1.🧵focused on new info. contained in the recent arbitration award (@ufcw401 & @Cargill) concerning Cargill's response to the April 2020 COVID-19 outbreak associated w/ its High River plant, in particular decision to close the plant.
2. The COVID-19 outbreak at Cargill's High River plant has been called the largest in NA during the pandemic.
AB public health officials summarized the significant health impact on workers and "close contacts" in an internal June 2020 report.
3. Given this, it is surprising that the Cargill outbreak is not even mentioned once in AB's official review of the province's response to the pandemic. It doesn't even appear in the report's timeline. open.alberta.ca/publications/p…
1. Latest government statement in response to calls for an investigation of Speaker Weekes allegations of harassment and threats of violence via @WayneMantykaCTV. Short🧵
2. At least two steps in the Assembly's harassment process (detailed in the 🧵 below) would be tricky to navigate given the unique circumstances of this case.
3. First, the potential complainant (Speaker Weekes) would be required to make his complaint to the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel (pictured left). This branch also provides "strategic legal advice and legal opinions to the Speaker..." (pictured right).
1. Why Speaker Randy Weekes' allegations of harassment and threats of violence -- a near head butt, someone lunging towards him, intimidating gestures, harassing text messages -- must be independently and thoroughly investigated.
3. Without passing judgement, Weekes' untested allegations clearly fall within the scope of the definition of harassment in the Code (see i. and ii. below).
1. Speaker @randyweekes has alleged harassment & threats of violence: a near headbutt, someone lunging towards him, intimidating gestures, text messages, and even a gun in the Legislature. These are very serious allegations that must be investigated.
2. These allegations come at a time when there are more reports about bullying and harassment by local, municipal, and federal politicians. For example, Alicia Bridges @CBCSask's 2018 report entitled "Toxic Towns" newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/toxic…
3. There continue to be reports of harassment at Saskatchewan rural municipalities --and it's not only politicians that are the alleged perpetrators. From January 2024: "RCMP begin investigation into harassment of CAO" (Fort Times).
2. Dr. Shahab on Sept. 7, '21: “provincial vaccination coverage (two dose 69%) is insufficient to prevent acute care collapse in the absence of province-wide and targeted local measures to blunt the spread.” cbc.ca/news/canada/sa…
3. The evidence was clear and compelling that immediate action was needed.
Unfortunately, those in leadership positions waited.