Naheed Nenshi, MLA-elect for Edmonton - Strathcona, issued the following statement as Alberta measles cases now exceed entire United States count

“For a province like ours to have more cases of measles than the entire United States, whose population is 70 times larger than Alberta’s, is not just shocking, it’s proof that Danielle Smith’s UCP government has failed us all. This was not written in stone. With good public health measures, an immunization campaign and a minister who might have tried to stop it, this spread could have been prevented.  

“Alberta's New Democrat Caucus would have acted long ago to stop the spread of this highly contagious, potentially deadly, and completely preventable disease.  We are calling for a province-wide vaccination campaign, following the advice of public health experts, and allowing the Chief Medical Officer of Health to do their job and communicate with Albertans about the need to get vaccinated. 

“At this moment of the outbreak, the UCP government should be setting up public health clinics and encouraging everyone to get vaccinated to keep Albertans safe. 

“Instead, Danielle Smith and her uncaring, incompetent and anti-public health UCP government continue to ignore their responsibility to protect Albertans. We now have four different health ministers and not one of them is doing anything to get this contagious disease outbreak under control. 

“The Chief Medical Officer of Health and the recently demoted and strangely absent, minister of preventative health services, Adrianna LaGrange should be assuring Albertans there is an effective vaccine available to all. Please call 811 to check if your vaccines are up to date. If they aren’t you can get an MMR booster which could save your life.”