERNMENT VIDEO).

DAVID CLIMENHAGA
POSTED ON MAY 05, 2021

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stepped up to the rostrum at his hastily scheduled 6:02 p.m. “news conference” yesterday, reeled off what he proposes to do about the fact Alberta now has the worst collective case of COVID-19 in North America, and skedaddled.

The whole affair took roughly nine and a half minutes, if you don’t count the two minutes of elevator music on the government website before the picture came on.



Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, the former premier of Alberta, at her news conference last night (Photo: Screenshot of Opposition video).

Since no questions were permitted, you can’t really call it a news conference. It was more like a photo opportunity with a soundtrack. Let’s call it a live-streamed announcement. Instead of sticking around to answer journalists’ questions, Mr. Kenney hurried away to the more congenial and controlled circumstances of a Facebook Live session with his supporters.

Trouble was, when the dust from the premier’s swift departure had dissipated like so many wisps of smoke as he dashed away, puzzled viewers were left scratching their heads about what he’d really announced. Some things were clear. Others, not so much.

The premier seemed to have two principal messages.

First, to the silent majority of Albertans furious about aggressive COVID deniers endangering their lives and frightened by the rapid spread of variants of concern when days ago the premier was promising us the best summer ever, that the government is taking serious measures to get this disease under control in jig time.

Second, to his COVID-denying base and the 17 or 18 members of his United Conservative Party’s COVID Denial Caucus, don’t worry about it, you’ll have to be bad repeatedly before this affects you.

No one will be satisfied.

So, all post-secondary classes will move online, retail stores will be allowed to stay open, but capacity will be capped at 10 per cent of fire code, worship services will be limited to 15 people, and funerals, go figure, to 10. This begins today and will last three weeks.

Former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean (Photo: David J. Climenhaga).

All students from kindergarten to Grade 12 will study at home until May 25. That commences Friday.

Hair salons and tattoo parlours will have to close, ditto fitness studios; restaurants and bars will be restricted to take out and delivery, and doctors, dentists, accountants and lawyers will see clients by appointment only (so what else is new?). That commences at midnight Sunday, late enough to save the Mother’s Day restaurant trade, although at what cost remains to be seen.

The basic fine for violating public health measures will double to $2,000.

The details are found in the government’s press release.

But what, you’re wondering, about enforcement? “We are introducing a tougher enforcement protocol for repeat offenders,” Mr. Kenney said in his announcement. (Emphasis added.) What about first time offenders? We don’t know. Remember, there were no questions.

What’s more, there will be exceptions. “These stepped-up measures will take effect province-wide, with the exception of a few communities that have very low levels of spread,” Mr. Kenney said.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw (Photo: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr).

“These new measures apply to all Albertans, businesses, organizations and service providers in municipalities or areas with more than 50 cases per 100,000 people and with 30 or more active cases,” the government’s news release said.

Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, the province’s former NDP premier, held her own live-streamed news conference soon after Mr. Kenney’s fleeting appearance.

“Albertans, you’re frustrated, you’re confused, you’re angry and you’re scared, and this announcement should have helped, but I’m afraid it has mostly just created more questions,” she said.

She assailed the premier for not making the restrictions apply to the entire province. “First and foremost, do the measures that were announced … apply across the province, or are they still being applied on the regional basis that was put forward last week? If it’s the latter, it’s a profile of failure. The regions described last week were based not on evidence or science, but on the location of UCP MLAs.”

Restrictions, she added, “must apply consistently across the province to be effective.”

Moreover, Ms. Notley said, “by making false promises and creating false hopes, he’s setting up further challenges and disappointments in the weeks to come.”

Health Minister Tyler Shandro (Photo: Screenshot of Alberta Government video).

As for the premier’s statement that only repeat offenders would be prosecuted, Ms. Notley called it “a declaration that invites more non-compliance. … He’s just given people permission to offend at least once.”

Unlike the premier, Ms. Notley entertained questions from reporters, telling them it sounded as if Mr. Kenney and his advisors “are making it up on the fly.” It’s hard to dispute that assessment.

Former Wildrose Leader Brian Jean also got in brisk shot at Mr. Kenney. “When a politician rejects the people whose votes he campaigned for, it is always his fault and never theirs,” Mr. Jean said in a post on Facebook. “Albertans have lost confidence in you.

“Those who didn’t vote for you have concluded that you are even worse than they feared,” said the second-place finisher in the 2017 UCP leadership race, which was marred by accusations of cheating by Mr. Kenney’s supporters. “Those who did vote for you, know that you are not governing as they would have hoped.”

Judging from last night’s government news release, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Education Minister Adriana La Grange, and Justice Minister Kaycee Madu remain in the premier’s corner. Those three, along with Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw and the premier, will have yet another news conference this morning.

That will be the third in as many days, all on the same topic.