Premier backs Alberta's top doctor, defends Alberta's response as COVID-19 cases rise
Premier Jason Kenney says he respects the advice of Alberta's top doctor to lift all COVID-19 public health orders, as local leaders and health-care experts from across the country continue to condemn the province's plans.
In defence of Alberta's move to end isolation requirements, contact tracing and asymptomatic testing, Kenney said Tuesday the decision was based on science and data. But he didn't provide specifics.
“People are understandably anxious about both the disease itself and the damaging affect of restrictions,” said Kenney.
He noted that Alberta's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has previously commented about widespread vaccine coverage changing the nature of the provincewide risk of COVID-19.
“This was a package of measures that came forward from the chief medical officer and her team and we respect their data-driven, scientific advice,” said Kenney.
The comments were Kenney's first on COVID-19 since Hinshaw announced the restriction changes last Wednesday.
The ministry of health did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment about the specific data guiding Alberta's strategy. In a previous statement, Alberta Health acknowledged the province was one of the first to move forward with the approach and pointed to vaccine uptake.
Close contacts of individuals who test positive for the virus are no longer required to isolate, nor are they notified by contact tracers. Come Aug. 16, people infected with COVID-19 will also not be legally required to isolate - though it is recommended.
Kenney said Hinshaw presented the plan to members of the government July 8 and they accepted it without modification.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro similarly diverted to Hinshaw last week when he defended the province's response.
Hinshaw has previously said she presents the government with scientific evidence, numbers and trends, but the final decision on how to respond to pandemic developments lies with the province.
Dr. Lorian Hardcastle, a health policy expert at the University of Calgary, said Alberta is likely the first jurisdiction in Canada to eliminate all COVID-19 safety measures.
Many consider the move premature as cases continue to grow. Alberta recorded 743 new cases of COVID-19 over the last four days, bringing the active case count to 2,176.
“We have seen some American jurisdictions dial back their restrictions quite significantly, and have for quite a few months, but the reason this goes so far is it eliminates some of those basic public health measures,” said Hardcastle.
“The contact tracing, testing and positive cases staying home are really just fundamental public health restrictions.”
She said earlier steps to allow gatherings and businesses to reopen may have been a concern for individuals, but government officials often modelled the decisions on other jurisdictions.
“There was at least a point of comparison,” said Hardcastle. “In this case ... we're the guinea pig.”
Hundreds of Albertans have attended multiple protests in Calgary and Edmonton since Hinshaw announced the changes. Attendees have called on the province to walk back its plan.
Alberta's Opposition New Democratic Party is also calling for a public inquiry into Kenney and his United Conservative government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
Sarah Hoffman, who is deputy leader for the NDP, said an independent review is necessary. She said it's also needed because of reports the government won't release a report into the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Health Minister Tyler Shandro later said on Twitter that the interim report will be released later this week.
“It is clear that Albertans can no longer trust their own government to keep them safe,” Hoffman said.
“A full public inquiry is necessary because it allows Albertans to understand what happened over the course of this pandemic and to plan for the future, so we don't repeat the same poor decision-making process again.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2021
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.