NDP WELCOMES COVID-19 REVIEW, RESTATES CALL FOR PUBLIC QUESTIONING OF MINISTERS, CEOs

EDMONTON - Alberta’s NDP Opposition welcomed news Sunday of a potential review of the Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and once again issued a call for public testimony and questioning from Premier Jason Kenney, key members of his Government Cabinet and lead executives at sites with substantial virus outbreaks.

Last week, the NDP submitted a request to the Select Special Health Act Review Committee to have a number of individuals appear before it for public questioning in relation to the introduction of the UCP’s Bill 10 power grab bill, as well as outbreaks at two meat-packing plants in High River and Brooks and outbreaks at continuing care centres across the province.

The Opposition has sought the following notable witnesses, among others:

• Premier Jason Kenney
• Minister of Health Tyler Shandro
• Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer
• Minister of Labour Jason Copping.
• JBS Canada President David Colwell
• Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennnan
• Revera President and CEO Thomas Wellner
• Retirement Concepts CEO Azim Jamal
• Extendicare CEO Dr. Michael Guerriere

“This review must include accountability to the public,” said NDP Health Critic David Shepherd on Sunday. “The Premier, his Ministers, CEOs, all of them, must be subject to public questioning. The decisions these individuals made — or failed to make — had a direct impact on Albertans. In some cases, people paid the ultimate price for mistakes by Government and large corporations.”

Shepherd said if the Select Special Health Act Review Committee is not the venue for public questioning, he would be open to working with Government to find another way to achieve the same result.

He also noted the Opposition has called for socially distanced public hearings to take place across the province in relation to the pandemic handling.

“The bottom line is the review of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be done behind closed doors,” Shepherd said. “Albertans don’t trust this Premier and they deserve to have their voices heard.”