Lawyers Jeff Rath of Rath & Company and Leighton Grey, contracted by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, are representing three people named as applicants — along with two Alberta churches — in a lawsuit against the Alberta government..Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw has been in court to defend her public health measures brought in across the province during the pandemic..Court proceedings resumed last week in the court case — Ingram et all vs. the Alberta government — that launched more than a year ago..During Monday’s testimony, Hinshaw refused to take responsibility for provincial lockdowns and mandates, repeatedly stating she made recommendations to cabinet and it was cabinet that made the orders..On Tuesday, Hinshaw confirmed her public health orders were a factor in negative outcomes for Albertans. She also again made a statement regarding the orders being “policy decisions of cabinet” after Rath questioned whether she had recommended AHS direct more money to deal with hospital capacity issues..“In the context of issuing your CMOH orders, did you have these very specific appointed discussions with [AHS] about putting more money into increasing capacity as opposed to stripping Albertans of their civil liberties?” said Rath..“It’s important to remember that the orders were the legal instrument to implement the policy decisions of cabinet and so there was a group of people who deliberated and who ensured again that everything that could possibly be done to expand acute care capacity was being done,” said Hinshaw..During testimony on Wednesday, Hinshaw acknowledged the “new normal” she referenced to Albertans on several occasions would include complying with restrictions on certain freedoms..On Thursday during cross-examination, Hinshaw claimed she was “following published evidence” for outpatient treatments that indicated no therapies were effective in treating COVID-19 at the time..Rath referenced a number of other studies and jurisdictions where outpatient therapies were being used to treat COVID-19, although Hinshaw indicated she was unaware of any of the references Rath mentioned..“As the chief medical officer of health of Alberta, did you look at any other jurisdictions that were providing outpatient treatment to patients suffering from COVID-19?” asked Rath..Hinshaw said it was not her role to explore outpatient therapeutics..Watch the exclusive interview with Jeff Rath as he examines Dr. Hinshaw’s testimony during her cross-examination and shares his thoughts on what stood out to him from her claims..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.mrisdon@westernstandard.news
