GUNTER: Kenney's new COVID-19 plan a shambles
It’s a cockup
Author of the article: Lorne Gunter
Publishing date:Sep 15, 2021 •
Author of the article: Anna Junker
Publishing date: Sep 18, 2021 •
Author of the article: Lorne Gunter
Publishing date:Sep 15, 2021 •
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.
PHOTO BY CHRIS SCHWARZ/GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA
There are slightly fewer restrictions than during Alberta’s previous lockdowns. And more exemptions.
But the balance is not intuitive. The approach is inconsistent.
Most people will find it impossible to figure out what is and isn’t allowed under the re-imposed restrictions. And that complexity and arbitrariness will make public compliance spotty.
I suspect the latest restrictions, announced late Wednesday by Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro and chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw will drive defections from the UCP caucus.
Defecting MLAs may even form a new party. And many members of the current party, even if they don’t leave, will stop donating, fundraising and volunteering.
There will also likely be a challenge to Kenney’s leadership. Several MLAs at an emergency caucus meeting on Wednesday are said to have demanded he resign now for the good of the party.
Those voices of discontent are only likely to grow for the next few weeks as these confusing, disjointed and unwelcome restrictions begin to take hold and Albertans struggle to abide by what is and isn’t allowed – and what is exempted.
A leadership challenge may even be successful. Yet even if it is unsuccessful, the internal disruption will harm the UCP’s chances of being re-elected in 2023.
Who knows, we may even be headed for another 2015 where the right-of-centre vote splits and the NDP are elected again in a three-way race. I’m just so thankful our daughter’s wedding was held 10 days ago rather than being scheduled for 10 days from now.
The ceremony was outdoors and under the 200-attendee limit of the new restrictions, but the reception was indoors and had nearly 150 guests. It was a sparkling occasion, but would be a no-no now.
I feel so sorry for other families who have been planning special celebrations for months. Some have already been postponed once or twice due to earlier lockdowns. And now the UCP government’s on-again, off-again approach is scuttling plans.
Again.
That’s the worst part of the UCP’s Open for Summer, oops, Closed for Fall approach.
The communications strategy around it has been awful.
Part of the new lockdown is a “restrictions exemption program.” It should be a highlight.
It allows vaccinated individuals and businesses that cater only to vaccinated individuals to avoid most of the new clampdown.
Recreational, retail, sporting and cultural events, “including restaurants, bars and indoor organized events” that require patrons to show vaccine passports or recent negative COVID tests could “operate as usual” and “immediately and without restriction serve any individual” who has been vaccinated, has a medical exemption from being vaccinated or has tested negative within 72 hours.
Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 25, proof of only one shot is enough. After Oct. 25, patrons have to be double vaxxed.
That’s a smart approach. Give people who have bothered to get vaccinated a reward. Allow them more freedom of movement.
This should encourage many more unvaccinated Albertans to step up and get their shots.
But there have been so many conflicting messages from the Kenney government, they have moved the goalposts so many times, they have badly damaged their credibility.
How will Albertans know whether they can trust the UCP the next time they declare the pandemic over?
So far we’ve been told the pandemic is over. Now were told it’s not.
Two weeks ago we were reassured a few weeks of masking and some early bar closings were all that was needed to stop the fourth wave. Now we’re all supposed to work from home again, indefinitely. (And I’ll bet Thanksgiving will be limited to just 10 vaccinated people.)
And no way, never, ever would there be passports. (Remember that declaration from the UCP?) Now passports are the key to semi-normal life.
It’s a cockup.
There are slightly fewer restrictions than during Alberta’s previous lockdowns. And more exemptions.
But the balance is not intuitive. The approach is inconsistent.
Most people will find it impossible to figure out what is and isn’t allowed under the re-imposed restrictions. And that complexity and arbitrariness will make public compliance spotty.
I suspect the latest restrictions, announced late Wednesday by Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro and chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw will drive defections from the UCP caucus.
Defecting MLAs may even form a new party. And many members of the current party, even if they don’t leave, will stop donating, fundraising and volunteering.
There will also likely be a challenge to Kenney’s leadership. Several MLAs at an emergency caucus meeting on Wednesday are said to have demanded he resign now for the good of the party.
Those voices of discontent are only likely to grow for the next few weeks as these confusing, disjointed and unwelcome restrictions begin to take hold and Albertans struggle to abide by what is and isn’t allowed – and what is exempted.
A leadership challenge may even be successful. Yet even if it is unsuccessful, the internal disruption will harm the UCP’s chances of being re-elected in 2023.
Who knows, we may even be headed for another 2015 where the right-of-centre vote splits and the NDP are elected again in a three-way race. I’m just so thankful our daughter’s wedding was held 10 days ago rather than being scheduled for 10 days from now.
The ceremony was outdoors and under the 200-attendee limit of the new restrictions, but the reception was indoors and had nearly 150 guests. It was a sparkling occasion, but would be a no-no now.
I feel so sorry for other families who have been planning special celebrations for months. Some have already been postponed once or twice due to earlier lockdowns. And now the UCP government’s on-again, off-again approach is scuttling plans.
Again.
That’s the worst part of the UCP’s Open for Summer, oops, Closed for Fall approach.
The communications strategy around it has been awful.
Part of the new lockdown is a “restrictions exemption program.” It should be a highlight.
It allows vaccinated individuals and businesses that cater only to vaccinated individuals to avoid most of the new clampdown.
Recreational, retail, sporting and cultural events, “including restaurants, bars and indoor organized events” that require patrons to show vaccine passports or recent negative COVID tests could “operate as usual” and “immediately and without restriction serve any individual” who has been vaccinated, has a medical exemption from being vaccinated or has tested negative within 72 hours.
Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 25, proof of only one shot is enough. After Oct. 25, patrons have to be double vaxxed.
That’s a smart approach. Give people who have bothered to get vaccinated a reward. Allow them more freedom of movement.
This should encourage many more unvaccinated Albertans to step up and get their shots.
But there have been so many conflicting messages from the Kenney government, they have moved the goalposts so many times, they have badly damaged their credibility.
How will Albertans know whether they can trust the UCP the next time they declare the pandemic over?
So far we’ve been told the pandemic is over. Now were told it’s not.
Two weeks ago we were reassured a few weeks of masking and some early bar closings were all that was needed to stop the fourth wave. Now we’re all supposed to work from home again, indefinitely. (And I’ll bet Thanksgiving will be limited to just 10 vaccinated people.)
And no way, never, ever would there be passports. (Remember that declaration from the UCP?) Now passports are the key to semi-normal life.
It’s a cockup.
Senior UCP member calls for early leadership review of Premier Jason Kenney
Author of the article: Anna Junker
Publishing date: Sep 18, 2021 •
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney during a news conference regarding the surging COVID cases in the province in Calgary on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
PHOTO BY AL CHAREST / POSTMEDIA
Article content
A senior United Conservative Party member has called for an emergency meeting to discuss an early leadership review of Premier Jason Kenney.
As first reported by the Western Standard, Joel Mullan, the party’s vice-president of policy, emailed the United Conservative Party board on Friday to discuss a review Kenney’s leadership.
When reached by phone Saturday, Mullan confirmed he wrote the email but declined to comment further, saying he is “not at liberty to discuss matters before the board.”
Political scientist Duane Bratt said this is a sign Kenney is in trouble, but he hasn’t realized it yet.
“I think Kenney thinks he can survive, but I’m not hearing much of that from other people, including conservatives who I have been talking to, they go, ‘He needs to step down for the good of the party.’ They’re just not willing to push him out.”
Kenney has been under fire from his own caucus this week after he announced sweeping new restrictions and a vaccine passport Wednesday night — two things the premier previously said he wouldn’t do. The measures include restrictions on indoor gatherings, businesses and events, with an option for businesses like restaurants and gyms to avoid restrictions if they require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.
Richard Gotfried, UCP MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said Wednesday he is “deeply apologetic” that he failed to convince the government to announce stronger public health restrictions sooner.
“Nothing was done while we lacked any leadership at the helm. It will cost us lives and I am gutted by the lack of responsiveness to unequivocal advocacy and clear warning signals,” he wrote replying to questions posted on Facebook.
In a Wednesday joint statement, former UCP MLAs Todd Loewen and Drew Barnes, sitting as Independents, called for Kenney‘s resignation.
With senior party membership indicating there should be a leadership review, Bratt said the UCP has realized they cannot go into an election with Kenney at the helm.
“They’re looking out for their own political survival,” Bratt said.
“I don’t think it matters if they change leaders, the UCP is still in trouble. But I think there’s enough UCPers that believe all they have to do is change leaders, the way it worked for the PC (Progressive Conservatives). They would change leaders, and they would just move on and win another election. I’m not sure this is the same circumstance.”
Currently, a leadership review for Kenney is scheduled to occur at the party’s Annual General Meeting in 2022.
Postmedia has reached out to Kenney’s office but has not received a comment.
— With files from Lisa Johnson
ajunker@postmedia.com
Article content
A senior United Conservative Party member has called for an emergency meeting to discuss an early leadership review of Premier Jason Kenney.
As first reported by the Western Standard, Joel Mullan, the party’s vice-president of policy, emailed the United Conservative Party board on Friday to discuss a review Kenney’s leadership.
When reached by phone Saturday, Mullan confirmed he wrote the email but declined to comment further, saying he is “not at liberty to discuss matters before the board.”
Political scientist Duane Bratt said this is a sign Kenney is in trouble, but he hasn’t realized it yet.
“I think Kenney thinks he can survive, but I’m not hearing much of that from other people, including conservatives who I have been talking to, they go, ‘He needs to step down for the good of the party.’ They’re just not willing to push him out.”
Kenney has been under fire from his own caucus this week after he announced sweeping new restrictions and a vaccine passport Wednesday night — two things the premier previously said he wouldn’t do. The measures include restrictions on indoor gatherings, businesses and events, with an option for businesses like restaurants and gyms to avoid restrictions if they require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.
Richard Gotfried, UCP MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said Wednesday he is “deeply apologetic” that he failed to convince the government to announce stronger public health restrictions sooner.
“Nothing was done while we lacked any leadership at the helm. It will cost us lives and I am gutted by the lack of responsiveness to unequivocal advocacy and clear warning signals,” he wrote replying to questions posted on Facebook.
In a Wednesday joint statement, former UCP MLAs Todd Loewen and Drew Barnes, sitting as Independents, called for Kenney‘s resignation.
With senior party membership indicating there should be a leadership review, Bratt said the UCP has realized they cannot go into an election with Kenney at the helm.
“They’re looking out for their own political survival,” Bratt said.
“I don’t think it matters if they change leaders, the UCP is still in trouble. But I think there’s enough UCPers that believe all they have to do is change leaders, the way it worked for the PC (Progressive Conservatives). They would change leaders, and they would just move on and win another election. I’m not sure this is the same circumstance.”
Currently, a leadership review for Kenney is scheduled to occur at the party’s Annual General Meeting in 2022.
Postmedia has reached out to Kenney’s office but has not received a comment.
— With files from Lisa Johnson
ajunker@postmedia.com
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