ALBERTANS CALL ON KENNEY TO STAND UP TO CAUCUS MEMBERS OPPOSED TO PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS

EDMONTON - Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley was joined by Albertans from constituencies represented by UCP MLAs opposed to public health orders to call on Premier Jason Kenney to take action against these caucus members for threatening public health.  

Over a quarter of the UCP caucus have spoken out against public health orders as the province faces a third wave of the COVID pandemic driven by new variants that are more infectious and more deadly. Alberta now has the highest rate of new cases per capita in the country.

“In spite of this real danger Jason Kenney appears powerless to members of his own caucus from putting Albertans at even greater risk. I’ve never seen anything like this in a parliamentary democracy. This behaviour is irresponsible and dangerous,” said Notley. 

“These UCP MLAs are sabotaging Alberta’s public health response. This is the weakest and most ineffective leadership I have ever seen from an Alberta Premier. The failure of Jason Kenney and his UCP MLAs leaves many Albertans without a voice.”

Notley was joined on Monday by Albertans living in communities represented by MLAs that have stated their opposition to public health measures.

“As an MLA, their job is to represent their constituents. All of them, and not just the ones that agree with them. These UCP MLAs have failed to hold themselves accountable as government representatives,” said Kellie Verburg, a resident of Lacombe-Ponoka. 

“The lack of fair and accurate representation of their constituents by these MLAs is appalling, and their choice to validate this harmful ideology which will increase community spread, and will ultimately result in more sick, more hospitalizations, and inevitably more deaths, is criminal.”

“Religious freedom is not up for debate as it has not been impinged one bit.  What is up for debate is whether or not the Premier and his Government fully understands their responsibility to steward this province in a thoughtful way,” said Reverend Dave Pollard, a constituent of Cypress-Medicine Hat.

On Friday, the mayor and council of Canmore wrote to their MLA Miranda Rosin and asked her to reconsider her signing of the letter in opposition to public health orders.

“These UCP MLAs are deliberately and willfully undermining the public health orders that we all must uphold to keep each other safe. Albertans are making real sacrifices and enduring real hardships to keep themselves and their communities safe only to see their efforts sabotaged by their own MLAs,” said Notley.