Alberta Minister of Health Tyler Shandro claims that the Western Standard is “an alt-right” news outlet no better than InfoWars..Shando made the comment in question period at the Alberta Legislature Thursday afternoon when he was asked by Edmonton-Manning NDP MLA Heather Sweet about a Western Standard exclusive story last week..In the story, three separate UCP MLAs told the Western Standard on condition of anonymity that Premier Jason Kenney made a threat of calling an early election at a caucus meeting..One UCP MLA who said he was paraphrasing, told the Western Standard that Kenney said: “In our parliamentary system, the government must have the confidence of the House and therefore the confidence of the governing caucus. If I do not have the confidence of caucus, then I would be obliged to ask the Lt.-Gov. for an election.’”.By law, the next provincial election is scheduled for spring 2023. The only premier to break a fixed election date so far was former premier Jim Prentice in 2015..Another UCP MLA told the Western Standard that Kenney told them “If this caucus doesn’t have confidence in me, than perhaps I’ll go see the L.G [Lt.-Governor].”.A third UCP told the Western Standard the statement of the second UCP MLA was correct..But that wasn’t enough for Shandro when Sweet asked when Kenney was going to call an election..“We are focused on the pandemic. We’re not focused on the games that the NDP are trying to play,” Shandro answered..Sweet asked again, referring to the Western Standard report..“I’m betting right now that (WS Publisher) Derek Fildebrandt is very happy that he’s being quoted by the member from Edmonton-Manning and his alt-right website… perhaps the member could also let us know if she’s going to to tell us what Infowars is also telling us about our response to the pandemic,” Shandro said..Sweet followed up, asking if the UCP is committed to holding the next election between March 1 and May 31, 2023, as mandated by current law..“Again the member is quoting the Western Standard, an alt-right website – it’s disappointing to see that from the NDP. We have our priorities, Mr Speaker, which is to respond to the pandemic.”.Shandro did not specifically answer the question around Kenney’s threat to UCP MLAs that they should fall in line, or face an early election..Shandro has come under heavy criticism from the right in Alberta, as the minister leading the lockdown and other COVID-19 related restrictions..One of the MLAs told the Western Standard that they are extremely upset with Kenney for “breaking the trust of Albertans by ripping up the phased reopening plan” from January..Kenney made an impassioned plea for his third lockdown..Kenney knew the announcement would cause a rift in his party, but he didn’t think it would be so swift or large. A day later 17 of his MLAs signed a joint public letter saying he had chosen the wrong path..Public anger at the new lockdown is also growing across the province with numerous businesses vowing to ignore the order. And people also became furious when they saw AHS officials, with the help of the Alberta RCMP, raided and barricade the GraceLife Church of Pastor James Coates..Coates was thrown in jail for more than a month for refusing to accept bail conditions requiring him to stop preaching at church services that did not comply with the provincial government’s restrictions..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Alberta Minister of Health Tyler Shandro claims that the Western Standard is “an alt-right” news outlet no better than InfoWars..Shando made the comment in question period at the Alberta Legislature Thursday afternoon when he was asked by Edmonton-Manning NDP MLA Heather Sweet about a Western Standard exclusive story last week..In the story, three separate UCP MLAs told the Western Standard on condition of anonymity that Premier Jason Kenney made a threat of calling an early election at a caucus meeting..One UCP MLA who said he was paraphrasing, told the Western Standard that Kenney said: “In our parliamentary system, the government must have the confidence of the House and therefore the confidence of the governing caucus. If I do not have the confidence of caucus, then I would be obliged to ask the Lt.-Gov. for an election.’”.By law, the next provincial election is scheduled for spring 2023. The only premier to break a fixed election date so far was former premier Jim Prentice in 2015..Another UCP MLA told the Western Standard that Kenney told them “If this caucus doesn’t have confidence in me, than perhaps I’ll go see the L.G [Lt.-Governor].”.A third UCP told the Western Standard the statement of the second UCP MLA was correct..But that wasn’t enough for Shandro when Sweet asked when Kenney was going to call an election..“We are focused on the pandemic. We’re not focused on the games that the NDP are trying to play,” Shandro answered..Sweet asked again, referring to the Western Standard report..“I’m betting right now that (WS Publisher) Derek Fildebrandt is very happy that he’s being quoted by the member from Edmonton-Manning and his alt-right website… perhaps the member could also let us know if she’s going to to tell us what Infowars is also telling us about our response to the pandemic,” Shandro said..Sweet followed up, asking if the UCP is committed to holding the next election between March 1 and May 31, 2023, as mandated by current law..“Again the member is quoting the Western Standard, an alt-right website – it’s disappointing to see that from the NDP. We have our priorities, Mr Speaker, which is to respond to the pandemic.”.Shandro did not specifically answer the question around Kenney’s threat to UCP MLAs that they should fall in line, or face an early election..Shandro has come under heavy criticism from the right in Alberta, as the minister leading the lockdown and other COVID-19 related restrictions..One of the MLAs told the Western Standard that they are extremely upset with Kenney for “breaking the trust of Albertans by ripping up the phased reopening plan” from January..Kenney made an impassioned plea for his third lockdown..Kenney knew the announcement would cause a rift in his party, but he didn’t think it would be so swift or large. A day later 17 of his MLAs signed a joint public letter saying he had chosen the wrong path..Public anger at the new lockdown is also growing across the province with numerous businesses vowing to ignore the order. And people also became furious when they saw AHS officials, with the help of the Alberta RCMP, raided and barricade the GraceLife Church of Pastor James Coates..Coates was thrown in jail for more than a month for refusing to accept bail conditions requiring him to stop preaching at church services that did not comply with the provincial government’s restrictions..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
