Conservative MP Arnold Viersen is questioning why the leading cause of death in Alberta is "ill-defined and unknown causes," and suggested COVID-19 vaccine injuries could be a contributor.."We need to take seriously the leading cause of death in Alberta is unknown causes. There needs to be some sniffing around that. It seems odd," he said..According to statistics from the Government of Alberta, in 2021 ill-defined and unknown causes of death was the leading killer of Albertans with 3,362 deaths. That was up from 1,464 in 2020 and 522 the year before that. Viersen, an MP for Peace River-Westlock, said this is a "very interesting data point," but added he "hasn't had a whole lot of time to dig into it.".Viersen said because his riding is one of the "least vaccinated" in Canada, many of his constituents asked him to look into vaccine injuries. Viersen put in order paper questions back in February 2022 to monitor Canada's Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP.).Since July 1, 2021, VISP received a total of 774 claims, and the Medical Review Board accepted eight claims. ."This will give payouts for those folks, because the government has assumed liability of the vaccines," Viersen said..Viersen noted he received many anecdotal stories from Albertans with vaccine-injured friends and relatives, but he has yet to talk directly to someone with a vaccine injury. ."I've had a few people who got the injection and had a metallic taste in their mouth and some dizziness, but that's it," he said..Viersen explained his wife has been "struggling with her health" due to long COVID since long before she got vaccinated. He said it can be difficult to know with certainty whether someone's illness is due to a vaccine injury or long COVID, as both can present with similar symptoms.."The evidence is people have side effects of the vaccine and side effects from having COVID, and they look awfully similar from my perspective. So I can't tell you which is which," he said.."I get lots of people coming to me with information, but I can't verify if this is a vaccine issue or COVID issue. And there's so much information coming at you," Viersen said.."And I get both sides of it. There are people totally upset with me because I'm apparently an anti-vaxxer, even though I've never said anything one way or another, and you've got people on the other side who tell me everybody is going to die because they got vaccinated." .Viersen said the Conservative Party is "generally distracted with the leadership race right now," and suggested the new leader will determine whether vaccine injuries are addressed and how they are dealt with.."[Former leader] Erin O'Toole's lack of COVID skepticism was a big part of his downfall," Viersen said, adding that he too closely followed the Liberals' lead on pandemic issues. "I would say his removal was an indication of where our caucus was at with this stuff.".Viersen, who has chosen not to disclose his vaccine status, said he won't push the vaccine but "respects those who want to get vaccinated."."The risks and rewards are different for everybody, and they need to make those decisions on their terms."
