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Kenney hoping to lift some COVID-19 restrictions next week

Addressed MLA travel controversy for the first time since New Year’s Day
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Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Wednesday the province will not be in a position in the short term to relax all of the restrictions that were put in place in November and December. (photography by Paul Taillon/Office of the Premier)

Premier Kenney took to Facebook live Wednesday night and explained to Albertans in part, the plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions.

Kenney addressed a variety of topics over the 80-minute live stream, including the MLA travel controversy that has swept the province this week. It was the first time he took questions since an appearance on New Year’s Day.

In terms of COIVD-19 restrictions, which are set to run out next week, Kenney said the province needs to measure public health concerns with the broader societal impacts of restrictions. The new public health measures were put in place in mid-December and were expected to last four weeks.

“We obviously want to move to a gradual relaxation or hopefully a return to a more regionalized approach, as soon as the numbers are in the right space,” Kenney said Wednesday, adding Alberta leads the country in per capita new cases, active cases and daily fatalities.

“We will not be in a position in the short term to relax all of the restrictions that were put in place in November and December.”

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Kenney also expressed disappointment about a number of MLAs and a minister who travelled outside of Canada over the holidays. He said their mistake was “insulting to Albertans.”

“I take responsibility as a leader and the premier for not having been absolutely clear that was not acceptable,” he said.

Kenney’s Chief of Staff Jamie Huckabay stepped down after travelling to the U.K. and Minister of Municipal Affairs, Tracy Allard resigned from her post after a trip to Hawaii.

He also stripped several MLAs of their committee duties including Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan.

The premier said he’s told those individuals that they should hold themselves to a higher standard than regular citizens.



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Byron Hackett

About the Author: Byron Hackett

Byron has been the sports reporter at the advocate since December of 2016. He likes to spend his time in cold hockey arenas accompanied by luke warm, watered down coffee.
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