Alberta lifted almost all of its COVID-19 restrictions as Premier Jason Kenney says his government will propose a bill to stop municipalities from imposing their own.
Kenney said the United Conservatives will quickly introduce legislation to amend the Municipal Government Act.
“If we have a patchwork of different policies across the province, it will create unnecessary division and confusion amongst the public,” Kenney said in Red Deer on Tuesday. “Having municipalities improvise their own policies when it’s not really their area of primary responsibility is, … unhelpful and divisive.
“And finally there’s no compelling public health rationale for it.”
Kenney’s comments came just hours after the province lifted almost all of its remaining public health orders aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.
There are no longer any caps on attendance at large events and no limits on public and private gatherings.
Employers are no longer required to have staff work from home.
Mandatory masking at indoor public places is also over, although face coverings are still required in critical areas, including at hospitals and on public transit.
Isolation requirements also remain for people positive for COVID-19.
Health Minister Jason Copping said declining hospitalizations and case numbers, as well as sustainable vaccination rates, allow for a safe relaxation of the rules.
“It appears that we’re heading toward the end of the fifth wave and moving to the endemic phase,” said Copping.
Alberta had fewer than 10,000 active COVID-19 cases on Monday and 1,224 people in hospital with the infection. There were 83 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, which accounted for about 80 per cent of expanded ICU capacity.
Calgary no longer requires mandatory masking to match the provincial change, but Edmonton has kept its bylaw. City council is to review it March 8.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi objected to Kenney’s announcement. In earlier waves of the pandemic, Sohi said, the premier respected the autonomy of municipalities and encouraged them to take action.
“Today’s announcement by the premier to take away the local government’s ability to make our own decisions is deeply disappointing,” Sohi said. “The implications of such an overreach will go far beyond the mask bylaw.
“It is something that can affect all municipalities across the province if the government decides to alter the (Municipal Government Act) whenever they do not like a policy a municipality has in place.”
Sohi said the city is considering a legal challenge.
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek also questioned the premier’s decision, particularly his call for unity and clarity in health policy, labelling it both an overreach and a “little gong show.”
“Why didn’t we need unity and clarity and lack of confusion in the midst of the pandemic when our health-care system was being absolutely crushed by variants?” said Gondek.
“This very premier said, ‘Municipalities, I urge you to set your own guidelines. I urge you to create your mandates. You are best equipped to understand what is needed for your citizenry.’
“That was then; this is now.”
In Edmonton’s downtown, Talat Jomha, owner of Pravda Hair, welcomed the end of restrictions but added: “What I don’t like is the idea that the province will say one thing and the city will say a different thing.
“It confuses everybody. It’s hard for us to apply it in the salon here. I wish they had one thing across the board and everybody goes by the same rules.”
In Calgary, resident John Gittins said Alberta needs to keep an eye on and react if COVID-19 numbers and trends worsen again, but said it’s a good time to lift restrictions.
“I agreed with (the mask mandate) when it was in, but it’s time we get on with our lives. We’ve got to live with this thing now,” said Gittins.
“We could go on indefinitely if we want to be absolutely 100 per cent perfect, but you’ve got to find a compromise.”
Megan Dornstauder said it’s nice to have a choice of mask or no mask, but said:, “I’m still cautious and I’m going to be wearing my mask inside.
“And I wish they would’ve kept the mask bylaw in place for students in schools until the end of the school year … to protect the teachers, protect the kids.”