Kenney government should own up to its 'reckless' summer plan, AFL says
As the Alberta legislature is set to open its fall session on Monday, a group that represents about 170,000 workers wants to see a vast improvement from Jason Kenney and his government.
Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) president Gil McGowan says Kenney has "lost the moral authority to govern" and should see the new session as a way to redeem his government in the eyes of Albertans.
He also demands that the UCP government admit its mistakes, including the Open for Summer plan that preceded the fourth wave of COVID-19, which has been Alberta's worst.
"We have only 12 per cent of Canada’s population, but for weeks we had more than 50 per cent of Canada's COVID-19 cases – and we had a COVID-19 fatality rate that was four times the Canadian average," McGowan said in a release Sunday.
Hospitals and health care centres have also been pushed to the brink and children, who aren't able to be vaccinated against COVID-19, are vulnerable, he added.
"Thousands of Albertans sickened; hundreds of Albertans dead; and a health-care system that is still teetering on the brink of collapse."
In a video statement, McGowan implored Kenney to listen to the concerns of Albertans.
"Instead of scapegoating Albertans who care about public health, about the environment, about workers' rights – you should acknowledge that they are as much real Albertans as any other Albertan."
To regain "the moral authority to govern", McGowan calls on Kenney to bring in legislation to ensure 10 permanent paid sick days for all workers and make sure all workers have the mental health supports they need.
He also says Kenney needs to realize some facts about COVID-19 itself.
"You need to acknowledge the global scientific consensus that COVID is airborne. This has huge implications for the strategies we need to employ to keep Albertans safe in the workplace and in public spaces like schools and malls.
"It's time for the government to literally fund efforts to clear the air."
McGowan says the pandemic has taught Albertans a lot of things that have been problems even before it hit the province.
"The pandemic has shown us what happened when our vital public services are underfunded and understaffed."
CTV News has reached out to Premier Jason Kenney's office for a statement on the AFL's concerns.
The Alberta legislature resumes Monday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.