OLDS - Area MLAs Nathan Cooper and Jason Nixon are calling on area businesses and individuals to adhere to provincial COVID-19 restrictions as some health measures are set to ease starting this week.
“I think it is important that we all do what we can to adhere to the public health orders,” said Cooper, adding, “I am very sympathetic to the rural business owners and in particular the rural restaurant owners. They face some major challenges in respect to operating.”
Alberta’s minister of Environment and a member of the provincial cabinet committee overseeing the COVID response, Nixon said the government is trying to strike a balance between health care and the economy.
“I want to encourage everyone when they expressing their frustrations and protesting, which is their right, that they are doing it in a way that keeps them safe and helps keeps the rest of us safe. Follow the rules set out by Alberta Health,” said Nixon.
The Alberta Health COVID regulations are “in place not only to keep us safe as individuals but to keep loved ones safe,” he said, adding, “People who have had to shut their businesses during these times have paid a price. I appreciate their sacrifices and I appreciate my constituents who have had to sacrifice.”
In recent weeks some businesses, including at least one in this region, have openly defied the provincial restrictions on re-opening.
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The easing of restrictions set to come into effect this week include allowing restaurants, pubs and cafes to re-open to in-person service, with a maximum of six people per tale and the customers must be from the same household or the two close contacts for people living alone.
The new stepped approach to re-opening based on hospitalization numbers is a workable plan, said Cooper.
“I think it is a step in the right direction that the provincial government has laid out a very clear path to what re-opening looks like and what the stages will be for restrictions to be lifted,” said Cooper.
Asked for his response to some health-care professionals saying re-opening businesses now is not a good idea, MLA Nixon said, “Our doctors and our nurses are concerned about keeping the health-care system operating, which is the main goal here, so this is why we need to continue to work together to help keep the health-care system open.”
Official opposition leader Rachel Notley said Premier Jason Kenney should provide case modelling and evidence supporting the safety of proposed phased re-opening.
“I fear our premier is bending to political pressures rather than scientific evidence, even as we are seeing growing examples of clear disrespect and disregard for the rules without serious consequences being imposed,” Notley said during a recent press conference.
“The premier continues to ask us to trust him but he has abused that trust during this public health emergency time and time and again. He must replace trust with information.”
She wants to see businesses re-open, but she wants it to be done safely.
“We must reconsider if now is actually the best time to be loosening public health restrictions, as so many provinces and the federal government are actually moving to tighten them,” she said.
Meanwhile, MLA Cooper continues to push for a regional approach to further re-opening in the province.
“I’ve continued to advocate for a regional approach and have raised those concerns with the members of the committee that make these decisions. I’ll continue to advocate for a regional approach,” Cooper said.
Nixon said he is open to a regional approach if it proves workable.
“When the numbers are showing that regional approaches will work, I think that makes sense,” said Nixon. “We have a very big province and different regions have different needs, so I have no concerns with a call for a regional approach and will continue to push that to be put in place.”
