David Shepherd, NDP Critic for Health, made the following statement today in response to the introduction of Bill 66, the Public Health Amendment Act:

“This bill is not about promoting public health. It’s mostly about cleaning up political messes for Jason Kenney and the UCP. It reverses their Bill 10 power-grab, which prompted a lawsuit and a party rebellion last year, and it removes several other government powers that have been in the Public Health Act for years and never used.

“This is bad political theatre from Jason Kenney to try and put down yet another rebellion inside the UCP. Jason Kenney didn’t present a plan today to keep students, staff, and families safe in schools. He didn’t present a plan to support workers or small businesses through the third wave. He didn’t even present his long-overdue ‘Alberta Jobs Now’ plan.

“Today we saw active cases of COVID continue to increase significantly, along with hospitalizations. And yet this premier and his Health Minister are using their time at the legislature to clean up his political messes. Albertans deserve better.”