Thread by @RachelNotley

First, my deepest condolences to the loved ones of the 24 Albertans who died of COVID over the past day. This appalling death toll and the human suffering of those infected and those denied critical healthcare was preventable. 1/14 #ableg #abhealth

This is a crisis of the Premier’s own making. Neither he nor Dr. Hinshaw explained why they have failed to act for weeks when it was obvious something had to be done. 2/14 #ableg #abhealth

And while in one short breath Jason Kenney offered an apology, in many others, he made even more excuses, he talked up his own record... 3/14 #ableg #abhealth

...And even when given a second chance to apologize, he claimed his decision to push Alberta faster and harder than the rest of Canada was not at the heart of the crisis we face today. 4/14 #ableg #abhealth

He refused to take responsibility. He blamed low vaccination rates for the fact that he ignored the evidence and went into hiding. 5/14 #ableg #abhealth

Let me be explicitly clear: What we saw from the Premier was not an apology. It was an embarrassing attempt to duck responsibility. Jason Kenney and the UCP were unforgivably late to act and now all Albertans will pay the price for their cowardice. 6/14 #ableg #abhealth

Once again, those Albertans who did the right thing and got their shot will be punished for the failures of this UCP government to act. 7/14 #ableg #abhealth

Once again, we’re back to step one. Cancelling events, working from home, and being forced to keep friends and family out. Agonizing choices about who cannot attend a wedding or a funeral. 8/14 #ableg #abhealth

I know Albertans who sacrificed so much to follow the rules, who struggled for 18 months, who gave up their Christmas dinners are very frustrated today. They’re angry.

I know. This isn’t fair. It also isn’t your fault. 9/14 #ableg #abhealth

Jason Kenney told you the pandemic was over. Then he mocked those who suggested he was wrong. And then he went further and dared Albertans to put themselves at more risk than anywhere else in Canada. So, I’m angry too. 10/14 #ableg #abhealth

But I also know this is necessary. We must get these case numbers down. We must protect our health care system from imminent collapse. It should never have come to this. 11/14 #ableg #abhealth

The severity of this fourth wave… and the consequences we see today… are the direct result of this UCP government’s paralysis. 12/14 #ableg #abhealth

I want to talk to Albertans about the hundreds upon hundreds of people who are awaiting critical medical procedures who are scared, who are angry, and who tonight heard they may have to get their procedures in other provinces. 13/14 #ableg #abhealth

These are the people we need to come together for. We need to follow these rules for them.

Please, do this for your fellow Albertans. 14/14 #ableg #abhealth