Friday, September 03, 2021

 

Kenney's vacation is over, but his political troubles aren't

Premier is back in the office but questions linger about his 23-day absence

Graham Thomson · For CBC Opinion · 
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks at a news conference Aug. 9 in Edmonton. (Janet French/CBC)
This column is an opinion from Graham Thomson, an award-winning journalist who
has covered Alberta politics for more than 30 years.

OK, now what?

Now that Premier Jason Kenney has poked his head over the ramparts via a Facebook live appearance Wednesday night, what will he do about the worrying fourth wave of COVID?

Other than trying to gaslight us as he did during his Facebook performance where he suggested it was no big deal that he hadn't been seen for 23 days as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in Alberta and Justin Trudeau called a federal election.

"I don't think people taking a bit of personal time should be a political football," said Kenney who explained he was simply on vacation. His critics, though, say he was in hiding.

There's no reason, I suppose, why he couldn't be doing both: vacationing and hiding.

Depending on where he went, it might have been a staycation. But then again, since we don't know much about his trip, call it an obfuscation. Or considering he left no one to answer questions in person about the fourth wave, call it an abdication.

That he chose to avoid the federal election is not in itself a mystery. Down-in-the-polls Kenney has become so politically toxic that if the United Conservative premier turned up on the campaign trail, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole would have to wear a hazmat suit.

And then there's pandemic. In June, Kenney promised Albertans the "best summer ever" after he announced the province would be dropping pandemic restrictions July 1 and reopening the province "for good."

The delta variant apparently didn't get the memo. Alberta has seen COVID-19 explode to the point the province is averaging 1,000 new cases a day, where Alberta Health Services is postponing surgeries to free beds up for COVID-19 patients, where the City of Edmonton is re-invoking a mandatory mask mandate for public spaces, and where several other provinces – with fewer cases than Alberta – are introducing vaccine passports.

Perhaps Kenney went on vacation to avoid explaining why he prematurely promised Albertans the best summer as he rushed to lift pandemic restrictions July 1.

Albert Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney unveil an opening sign after speaking about the Open for Summer Plan and next steps in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, in Edmonton, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

It now seems the province is on track to deliver the worst Autumn ever where experts with British Columbia's COVID-19 Modelling Group are warning that in October, Alberta could see 6,000 people a day contract the virus, with 1,500 in hospital and 500 of those in ICU.

That's a worst-case scenario but it's a scenario that doesn't seem to frighten the government.

'Wasn't unexpected'

On Tuesday, while delivering optimistic news about the province's finances, Finance Minister Travis Toews suggested the government has not been caught off guard by the current numbers: "We're in the fourth wave at this present time and the delta variant is very contagious, cases are going up. That wasn't unexpected at this point in time."

Not "unexpected"? Yet, as the numbers grew, the premier went on vacation while Health Minister Tyler Shandro and the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, communicated with the public via tweets. 

I'm not one for conspiracy theories but you have to wonder if critics of the government are on to something when they argue Kenney wants the delta variant to burn itself out by ripping through the unvaccinated.

Lending credence to this theory are comments from the government's caucus chair Nathan Neudorf who, in an interview last week, seemed to suggest he expected and wanted COVID-19 cases to escalate among the unvaccinated and then quickly drop off as the virus has nowhere else to go – as it did, he said, in the United Kingdom.

Except that in the U.K. the numbers quickly began to rise again. 

After facing a public backlash, Neudorf said he was only speaking for himself, not the government, and was hoping cases would simply level off quickly. But his initial comments would certainly help explain why Kenney and others in government disappeared from public view in the last half of August. They were hoping the case numbers, after suddenly spiking, would suddenly drop.

But they keep rising.

After 18 months of COVID-19 during which Kenney's popularity dropped from 60 per cent to 31 per cent he is still caught between urban voters who want more restrictions and rural voters who want fewer or no restrictions.

"If indeed we do see this wave jeopardizing the health-care system, we may have to take some very targeted actions but nothing like lockdowns," Kenney said Wednesday night in an equivocating comment sure to irritate people on both sides of the issue.

Kenney mentioned that Shandro and Hinshaw would hold a news conference later this week. They didn't do that Thursday. So, expect them to face journalists Friday — on the eve of a long weekend, the favoured time for governments to release bad news and then head to the hills.

That won't be a problem for Alberta government politicians and officials who have had plenty of practice the past three weeks running for the hills.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham Thomson

Graham Thomson is an award-winning journalist who has covered Alberta politics for more than 30 years, much of it as an outspoken columnist for the Edmonton Journal. Nowadays you can find his thoughts and analysis on provincial politics Fridays at cbc.ca/edmonton, on CBC Edmonton Television News, during Radio Active on CBC Radio One (93.9FM/740AM) and on Twitter at @gthomsonink.

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'Your life in Alberta is only worth $100': Canadians furious after Alberta''s promise to pay unvaccinated residents to take the shot
Elisabetta Bianchini
Fri., September 3, 2021,

Adults in Alberta who haven't been fully vaccinated yet have now been given an incentive to do so with the provincial government announcing that it is offering $100 to anyone who receives a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine between Sept. 3 and Oct. 14.

A total of 80 per cent of the COVID-19 cases not in hospital ICUs are unvaccinated and over 91 per cent in ICU are unvaccinated.

"For the love for God, please get vaccinated," Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said. "These numbers say it better than anybody every could."

"The reality is that we as a government don't get to choose how the virus behaves or how many people choose to protect themselves against it. We just have to find a way of limiting the damage that it causes, especially to our healthcare system."

In order to receive $100 after vaccination, each eligible Albertan can register online to have their immunization data validated. This website will be available starting on Sept. 13 and individuals who do not have access to a computer can contact 310-0000 for assistance on that same date.


When questioned about why the provincial government is compensating people who have "held out" to get a COVID-19 vaccine, when they're the people driving the pandemic situation in the province, Kenney defended the provincial government's approach.

"I wish we didn't have to do this but this is not a time for moral judgement, this is a time to get people vaccinated," Kenney said. "We have done everything we can, left no stone unturned, made it as easy as possible...and yet we have the lowest vaccination rate in Canada, we are about five percentage points below the Canadian average."

"If the choice is between a sustained crisis in our hospitals or, God forbid, widespread restrictions, which I want to avoid at all costs, or finding some way to get the attention of those vaccine latecomers, we're going to choose the latter."

Kenney went on to say that "remove some of the barriers" to vaccination for lower income groups in the province.

"Imagine that you might be a very low-income person, living in a remote area, who can't afford the gas to drive into town to get the shot, this will cover you," the premier said. "Maybe you're a very low-income person who can't afford a taxi to go to the local pharmacy, what have you, and you're not aware of the free ride shares that we're offering, this will give you that little bit of help."

"I think this may also help to reduce barriers for some of the folks who might be facing barriers because of lower income status."

Several people have taken to social media to comment on Alberta's decision to provide $100 to individuals who have yet to be fully vaccinated, if they come forward and do so.
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'THE PREMIER HAS FAILED AGAIN,' SAYS NOTLEY
Notley, Phillips blast new COVID measures, advocate for vaccine passports

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Sep 3, 2021 | 4:34 PM


LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two prominent members of Alberta’s NDP are calling out Premier Jason Kenney and his announcements of new COVID-19 restrictions.

On Friday, Kenney announced the return of a face mask mandate, the early closure of liquor service, and a $100 incentive program for currently-unvaccinated Albertans to get their shots.

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips were originally set to use a press conference at the Galt Museum to talk about a policy proposal aimed at protecting the Rocky Mountains from coal mining developments but felt this issue took precedence.

Notley says she was encouraged in the late spring and early summer when COVID-19 cases were dropping and more Albertans were getting immunized but believes that things have since gone in the opposite direction.


“After all the hard work and sacrifices Albertans have made, it is clear that Jason Kenney’s incompetence and inactions have erased this progresses, and now, we will go backwards: backwards to curfews, to restrictions, to masking for everyone, even those of us who have been vaccinated.”

The two took an especially sharp aim at the vaccine incentivization program.

According to the leader of the official opposition, Albertans who have chosen to not get vaccinated are hearing the message from the premier that they do not have to do their part until they get paid.

“The premier has failed again. He has brought Alberta to a place of imminent danger to our healthcare system. Jason Kenney is choosing to pay the angry mobs who are literally protesting outside of our hospitals, blocking ambulances, while cutting the wages of the nurses who are working inside of them.”

Notley remains optimistic that the reinstatement of a province-wide face mask mandate will help to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases somewhat, but she is concerned that the same is not true for schools.

Phillips says she has heard from many parents, including those in Lethbridge, that they are worried that some school districts in the province are not requiring staff or students to remain masked.

“I have heard from parents who are anxious – and they’re not the type of parents who normally are anxious – but they don’t know what to believe anymore, who to trust, and certainly, some school communities are doing really really well with, essentially, keeping the exact same situation they had last year. At some other school communities, because it’s not across the board, parents have questions, and just that lack of confidence coming from parents is something that I’ve heard a lot about since the first day of school.”

The NDP is pushing for what Notley calls a “simple, secure, and scannable vaccine passport” that would be mandatory for all non-essential businesses.

Under this proposal, in places like restaurants and entertainment centres, only those who are vaccinated would be able to attend. Grocery stores, hardware stores, and others would require people who are unvaccinated to wear a face mask.

She believes that this would allow people to go about their lives with minimal disruptions while keeping people safe.

While other provinces have instituted vaccine passport systems, there are currently none in Alberta.

A Canada-wide poll from Leger suggests that the majority of Canadians “strongly support” vaccine passports, but a survey from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce shows that two-thirds of business owners and operators are against the idea.


by David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

THE UCP SAYS THEY AREN’T, BUT HERE’S WHY VACCINE PASSPORTS ARE COMING TO ALBERTA


UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA INFECTIOUS DISEASES SPECIALIST DR. LYNORA SAXINGER (PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA).

Alberta Politics

DAVID CLIMENHAGA
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 03, 2021, 

Vaccine passports are coming to Alberta.

Not just yet, but they’ll be along soon enough.



Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (Photo: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr).

Not because they make sense. Opposition Leader Rachel Notley laid out that case pretty clearly yesterday: during a pandemic like the fourth wave of COVID-19 now battering our province, they can protect people, hospitals and the provincial economy.

“By providing Albertans with easy and secure access to their immunization records while establishing a verification standard for public settings, Albertans who are vaccinated can protect their neighbours and continue to do the things they love to do,” Ms. Notley explained.

Obviously, though, Jason Kenney’s government is pretty much impervious to that kind of reasoning. Even if they weren’t, the fact the NDP said it would make it pretty hard for them to adopt.

By now so many members of cabinet and the United Conservative Party Caucus have said so many times that Alberta will never adopt vaccine passports – because freedom! – that it would be pretty painful for them to walk it back.

Freedom, in this case, means freedom for anti-vaxxers, COVID deniers and great big grown-up men who are afraid of little tiny needles – and are willing to make their neighbours sick, and kill some of them, to have their way now that they’ve made defying common sense public health measures into a new front in the culture wars.

But certainly not freedom for the vast majority of Albertans who would actually like to get this pandemic behind us without killing a whole bunch of our friends, relatives and neighbours.


And not, as Ms. Notley argued, because other provinces are all going to adopt it, meaning Albertans would be the only fully vaccinated Canadians to have difficulty travelling to other parts of Canada, let alone abroad. In fact, one suspects the UCP would rather like the idea of making the rest of us stay at home with their anti-vaxx, anti-mask, anti-science base.


Former Alberta premier Rachel Notley, now the leader of the NDP Opposition (Photo: David J. Climenhaga).

None of that. The reason is because if the Kenney Government can’t put the pandemic behind us, it represents an existential threat. Not to Alberta, of course – although certainly to some Albertans. But to the United Conservative Party – as a government, and quite possibly as an entity.

Whether they like it or not, vaccine certification and the discipline it imposes on a vaccine-skeptical population is a key tool in suppressing this difficult and highly infectious disease. Ontario said yesterday that vaccination appointments doubled as soon as it announced it would be bringing in vaccine passports later this month for restaurants, theatres and gyms.

If Mr. Kenney and his cabinet cohorts stick to their guns and ensure we never are allowed to have access to one of the tools that will make our lives easier while it helps reduce the threat of COVID-19, it is going to end in tears, for them.

Here’s why:

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist in the Medicine Faculty at the University of Alberta, did some back-of-the-envelope calculations on Twitter about the rate at which the virus is now spreading in Alberta and the implications of that.

Now, I’m not an infectious disease expert, but I am going to assume she knows what she’s talking about, even if her forecasts are imperfect in the event the UCP sticks to the plan described by Caucus Chair Nathan Neudorf the other day. To wit, allow basically everyone who still isn’t vaccinated to be infected and thereby achieve herd immunity.

Postmedia political columnist Rick Bell (Photo: David J. Climenhaga).

Here’s the money quote from Dr. Saxinger: “How long before COVID ‘runs out’ of victims here? Quick n very dirty math perhaps 2 years 8 months at our current ball park 1000 cases daily. (During which the health care system would be incapacitated and little non COVID care would be viable.)”

Meanwhile, despite the pandemic, the political clock continues to run in Alberta.

Technically, an election needs to take place between March 1 and May 31, 2023 – although Premier Kenney could call it sooner, if he saw an opportunity to defeat the Opposition, which now leads in the polls. The latest an election can be held under the rules of the Canadian Constitution is April 2024.

Since according to Dr. Saxinger’s quick-and-dirty arithmetic, the pandemic could still be continuing in this province until the spring of 2024, that leaves the UCP no time between now and then it can declare the pandemic over and then call an election.

If the pandemic is still in progress when the election is called, most observers would agree the UCP is done for, and Mr. Kenney will probably go down in history as the worst Canadian premier ever.

Dr. Saxinger and others like her could be wrong about the timing, they could be wrong about the future infectiousness of COVID-19, or they could be wrong about everything. But can the UCP afford to take the chance?

Even Rick Bell, the premier’s favourite political columnist, basically agrees with this analysis.

“A lockdown would finish off the Kenney government,” the Postmedia political commentator wrote yesterday. “They know that and they say they aren’t going there. They’ve also (said) 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?”

It must have pained Mr. Bell to write that. And upset Mr. Kenney. I admire Mr. Bell’s fortitude. But he’s basically right.

Which is why the UCP will bring in a vaccine passport eventually – although they won’t call it that.

They’ll also have to bring back tougher measures – more masking, more restrictions. So much for “open for good.” Mr. Kenney will insist it’s not a lockdown, and he’ll likely be right. When it comes to public health, the man’s the master of half measures.

Either that or he won’t. If they bet that experts like Dr. Saxinger are wrong, and it turns out they’re not, history will say the UCP burned up on re-entry.

There were 1,399 new COVID-19 cases reported in Alberta yesterday, bringing the active case total to 12,868 – the highest number in both categories in Canada. The positivity rate was 10.8 per cent.


NDP calls for vaccine 'verification' plan as province reaches 70 per cent mark

Author of the article: Dylan Short
Publishing date:Sep 02, 2021 
NDP leader Rachel Notley shows off her plan for a vaccine passport at a press conference in Calgary on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. 
PHOTO BY SUPPLIED

Seventy per cent of eligible Albertans are now fully vaccinated, the province announced as 1,339 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded Thursday.

The milestone was announced Thursday afternoon, with 2.6 million Albertans having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, a total of 78.2 per cent of people 12 years of age or older in the province have received at least one dose. Meanwhile, more than 1.1 million people have not received any COVID-19 vaccine, a number that includes children under the age of 12, who are not yet eligible.

Alberta continues to lag behind other populous provinces in vaccinations. In Ontario, 77 per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated, while 79 per cent of eligible people in Quebec have had two jabs.

Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro and chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw once again urged Albertans to get their vaccinations in an emailed statement Thursday.

“The best way to protect all Albertans from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. It is up to each and every one of us to do all we can to prevent the spread of this virus,” said Kenney. “Getting vaccinated with two doses is not only the right thing to do, but it protects the people, livelihoods and communities we care about.”

Meanwhile, the official Opposition NDP called on Kenney and his government to implement a vaccine mandate in the province that would see people needing to provide proof of vaccination to enter non-essential public spaces. Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said her party is proposing a secure and easily scanned proof of vaccination that would be needed to enter restaurants, bars, concert venues, sporting events and other large gathering sites.

“Let’s be clear, vaccine verification is coming to Alberta,” said Notley, speaking outside McMahon Stadium. “In just a few weeks, if you want to watch an NHL game in person, you will have to show proof.” Many professional sports organizations have decided to implement mandatory vaccination rules on their own.

Notley also noted that several large Alberta employers are requiring vaccinations. The federal government has also said that proof of vaccination will be needed to fly domestically or internationally this fall. Alberta Health Services announced earlier this week its employees will need to be vaccinated.

“This is coming and if we don’t act now, I fear we will reach a place where Albertans will be scrambling to catch up with the rest of the world and our health care and our economy will have been needlessly injured in the process,” said Notley.

Kenney and other provincial leaders have previously stated they are not in favour of mandating proof of vaccination. Shandro announced recently Albertans will have access to a convenient-sized card showing their vaccination status, but stated there would be no mandated vaccine passports in the province.

Ontario announced a vaccine requirement Wednesday while British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba have all previously introduced similar policies. Christine Elliott, deputy premier and health minister of Ontario, announced on Twitter Thursday that the number of people signing up to get vaccinated in that province doubled in the 24 hours after the province announced its vaccine mandate.

Quebec and British Columbia have reported similar increases in the wake of their policy announcements.

On Thursday, as Alberta recorded 1,339 new cases of COVID-19, it brought the number of active cases up to 12,868.

There are 487 people being treated for the illness in hospital, including 114 of whom are in intensive care units. The province reported five new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities with COVID-19 as a contributing factor to 2,388.

Of those patients in hospital, 79 per cent are unvaccinated, three per cent are partially vaccinated and 17 per cent are fully vaccinated. There are 2.9 million people in the province who are fully vaccinated, compared to about 300,000 who have only had one shot.

Unvaccinated people account for 71.8 per cent of all active cases in Alberta, according to provincial numbers.

The province also announced Thursday night Calgarian Amie Gee has won the second of three $1-million prizes for receiving her vaccinations. A news release said her name was drawn from 1.85 million entries. There were also 42 winners for a suite of travel-related prizes.

The third $1-million draw in the vaccination lottery will take place this month, with registrations closing on Sept. 23.

dshort@postmedia.com
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Calgary woman becomes second $1M winner in Alberta's vaccine lottery
Elle McLean
Sep 3 2021, 

Premier Jason Kenney (Alberta Newsroom/Flickr)

A woman from Calgary is $1 million richer after being awarded one of the top prizes in Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine lottery.

The Open for Summer Lottery includes a total of three $1 million draws, 42 travel-related packages, 635 Calgary Stampede prizes, and 15 sports-related packages.

The first $1 million prize and the Calgary Stampede packages were drawn for on July 1, while the second draw took place earlier this week.

The second of the three $1 million dollar prizes has been awarded to Amie Gee of Calgary. Gee’s name was drawn from over 1.85 million entries in the Open for Summer Lottery. Along with the prize money, Gee earned herself a personal call from Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

In addition to Gee’s big win, 42 other Albertans became the recipients of travel-related prizes this week, with packages from Air Canada, WestJet, the Rocky Mountaineer, and Juniper Hotel in Banff.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate getting vaccinated by planning a fantastic trip, and thanks to our corporate partners at WestJet, Air Canada, and Rocky Mountaineer, there are now over 40 Albertans who are planning to do just that,” said Premier Kenney in a media release.


“Congratulations to Amie, and all of the other winners,” he continued. “I encourage Albertans who haven’t gotten their second dose to do so as soon as possible to qualify for the final draw at the end of September!”

For Albertans who have had both doses of the vaccine, there are two final Open for Summer Lottery draws in September.

One draw is for the third $1 million prize, and Albertans aged 18 and over who register for the lottery and receive two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 23 will be eligible to win. This includes Albertans who were vaccinated outside of the province. Anyone who registered for the first two draws is automatically entered for the third draw, and does not need to re-register.

The other draw will award winners in the Outdoor Adventure Vaccine Lottery, with a number of prizes up for grabs, including a lifetime hunting license, Alberta Parks camping experiences, Canmore Nordic Centre season ski passes, and more.

Alberta residents wishing to be included in this draw must register separately by 11:59 pm on September 9. Winners for this lottery are scheduled to be announced on September 17.

To date, 78.2% of eligible Albertans have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including 70% who are now fully immunized with two doses.
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Alberta reinstates mask mandate and liquor curfew, implements financial incentive for unvaccinated amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Starting Saturday, masks will be required in indoor spaces and licensed establishments will need to end liquor sales at 10 p.m.


Author of the article: Ashley Joannou, Lisa Johnson
Publishing date: Sep 03, 2021 • 
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney urged unvaccinated Albertans to get the shot at Friday's news conference, announcing those who do will receive $100 gift cards.
 PHOTO BY CHRIS SCHWARZ/GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA

Alberta is mandating masks in indoor public spaces, setting a curfew on liquor sales and offering $100 to unvaccinated people who get the COVID-19 vaccine, all in an effort to stem a fourth-wave surge.


IT'S  NOT $100 CASH IT'S A FRIGGEN GIFT CARD. THEY OFFERED A MILLION EARLIER
IN FACT SOMEONE WON THAT LOTTERY YESTERDAY.

Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw and Alberta Health Services CEO Dr. Verna Yiu announced the measures Friday, saying the spread of the virus, particularly among unvaccinated Albertans, is putting pressure on the health-care system.

Intensive care unit capacity is currently at 95 per cent provincewide and 97 per cent in Edmonton.

“It is clear that we are at risk of exceeding our province’s ICU capacity if we do not make changes to our approach now,” Hinshaw said.

Starting Saturday at 8 a.m., masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces and workplaces, however schools will continue to follow rules set by boards.

Also starting Saturday, restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other licensed establishments will be required to end alcohol service at 10 p.m.


The officials said the measures would be temporary but did not give a date for when they expect to lift them.

A one-time incentive of a $100 gift card will be available for all Albertans age 18 or older who receive a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine between Sept. 3 and Oct. 14.

When asked about the message the incentive sends to those who are already fully immunized, Kenney said the government was leaving “no stone left unturned.”

“I wish we didn’t have to do this, but this is not a time for moral judgements – this is a time to get people vaccinated. We have done everything we can,” Kenney claimed, pointing to previous vaccination efforts.

“If you just haven’t gotten around to it, for the love of God please get vaccinated now – and if you do, we will pay you $100.”

The premier estimated the gift cards would cost $20 million.

Kenney defended his government’s decision to implement less aggressive restrictions than during previous waves by saying the province was dealing with a smaller population of unvaccinated people.

But he acknowledged that Alberta’s vaccination rates are about five percentage points below the Canadian average.

“That is why we’re getting hit harder. If the choice is between a sustained crisis in our hospitals or, God forbid, widespread restrictions, which I want to avoid at all costs, or finding some way to get the attention of those vaccine latecomers, we’re going to choose the latter,” said Kenney.

Just over seventy per cent of Albertans 12 and older have received both of their doses of vaccine, and 78.3 per cent have received at least one dose.

Officials are also recommending that unvaccinated Albertans limit indoor social gatherings to close contacts of only two cohort families, up to a maximum of 10 people.
Modelling released

Friday was the first time Kenney, Hinshaw and Shandro addressed the media in weeks, during which COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the province have skyrocketed. Alberta now leads the country in per capita cases.

On Aug. 9, when Kenney had last appeared, the province reported 244 new cases, 129 hospitalizations and 26 patients in the ICU.

On Friday, Alberta reported 1,401 new cases, its highest daily count since May 13, 515 hospitalizations and 118 in intensive care.

Modelling released Friday shows Alberta could meet or exceed ICU peaks seen during previous waves. As a result, AHS is cancelling non-essential surgeries across all five medical zones in the province. Up to 50 per cent of procedures in Edmonton will be affected.

Routine COVID-19 testing and mandatory isolation requirements were supposed to end Sept. 27, but it is unclear if that is still the plan.
Support for vaccine passports

Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba have rolled out or announced vaccine passports, which require proof of immunization in order to access non-essential businesses – a move Kenney has vehemently rejected.

Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the Premier’s decision to implement restrictions instead of passports will slow the province’s economic recovery.

“The premier says he is leaving no stone unturned. That is a lie,” said Notley at an afternoon press conference.

Dr. Noel Gibney, co-chair of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association’s pandemic committee, doesn’t think the measures are enough and was disappointed they didn’t include a vaccine passport program.

“They’ve been begging people to get vaccinated for months. That isn’t working….If you can’t get people to do it by request, then you have to make it difficult for them if they don’t do it,” he said.

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jeffrey Sundquist said businesses are now paying the price for those who’ve chosen to remain unvaccinated.

“Restricting what they can sell at certain times of the day has an impact on their bottom line,” he said.

Katy Ingraham, spokeswoman for the Canadian Restaurant Workers Coalition, said the curfew will also be devastating for workers who will see their hours cut.

“They’re having the rug ripped out from under them in terms of income they could have anticipated this weekend,” said Ingraham.

“This is just a huge slap in the face to many overworked hospitality workers who are doing their best in an increasingly dangerous environment.”

Ingraham said she is seeking a government exemption to the curfew for her restaurant Fleisch Delikatessen, because it already requires proof of vaccination from patrons to dine indoors.

Without vaccine passports, Gibney foresees more restrictions like reducing capacity limits in stores or ending indoor dining.

“Because they haven’t dealt with this properly, it is the inevitable thing that will happen,” he said.

Seventy-seven per cent of Albertans who responded to a Leger poll released this week said they either somewhat or strongly supported vaccine passports, although 20 per cent of strongly opposed them – the highest rate among provinces.
City reviewing office plan

Meanwhile, the government is asking employers to pause return-to-office plans.

All City of Edmonton employees were to go back as of Sept. 20, a plan acting city manager Stephanie McCabe said will now be reviewed.

Edmonton’s mask bylaw was reinstated Friday morning after being deactivated since July 1. The province’s mandate will take effect over the city’s, but peace officers will still be able to enforce and issue $100 fines for violations.

With files from Dustin Cook

Alberta announces $100 gift card incentive to get holdouts vaccinated as cases surge


Fri., September 3, 2021, 



EDMONTON — Premier Jason Kenney, two months after declaring victory over COVID-19, is offering $100 to Albertans who aren't vaccinated to try to curb nation-leading cases of the illness that have again pushed the province's hospitals to the brink.

Kenney said 70 per cent of eligible Albertans are fully vaccinated, and 78 per cent have had one shot, but immunization rates are stalling and the unvaccinated are swamping hospital beds.

He defended the $100 payout — to those over 18 who get their first or second vaccine doses — against accusations it's unfair to those who already are fully vaccinated.

"I wish we didn't have to do this, but this is not a time for moral judgments. This is a time to get people vaccinated," Kenney said Friday in Calgary.

He noted past incentives, including three $1-million lotteries, have not adequately moved the vaccination needle.

"We have left no stone unturned and yet we have the lowest vaccination rate in Canada," Kenney said.

"I’m much more concerned about protecting our hospitals than I am about some abstract message that this ($100) sends."

The government is also bringing back a provincewide mask mandate for all indoor public spaces and workplaces, except in classrooms, where decisions are up to school boards.

Licensed bars, restaurants and pubs must stop alcohol sales by 10 p.m., and all businesses are being asked to rethink having staff return to work.

It's being recommended unvaccinated people limit close contacts to 10 people or less.

Alberta has been experienced an increase in cases averaging more than 1,000 a day for the past week — the highest in Canada.

The province reported Friday that there were 515 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 118 of them in intensive care. That's double the numbers from 11 days ago.

The fourth wave has been fuelled by the more contagious Delta variant. The result has been emergency room bed closures, patient transfers and cancelled elective surgeries.

Alberta Health Services announced another round of surgery cancellations Friday as intensive care units filled to 95 per cent of capacity.

"It is tight," said Dr. Verna Yiu, head of Alberta Health Services, the province's health-care provider.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, said: "It is clear we are at risk of exceeding our province's ICU capacity if we do not make changes."

Kenney's United Conservative government has declined to bring in a vaccine passport as is being done in Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba to encourage vaccination. In those provinces, proof is required to enter bars, restaurants and sports events.

The premier has said there are concerns those rules violate health privacy, but noted some businesses and professional sports teams in the province will require fans to show proof of vaccination.

The Opposition NDP said a vaccine passport is needed and could be downloaded online or on smartphones. Leader Rachel Notley said Kenney needs to act on it now rather than get left behind.

"The premier has failed — again. He has brought Alberta to a place of imminent danger to our health-care system," Notley said in Lethbridge, Alta.

"Jason Kenney is choosing to pay the angry mobs who are literally protesting outside our hospitals blocking ambulances, while cutting the wages of the nurses who are working inside of them."

Kenney's government is seeking to reduce the wages of nurses in the current round of collective bargaining.

The province has not brought in new rules since lifting all but a handful of health measures July 1. Municipalities, universities, schools boards, sports teams and businesses have introduced their own rules on masking, testing and vaccinations.

This is the third time in four waves of the pandemic that Kenney’s government has been criticized for failing to act until numbers hit dangerous levels.

In May, doctors were briefed on how to triage patients as the third wave pushed hospitals to the breaking point before Kenney brought in renewed health restrictions.

Kenney declared victory over the virus on June 18 and announced almost all health restrictions would be lifted, the first province to do so. He cited the fact that 70 per cent of eligible Albertans had received at least one vaccine dose.

On Friday, the premier was asked if he regrets declaring COVID-19 was manageable.

“We made a decision based on the evidence in front of us,” said Kenney, who added that he relied on Hinshaw's advice.

Political scientist Duane Bratt said Kenney's $100 plan appears driven by an ideological reluctance to impose any health restrictions — a move that could result in more strife.

"I don't think it’s going to play out well," said Bratt of Mount Royal University in Calgary.

"Not only are you bribing the unvaccinated, who are the cause of the problem, you are punishing everybody else.

"We're already seeing a clash between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated in society. This is going to accentuate it even more."

The effects of the new health orders were immediate.

Calgary-based musician Jesse Peters said he got vaccinated as soon as possible, but has now been told a number of his bookings have been cancelled due to the 10 p.m. alcohol cutoff.

"You don't want to hate people and you don't want to demonize people, but at the same time I think ... 'Could you please, for the love of God, just do this bare minimum thing so that we can feed our families and get back to work?'" said Peters.

In Edmonton, musician Mike Grier said: "To, again, be kind of pandering to the lowest common denominator is a little ridiculous, especially when we've seen in other jurisdictions that vaccine passports really drive vaccination rates.

"Alberta," he said, "is always choosing to do the most ridiculous thing."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2021.

— With files from Fakiha Baig in Edmonton

Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press

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