Hey #Alberta, get your #COVID_19 leadership from @jannarden. This is not sarcastic in the slightest. She has more of your best interests. #abpolihttps://t.co/e9GNX88T9p
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 29, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has had a "do the right thing but we don't want to make you do the right thing" approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even by Alberta standards, the United Conservative Party has gone too far.
The new extremely relaxed approach is in 2 stages. As of last Thursday, quarantine for close contacts will be recommended not mandatory; contact tracers will no longer notify close contacts; and asymptomatic testing will no longer be recommended.
The August 16 changes are more substantial:
- If you test positive for COVID-19, isolation is strongly recommended but not required. There will be no isolation hotels and quarantine supports.
- Testing will be available for symptomatic people for patient care decisions. After August 31, testing for COVID-19 will be available only when symptoms are severe.
- Masks will no longer be required on public transit, or in most continuing care facilities and definitely not in schools.
Someone will get to announce when the #covid_19 #pandemic is over. That person will not be @jkenney #abpoli https://t.co/KHquoEpd33
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 20, 2021
Kenney was the first politician anywhere to declare that the COVID-19 pandemic was over. "Such a joy to connect with Albertans during Canada’s first major event after the pandemic," referring to the 2021 Calgary Stampede.
We all want this to be over. Not just a little bit but as over as we can be about COVID-19. We have been critical about Canadian decisions, mostly on the federal level, on being too cautious. This is the other extreme.
Florida and Texas have been egregious in how poorly the tracking of COVID-19 cases have been in those states. Even those U.S. states are looking at Alberta's new rules and asking, "can we do that too?"
The "open for business" mentality has been on message since the party came into power in the spring of 2019. The message is broad ("who doesn't want to be open for business") in concept but narrow in execution. The province spent $1.5 billion, plus a $6-billion (all Canadian $) loan guarantee on the never will be finished Keystone XL pipeline. We have been critical of Justin Trudeau and the federal government buying the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion; the difference is that the expansion will get built.
The UCP government spent taxpayer money on a propaganda tool designed to intimidate journalists who are objectively covering the oil and gas beat.
It’s the obvious choice to bring the @NHL to #Edmonton.
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) June 22, 2020
We look forward to welcoming the league and players here to Alberta to take in the beautiful province we have to offer. pic.twitter.com/kp0iN86vCP
The UCP focus is "business" if oil and gas are involved but not so much in other areas. The Kenney tourism video is a grand exception, but so mistimed since the families and players wouldn't be able to travel to the parts of Alberta, well away from Edmonton, during the pandemic.
The cruel irony in being "pro-business" is that you have to be perceived as careful about people's safety during a pandemic. Right now, Alberta isn't perceived as safe, thanks in part to these new rules.
Those "driving to Alaska" who vacationed in Alberta in 2020 felt safer than they likely would now.
Jason Kenney, Alberta United Conservative Party launch Canadian Energy Centre propaganda site
Alberta goes back to its conservative ways by electing the UCP
My feed is lighting up with similar tweets. We love when people travel elsewhere in #Canada. We might need to make an exception for #cdntravel in #Alberta. https://t.co/iDI2tiUTmu
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 29, 2021
We get the minimalist "keep government away from us" approach to the prairie areas in Canada. Objectively, this approach doesn't work during a pandemic. The best results are to do as little as possible while providing protection to its citizens. The rules should be different in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Edmonton than they are in Red Deer or Medicine Hat.
Most of the province doesn't have to deal with mass transit; hopefully, individual cities can make exceptions. As Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi noted in a recent radio interview, cities in Alberta have limited options in this area as compared to cities in Ontario.
Decisions on dealing with a pandemic need to be science-based, not relying on cynical politics.
CanadianCrossing.com Alberta coverage
Alberta's vaccination rates are mixed compared to the rest of Canada. As of July 27, 75.2% of Alberta's (12+) population has had a first dose vs. 80.6% for the country. Alberta's 63.6% of fully vaccinated is around the national average.
Saskatchewan has similar rules in place to what Alberta is doing. Nothing personal to that province, but travel to Alberta is more of a concern. As of July 30, 63% of eligible people in Saskatchewan are fully vaccinated. The delta variant has greater potential for damage among the unvaccinated.
Alberta is a beautiful place to travel. The tourism video is a small slice of what the province has to offer. Even as Americans can travel to Canada, we recommend being cautious in going to Alberta right now.
August 9 is the date fully vaccinated Americans can cross into Canada with some fine print
CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage
"Wear a mask- social distancing- being sensible- washing your hands." Jann Arden's advice is smart. You may stand out in a mask in Alberta but that is alright.
The beauty of Alberta will be there in subsequent years. Worth the wait can be difficult words to hear in 2021. As Alton Brown would say, "your patience will be rewarded."
Twitter captures: @canadian_xing; @canadian_xing; @jkenney; @canadian_xing
photo credit: CBC News
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