Alberta NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley is calling on the provincial government to introduce mandatory vaccine passports and forced-masking for Albertans..In a news release September 2, Notley said that a vaccine passport system and forced-masking was required to “protect people, protect hospitals and protect the provincial economy.”.“Alberta’s NDP is calling for the introduction of simple, secure and scannable vaccine passports that would be required for entry to non-essential busses and mass gathering settings across the province.”.“The passport would feature a QR code – unique to each Albertan – that can be easily scannable at airports, sporting arenas concert venues, businesses and other settings to provide required proof of vaccination.”.Notley said that her party’s proposal would be similar to that in Ontario, which bars people from entering many establishments – public and private – without first providing a government-issued vaccine passport..Kenney and his government have been adamant that they will not impose vaccine passports however..“We’ve been very clear from the beginning that we will not facilitate or accept vaccine passports,” Kenney told reporters at his annual Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast..Airdrie-East UCP MLA Angela Pitt went so far as to say that she would put forward legislation barring discrimination against those who have not been vaccinated..In an email to a constituent in August, the MLA wrote, “I have proposed that we put forth legislation that prohibits discrimination based on private, personal health records.”.The NDP’s proposal also called for forced-masking in “essential settings, such as grocery stories”..The UCP government lifted its COVID-19 restrictions on July 1, with Kenney pledging never to return to them..“This is an important milestone and a great achievement, but we will not stop here. We will keep administering first and second doses [of vaccines] as quickly as possible so we’re not just open for summer, but open for good.”.But in a Western Standard exclusive, UCP MLAs said that the governing caucus was meeting today to discuss the return of restrictions, including forced-masking..Two MLAs that spoke with the Western Standard on condition of anonymity said that the Priorities & Implementation Cabinet Committee (PICC) met August 1 to discuss potential measures to combat rising COVID-19 cases. .According to one of the sources, Health Minister Tyler Shandro presented PICC with three options: maintain Alberta’s reopening plan with no restrictions, reimplement forced-masking mandates with voluntary social gathering restrictions, and reimplement forced-masking mandates with mandatory social gathering restrictions. .The information provided by the UCP MLAs is based on their first hand knowledge and not yet proven..Both MLAs told the Western Standard that PICC was sharply divided on the path forward and decided to put the matter to the government caucus at a meeting September 2 between 10:00 am MST and 1:00 pm MST. .The MLAs say that the meeting will take place at Calgary’s McDougall Centre and near or at the Alberta Legislative Assembly, connected by video conferencing..The reintroduction of mandatory COVID-19 restrictions would come with considerable controversy for the UCP government after Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declared the province “Open for Summer” before the Calgary Stampede. The premier announced on June 18 that all restrictions in Alberta would be lifted as of July 1st and “our lives will get back to normal.”.Kenney was adamant that the lifting of restrictions were not temporary, but permanent..Since then, several municipalities have begun to reimpose restrictions on their own, with Edmonton City Council reimposing forced-masking on August 30..Both MLAs that spoke with the Western Standard said that reimposing restrictions would constitute a broken promise from Jason Kenney and reignite opposition to his leadership and the party, especially in rural Alberta. .“It would be madness. Just pure madness to backtrack” said one of the MLAs. “If he [Kenney] does this, it the insurrection is back on.”
