Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who did not attend the COVID-19 news conference today, is live on his Facebook page. I’ll Tweet the highlights.
Kenney says the announcement of the end of the Restriction Exemption Program and other COVID public health measures will be made “early next week.”
"There will likely never be an end to COVID-19," Kenney says. He's making the point that we as a population will become more and more immune over time (as we all get sick). He says it will soon be time to learn to "live with" COVID.
Kenney says he wants to see COVID public health measures affecting children "lifted as soon as possible." He signals youth activity restrictions (sports + school, etc...) will be lifted early in the reopening plan.
An aside: every question the premier has answered so far has been factually incorrect. He is correcting the question-askers.
Example:
Q - you said hospitals were busy. that's wrong.
A - no, it's right. Here are the stats.
Example:
Q - you said hospitals were busy. that's wrong.
A - no, it's right. Here are the stats.
Also for the record, I am submitting questions to Premier Kenney on Facebook. Hopefully he takes one!
Q: Can you stop municipalities from implementing their own mandates?
A: Kenney says the Municipal Government Act allows city governments to make their own mandate policies, but "we will take a look at that." He says city govs don't have the same data/knowledge as the province.
A: Kenney says the Municipal Government Act allows city governments to make their own mandate policies, but "we will take a look at that." He says city govs don't have the same data/knowledge as the province.
Kenney continues, saying it would be troubling if city governments choose to overrule the province's decision to end restrictions.
It will be interesting to see if @JyotiGondek and #yyccc agree with this.
It will be interesting to see if @JyotiGondek and #yyccc agree with this.
Q: will masking requirements be removed at the same time as the REP?
A: "stay tuned," Kenney says. He says removing mask mandates on children is a priority.
A: "stay tuned," Kenney says. He says removing mask mandates on children is a priority.
Quick FYI: many of the comments on the premier's Facebook Live are vile.
Kenney says the vaccine requirement for government employees (including AHS employees) will end at the same time as other restrictions.
Kenney is now reading from a Rachel Notley Tweet, which read "The UCP failed to stop the spread of Omicron."
He says that accusation is "unscientific."
To be clear, he wasn't asked about her Tweet.
He says that accusation is "unscientific."
To be clear, he wasn't asked about her Tweet.
Q: "Why aren't you in Ottawa helping Albertans take back our country?"
Kenney says he has been consistently advocating against the federal trucker vaccine mandate.
Kenney says he has been consistently advocating against the federal trucker vaccine mandate.
Kenney says he's holding a 10 a.m. news conference tomorrow with other premiers to call for more federal money for healthcare costs.
Kenney is quoting Trump now.
And that wraps it up. Premier Kenney did not take my questions.
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