Premier Jason Kenney defended his Sky Palace dinner during question period — and advised taxpayers Jameson is not really a great whiskey — as he laid out his patio plans for coming days..The dinner dominated question period after photos emerge of Kenney dining outside with cabinet at other government staffers..He is pictured at a table of six – none of whom are socially distanced or wearing masks. Two other men were seen walking away, but Health Minister Tyler Shandro said there were no waiters at the event..Bottles of wine, sparkling water and a 40 oz. of Jameson were all on the table. Jameson sells for $50 in Calgary liquor stores and Kenney pointed out it’s not the best whiskey available..“Every reasonable effort was made to be socially distant,” Kenney said under NDP questioning..Kenney said the dinner meeting was “fully compliant” with AHS regulations and said it makes sense to sit outside because there is less of a risk of virus transmission..NDP Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman mocked Kenney for his repeated “we’re all in this together” statement saying it looks like there’s a different set of rules for Kenney..She compared the Sky Palace Scandal to the Christmas-time UCP Snowbird Scandal where numerous MLAs and one cabinet member jetted off to warmer locations, even though Alberta was in COVID-19 lockdown..She said the Sky Palace is “the most hated palace in the province.”.Kenney repeatedly said the NDP “doesn’t want Alberta to reopen.”.He also asked NDP questioners if they had ever enjoyed patio time with then Premier Rachel Notley..The premier said he plans to attend another patio Thursday night with friends and a weekend backyard barbecue..Edmonton Centre NDP MLA David Shepherd noted four wine bottles were on the table. “Red or white,” he asked Kenney, who didn’t answer..Kenney said the dinner “was at personal expense” from a nearby take out restaurant..Shandro dodged the question of who exactly paid the tab or if anyone drove home after consuming alcohol..Irfan Sabir, NDP MLA for Calgary McCall, asked if there was an AHS investigation into the dinner for breaking COVID-19 regulations. Kenney replied saying there was no need because the rules were followed..“You owe all Albertans $8,000,” Sabir told Kenney, referring to the $2,000 COVID-19 fines for people breaking the rules..Independent MLA Drew Barnes called on Kenney to resign..Mount Royal University political science prof Lori Williams said the photos aren’t a good look for Kenney..“If the answer is ‘technically we didn’t break the rules,’ you’re losing the communications battle,” Williams told the Western Standard..“Worse, it isn’t at all clear they didn’t break the rules. Patio gatherings are supposed to have only members of the same household at a table and, if they’re not, they are supposed to be six feet apart or masked..“Of all people, this involves the health minister, finance minister and premier. And of all places, a patio at the infamous Sky Palace. It reverberates entitlement The optics are abysmal, and a blow to a government and a leader already tanking in the polls..“The premier cannot claim he didn’t make the rules clear, as he did with travel rule violations in January. Whether it’s technically a legal breach or failure to respect his own guidelines, he has added to his problems at a time he can least afford to.”.Sky Palace – actually the Federal Building – was one of former premier Alison Redford’s passion projects gone awry, with Redford intending to use public funds to build a private penthouse for her and her daughter..While this never came to fruition, the building stands as a symbol of “Alison Redford’s entitlement and her subsequent unpopularity and resignation,” Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt told the Toronto Star..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Premier Jason Kenney defended his Sky Palace dinner during question period — and advised taxpayers Jameson is not really a great whiskey — as he laid out his patio plans for coming days..The dinner dominated question period after photos emerge of Kenney dining outside with cabinet at other government staffers..He is pictured at a table of six – none of whom are socially distanced or wearing masks. Two other men were seen walking away, but Health Minister Tyler Shandro said there were no waiters at the event..Bottles of wine, sparkling water and a 40 oz. of Jameson were all on the table. Jameson sells for $50 in Calgary liquor stores and Kenney pointed out it’s not the best whiskey available..“Every reasonable effort was made to be socially distant,” Kenney said under NDP questioning..Kenney said the dinner meeting was “fully compliant” with AHS regulations and said it makes sense to sit outside because there is less of a risk of virus transmission..NDP Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman mocked Kenney for his repeated “we’re all in this together” statement saying it looks like there’s a different set of rules for Kenney..She compared the Sky Palace Scandal to the Christmas-time UCP Snowbird Scandal where numerous MLAs and one cabinet member jetted off to warmer locations, even though Alberta was in COVID-19 lockdown..She said the Sky Palace is “the most hated palace in the province.”.Kenney repeatedly said the NDP “doesn’t want Alberta to reopen.”.He also asked NDP questioners if they had ever enjoyed patio time with then Premier Rachel Notley..The premier said he plans to attend another patio Thursday night with friends and a weekend backyard barbecue..Edmonton Centre NDP MLA David Shepherd noted four wine bottles were on the table. “Red or white,” he asked Kenney, who didn’t answer..Kenney said the dinner “was at personal expense” from a nearby take out restaurant..Shandro dodged the question of who exactly paid the tab or if anyone drove home after consuming alcohol..Irfan Sabir, NDP MLA for Calgary McCall, asked if there was an AHS investigation into the dinner for breaking COVID-19 regulations. Kenney replied saying there was no need because the rules were followed..“You owe all Albertans $8,000,” Sabir told Kenney, referring to the $2,000 COVID-19 fines for people breaking the rules..Independent MLA Drew Barnes called on Kenney to resign..Mount Royal University political science prof Lori Williams said the photos aren’t a good look for Kenney..“If the answer is ‘technically we didn’t break the rules,’ you’re losing the communications battle,” Williams told the Western Standard..“Worse, it isn’t at all clear they didn’t break the rules. Patio gatherings are supposed to have only members of the same household at a table and, if they’re not, they are supposed to be six feet apart or masked..“Of all people, this involves the health minister, finance minister and premier. And of all places, a patio at the infamous Sky Palace. It reverberates entitlement The optics are abysmal, and a blow to a government and a leader already tanking in the polls..“The premier cannot claim he didn’t make the rules clear, as he did with travel rule violations in January. Whether it’s technically a legal breach or failure to respect his own guidelines, he has added to his problems at a time he can least afford to.”.Sky Palace – actually the Federal Building – was one of former premier Alison Redford’s passion projects gone awry, with Redford intending to use public funds to build a private penthouse for her and her daughter..While this never came to fruition, the building stands as a symbol of “Alison Redford’s entitlement and her subsequent unpopularity and resignation,” Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt told the Toronto Star..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
