INNISFAIL - Devin Dreeshen, Alberta Agriculture minister and UCP MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, should be fired for allegedly lying to Cargill meat packing plant workers about their safety, says the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the official Opposition NDP.
In a release issued March 30, the federation said on April 18, 2020 Dreeshen told workers at the High River plant that their workplace was safe even though two hours earlier Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deana Hinshaw had told him that two federal inspectors had contracted COVID-19 while working at the facility.
Internal government documents show that the Kenney government knew Alberta’s meat packing plants were unsafe due to the risk of COVID-19 infection but lied to workers to keep plants running, said AFL president Gil McGowan.
“These documents show the Kenney government’s mishandling made these workplaces downright dangerous, for workers, their families and their communities,” said McGowan.
Dreeshen’s office did not reply to repeated requests for an interview with the MLA. The government did provide the following statement:
“Health and Labour officials worked to mitigate the risk to workers, which Dr. Hinshaw spoke to extensively at the time. At no time did Alberta's health expert officials recommend the closure of meat plants.
“At all times the government followed the expert medical advice of its officials, including Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hinshaw.”
NDP leader Rachel Notley says Dreeshen should be fired from his ministerial position and that a public inquiry should be held.
“Devin Dreeshen told workers their workplace was safe when he was fully aware of further transmission occurring in the plant after the protective measures were put in place,” said Notley.
