Thread by @KevinCTV

Premier Kenney and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange are set to announce supports for students impacted by COVID-19. Follow along!

edmonton.ctvnews.ca/support-for-st…

Premier Kenney begins, saying the government has "stepped up in a big way" to support students in schools. He says school boards have had access to an additional $1B in funding for COVID-19 safety.

Kenney says there have been learning disruptions for students throughout the last 15 months.

He is announcing up to $45M in new funding for school authorities for kids in grades 1-3 to help students struggling with literacy and numeracy.

In March, the province announced a voluntary assessment program for students in grades K-3, to try to understand reading struggles. He says this, plus the new funding, demonstrates Alberta's commitment to students.

The Premier is touting the new draft curriculum, which he says has numeracy and literacy "woven throughout."

Minister LaGrange says the newly funded programs will start in the fall.

The initiative is based on research that shows early intervention with struggling students can help students catch up quickly. Without support, students can struggle for their whole educational journey.

Some of this money will also be available for private schools, LaGrange says.

Q: Will this benefit rural students?

A: Every student who needs this support will get access. LaGrange says it'll benefit 50,000 students across the province.

Q: What do you say to vaccine hesitant people?

A: "Vaccines are your ticket back to normal," Kenney says.

Kenney says 2.2M doses have been administered and there have been less than 400 "adverse effects." Most of those are nausea or headaches.

Q from @DeanBennettCP: what exactly is the money ($45M) paying for?

A: Schools authorities can use the money to hire more teachers, substitute teachers or teacher aides.

Q from @DonBraid: will you be disappointed if the Calgary Stampede is smaller than in previous years?

A: "We won't compel anyone to put on an event," Kenney says. He says the reopening plan is based on science, and he believes the Stampede or any other event can operate safely.

Kenney says the Calgary Stampede is about the whole community celebrating our "western heritage and our rural roots."

He says it's about more than a rodeo and a midway. It's a community celebration.

Q: How long will Albertans wait between first and second dose.

A: Kenney says the new guidance from NACI (give second doses ASAP) helps clarify the government's position. He says second dose appointments will open up next week.

Q from @Shannon_CTV: Why are you getting rid of Calgary's only safe consumption site?

A: Kenney says "there has been devastating impact in terms of crime and anti-social behaviour" at the Sheldon Chumir site.

He says new "safer" services will be created in Calgary.

Kenney is talking about Ohio's $1M vaccine lottery. He says people made fun of it at first but it has worked.

"We'll take a look at that," he says, adding that Alberta will look at creative options to entice people to get vaccinated.

Q from @CarrieTait: why are you trying to undermine the media with criticism?

Answer: Kenney says "sometimes I think media don't always get it accurate, and I have the right to be critical when that happens."

Q from @audreyneva: why do school boards have to apply for this money? Won't that create delays?

Answer: LaGrange says the government needs to know that the students that actually need the help will get it.