Richard Gotfried, the UCP MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said the leadership of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and others in the party resulted in the COVID-19 crisis in which it now finds itself..“We clearly had 30 days notice that a crisis was looming, and nothing was done while we lacked any leadership at the helm,” the former UCP Calgary caucus chair in a Facebook chat on Thursday..“It cost us lives and I am gutted by the lack of responsiveness and unequivocal advocacy….“And I deeply apologize that my persistent efforts and unequivocal internal advocacy have now proven to have lacked the required urgency,” he said..“I am truly sorry, but even more wracked by sadness for the collateral impact on other vulnerable Albertans.”.In June, Gotfried was set to be removed as Calgary caucus chair for allegedly breaching caucus confidentially before he pre-empted the move by resigning..Several Western Standard sources inside the UCP Caucus said Gotfried angered some of his colleagues by speaking with insurance industry lobbyists about Bill 70, introduced to provide Alberta’s health care system with civil liability protection in the event of transmission or possible exposure to COVID-19 in health care settings..One of the MLAs told the Western Standard they believed Gotfried did not breach caucus confidentiality by leaking information, but that he only told the industry representatives if they wanted the bill passed, they would need to lobby MLAs..But another source said the party’s leadership demanded Gotfried apologize to the caucus, and he refused..Gotfried pre-empted his likely removal by announcing his resignation while taking a shot at Kenney for his Sky Palace dinner..Kenny was photographed with his top cabinet ministers outside on the patio of the Sky Palace..Gotfried slammed the “hypocrisy” of some of those in government when he resigned..“From the beginning of this pandemic, I have been vocal and outspoken both internally in caucus and in the community around the importance of leading by example, avoiding hypocrisy and walking the talk. None of us has been perfect, but as your elected representative, you rightly hold us to a high standard or, at minimum to the rules and regulations we set out for others,” Gotfried wrote in a Facebook statement..“I call upon ALL elected representatives, from all levels of government across our province to show leadership, to act responsibly and to avoid the hypocrisy that makes a mockery of the tough decisions we have to make and the sacrifices/responsible behaviour we have been asking of each and every Albertan for the past 15 months..“I fully intend to continue to be an outspoken messenger of what I am hearing from my constituents and, in fact, I just resigned as Calgary caucus chair on Thursday to ensure my message as the MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek is not conflated with my role as caucus chair. This will allow me even more latitude to speak unreservedly on matters of principle, ethics and government/caucus operations, hopefully for the benefit of all Albertans, and the earning of the TRUST that I think must be the cornerstone of any enduring public or private organization!”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Richard Gotfried, the UCP MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said the leadership of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and others in the party resulted in the COVID-19 crisis in which it now finds itself..“We clearly had 30 days notice that a crisis was looming, and nothing was done while we lacked any leadership at the helm,” the former UCP Calgary caucus chair in a Facebook chat on Thursday..“It cost us lives and I am gutted by the lack of responsiveness and unequivocal advocacy….“And I deeply apologize that my persistent efforts and unequivocal internal advocacy have now proven to have lacked the required urgency,” he said..“I am truly sorry, but even more wracked by sadness for the collateral impact on other vulnerable Albertans.”.In June, Gotfried was set to be removed as Calgary caucus chair for allegedly breaching caucus confidentially before he pre-empted the move by resigning..Several Western Standard sources inside the UCP Caucus said Gotfried angered some of his colleagues by speaking with insurance industry lobbyists about Bill 70, introduced to provide Alberta’s health care system with civil liability protection in the event of transmission or possible exposure to COVID-19 in health care settings..One of the MLAs told the Western Standard they believed Gotfried did not breach caucus confidentiality by leaking information, but that he only told the industry representatives if they wanted the bill passed, they would need to lobby MLAs..But another source said the party’s leadership demanded Gotfried apologize to the caucus, and he refused..Gotfried pre-empted his likely removal by announcing his resignation while taking a shot at Kenney for his Sky Palace dinner..Kenny was photographed with his top cabinet ministers outside on the patio of the Sky Palace..Gotfried slammed the “hypocrisy” of some of those in government when he resigned..“From the beginning of this pandemic, I have been vocal and outspoken both internally in caucus and in the community around the importance of leading by example, avoiding hypocrisy and walking the talk. None of us has been perfect, but as your elected representative, you rightly hold us to a high standard or, at minimum to the rules and regulations we set out for others,” Gotfried wrote in a Facebook statement..“I call upon ALL elected representatives, from all levels of government across our province to show leadership, to act responsibly and to avoid the hypocrisy that makes a mockery of the tough decisions we have to make and the sacrifices/responsible behaviour we have been asking of each and every Albertan for the past 15 months..“I fully intend to continue to be an outspoken messenger of what I am hearing from my constituents and, in fact, I just resigned as Calgary caucus chair on Thursday to ensure my message as the MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek is not conflated with my role as caucus chair. This will allow me even more latitude to speak unreservedly on matters of principle, ethics and government/caucus operations, hopefully for the benefit of all Albertans, and the earning of the TRUST that I think must be the cornerstone of any enduring public or private organization!”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
