EDMONTON — Alberta's Opposition NDP is calling for Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard to step down over reports she took a vacation to Hawaii despite public-health recommendations against unnecessary travel.
© Provided by The Canadian Press
NDP municipal affairs critic Joe Ceci says Allard vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays to avoid getting COVID-19.
CBC News is reporting that Allard was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation and returned home on Wednesday.
Allard's press secretary and a spokeswoman for Premier Jason Kenney did not respond to phone calls or emails requesting comment.
The NDP says the United Conservative government should release how many of its caucus members have left the country since the Alberta legislature rose earlier this month.
Ceci notes that Allard is responsible for emergency management and her deputy minister is in charge of the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in the province.
"She vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays, following strict public health orders and separated from family and friends while waiting on the vaccine," Ceci said Thursday in a release.
"This goes beyond just a member of the government caucus or a member of the government cabinet — Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2020
NDP municipal affairs critic Joe Ceci says Allard vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays to avoid getting COVID-19.
CBC News is reporting that Allard was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation and returned home on Wednesday.
Allard's press secretary and a spokeswoman for Premier Jason Kenney did not respond to phone calls or emails requesting comment.
The NDP says the United Conservative government should release how many of its caucus members have left the country since the Alberta legislature rose earlier this month.
Ceci notes that Allard is responsible for emergency management and her deputy minister is in charge of the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in the province.
"She vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays, following strict public health orders and separated from family and friends while waiting on the vaccine," Ceci said Thursday in a release.
"This goes beyond just a member of the government caucus or a member of the government cabinet — Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2020
Feds Say International Travel Is A Bad Idea Right Now & There Are So Many Reasons Why
© Hamzeh Shatnawi | Dreamstime, aircanada | Instagram
Now is not the time for vacations abroad! That was the message coming from the federal government this week, as they reminded Canadians that non-essential travel outside Canada is still a bad idea.
On December 29, the Government of Canada shared a new statement that confirmed an international travel advisory remained in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The best way to protect yourself, your family and those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in our communities is to choose to stay in Canada.
Government of Canada
As well as warning travellers that they may struggle to return home if they choose to leave the country, the feds also reminded Canadians that vacation plans “may be severely disrupted.”
“It's important to remember that if you choose to travel abroad your trip may become much longer than you planned,” reads a Government of Canada notice.
The statement also warns that Canadian travellers abroad may have reduced access to quality health care and could be subject to the measures of other countries.
In addition, many countries have travel or border restrictions in place right now, including quarantines.
The message explains that “these restrictions are changing quickly and may be imposed by countries with little warning.”
In a press conference earlier this month, Canada’s top doctor Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledged that many people have been “dreaming” of vacations.
However, she reiterated that the best way to keep Canadians and their families safe is to avoid any non-essential travel, particularly abroad.
Now is not the time for vacations abroad! That was the message coming from the federal government this week, as they reminded Canadians that non-essential travel outside Canada is still a bad idea.
On December 29, the Government of Canada shared a new statement that confirmed an international travel advisory remained in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The best way to protect yourself, your family and those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in our communities is to choose to stay in Canada.
Government of Canada
As well as warning travellers that they may struggle to return home if they choose to leave the country, the feds also reminded Canadians that vacation plans “may be severely disrupted.”
“It's important to remember that if you choose to travel abroad your trip may become much longer than you planned,” reads a Government of Canada notice.
The statement also warns that Canadian travellers abroad may have reduced access to quality health care and could be subject to the measures of other countries.
In addition, many countries have travel or border restrictions in place right now, including quarantines.
The message explains that “these restrictions are changing quickly and may be imposed by countries with little warning.”
In a press conference earlier this month, Canada’s top doctor Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledged that many people have been “dreaming” of vacations.
However, she reiterated that the best way to keep Canadians and their families safe is to avoid any non-essential travel, particularly abroad.
820 Comments
© Paul Taillon/Office of the Premier Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard speaks at a news conference on Dec. 15. CBC News has learned that Allard took a vacation in Hawaii this month.
CBC News has learned that Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard spent time in Hawaii this month on a family vacation, despite direction from both the federal and provincial governments to avoid non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allard's press secretary, Justin Marshall, did not respond to repeated requests for clarification on whether she had been out of the country this month.
Marshall would only say that the minister is now home in Grande Prairie, "mostly relaxing but with some work, too."
CBC News has confirmed with sources that the United Conservative Party MLA, who was appointed to the senior cabinet position in August, was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation. Sources indicate she returned home on Wednesday. CBC News has not confirmed the exact dates of the trip or where in Hawaii Allard was staying.
Allard tested positive for COVID-19 in late October, but she has since recovered.
CBC News has learned that Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard spent time in Hawaii this month on a family vacation, despite direction from both the federal and provincial governments to avoid non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allard's press secretary, Justin Marshall, did not respond to repeated requests for clarification on whether she had been out of the country this month.
Marshall would only say that the minister is now home in Grande Prairie, "mostly relaxing but with some work, too."
CBC News has confirmed with sources that the United Conservative Party MLA, who was appointed to the senior cabinet position in August, was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation. Sources indicate she returned home on Wednesday. CBC News has not confirmed the exact dates of the trip or where in Hawaii Allard was staying.
Allard tested positive for COVID-19 in late October, but she has since recovered.
Consider optics of vacations, pollster warns
Calgary political commentator and pollster Janet Brown said the stakes are very high in the current political climate, following the resignation of Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips after he took a Caribbean vacation while the province was under strict lockdown measures and discouraging non-essential travel.
"People were asked to make some very tough decisions this holiday season," Brown said.
"Most Albertans rose to the challenge and made the tough decisions. So it's very hard for them to watch people, people of privilege, do things that they opted not to do. Do things that were not even in their capacity to do."
Brown described Allard's decision to leave the country as a poor choice.
© CBC Janet Brown is a Calgary-based pollster and political commentator.
"I think all ministers should have stayed home," she said. "It was the right thing to do from a public health point of view, and it was the right thing to do from a political point of view as well."
Brown said every elected official needs to consider the optics of vacationing during the pandemic.
"The government's website says quite clearly to avoid non-essential travel," she said. "It doesn't really matter what position you hold in the government. These were decisions that are not going to be looked [upon] fondly by constituents, no matter what your position is."
Global Affairs Canada has advised Canadians against non-essential travel out of the country until further notice. The Alberta government's COVID-19 travel restrictions page restates the federal advisory against non-essential travel.
All international travellers must isolate for 14 days upon returning to the province unless they are participating in the international border testing pilot.
Despite the advisories, Canadians can travel to Hawaii without quarantining, so long as they show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
"I think all ministers should have stayed home," she said. "It was the right thing to do from a public health point of view, and it was the right thing to do from a political point of view as well."
Brown said every elected official needs to consider the optics of vacationing during the pandemic.
"The government's website says quite clearly to avoid non-essential travel," she said. "It doesn't really matter what position you hold in the government. These were decisions that are not going to be looked [upon] fondly by constituents, no matter what your position is."
Global Affairs Canada has advised Canadians against non-essential travel out of the country until further notice. The Alberta government's COVID-19 travel restrictions page restates the federal advisory against non-essential travel.
All international travellers must isolate for 14 days upon returning to the province unless they are participating in the international border testing pilot.
Despite the advisories, Canadians can travel to Hawaii without quarantining, so long as they show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
NDP calls for minister to resign
The NDP Opposition issued a news release Thursday night calling for the minister to resign.
"Serious mistakes have been made with our only long-term weapon against the COVID-19 virus and it turns out the minister responsible for the rollout of the program was vacationing in Hawaii," said NDP municipal affairs critic Joe Ceci in the release.
"She vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays, following strict public health orders and separated from family and friends while waiting on the vaccine.
"This goes beyond just a member of the government caucus or a member of the government cabinet — Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately."
Most Alberta politicians remained in the province
On Wednesday and Thursday, CBC News contacted the press secretaries for the premier and all cabinet ministers, along with the director of communications for the UCP caucus.
Most have confirmed the politicians remained in Alberta during the holiday season. One even provided a video of Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen in his constituency setting up an ice rink.
"The minister has been in his constituency and hauling grain over the holidays," Dreeshen's press secretary, Justin Laurence, wrote in an email.
Sources tell CBC News that prior to the Christmas break, Premier Jason Kenney advised his caucus to remain in Alberta for the holidays.
The premier's press secretary, Christine Myatt, did not respond to repeated requests for comment from CBC News. Myatt also did not acknowledge texts, emails or phone messages left over two days.
No comments:
Post a Comment