Markham interviews Prof. Lorian Hardcastle, faculty of law, University of Calgary, about NDP leader and Official Opposition Leader Rachel Notley's Sept. 23 press conference.

Alberta NDP press release:

UCP CABINET COMPROMISED BY INFIGHTING AND POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP,

HINSHAW MUST BE GIVEN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY

CALGARY – With the entire United Conservative Cabinet and Government Caucus mired in internal chaos and infighting, Jason Kenney must surrender all future public health decisions to the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

On Wednesday, UCP MLAs meeting in Calgary put forward a motion of non-confidence in Jason Kenney’s leadership. The motion was later withdrawn in favour of a spring leadership review. Behind the scenes, executive members are organizing against Kenney and UCP MLAs are musing about their campaigns for party leadership. Meanwhile, 29 more Albertans died from COVID-19 and more than 1,000 are in hospital.

The intense focus on political maneuvering by Jason Kenney and members of his Cabinet during an ongoing public health crisis renders the Executive Council unable to make non-political decisions in the interest of public health, Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley said Thursday.

“The Executive Council is politically compromised,” said Notley.

“Between the Premier fighting for his job and the Ministers either standing behind him or still quietly preparing to take it from him, any decisions by the UCP will be exposed to and altered by political gamesmanship. Albertans need a government that is laser-focused on taking action to protect the health of Albertans and the availability of care in our health system.”

The Alberta NDP is calling for Jason Kenney to surrender public health decisions to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and her team at Alberta Health, supported by an independent COVID-19 science advisory table made up of medical experts and health professionals.



Dr. Hinshaw could be empowered under the Public Health Act to report directly to the public, discuss all policy options openly, and exercise the authority given to her office during a public health emergency.



“There are very difficult decisions ahead. Is there anyone left in Alberta who trusts Jason Kenney to make those decisions based on science?” asked Notley.



“We need stable leadership capable of taking action. We need to separate the politics from public health and that will be impossible without first removing the decision-making powers from this Cabinet.”



In recent weeks, thousands of Albertans have had their life-saving surgeries cancelled due to the severe impact of the fourth wave of COVID-19 on the province’s health care system. Alberta may soon be forced to airlift critical care patients to other provinces. Triage protocols have been prepared.



The UCP caucus meeting Wednesday did not result in actions to address these urgent challenges.

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