By Troy Gillard

jason stephan

Red Deer-South MLA travelled to Arizona, premier’s office confirms

Jan 3, 2021 | 1:22 PM

The UCP MLA for Red Deer-South travelled to the United States this week and says he’s working on returning to the province “right away.”

Jason Stephan’s trip to Arizona was initially confirmed on Saturday by Christine Myatt, press secretary for Premier Jason Kenney’s office.

Stephan then issued a statement later in the afternoon. He stopped short of apologizing for taking the trip, saying instead, “There is already too much contention in our society and I regret if my actions have contributed to that. I look forward to moving past this experience and COVID, in positive directions.”

Stephan says it was October when he bought a plane ticket to Phoenix for departure on December 31.

He says the flight was “full, with individuals and families complying with health guidelines.”

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“Upon arrival, I continued to follow Alberta’s guidelines in Arizona, limiting contacts to immediate household members, etc.” Stephan said in his statement.

“I support individuals and families having the freedom to choose for themselves whether they travel or not, provided they are respectful of others in doing so. International travel, in and of itself, does not negatively impact Alberta’s COVID curve if it is done responsibly.”

Stephan went on to say, “I do not consider myself an exception to health guidelines. I have never asked Albertans to do things that I myself would not do – and that includes not travelling. I am returning home right away as requested by the Premier. Upon returning, I will be complying with all isolation requirements.”

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Myatt did confirm on Saturday that none of the following Central Alberta MLAs have left the province during the holidays: Adriana LaGrange – Red Deer-North, Ron Orr – Lacombe-Ponoka, Devin Dreeshen – Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, Jason Nixon – Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, and Nate Horner – Drumheller-Stettler.

Nixon not having left the province is notable after it was confirmed that his brother, Calgary MLA Jeremy Nixon, travelled to Hawaii.

Municipal Affairs Minister and Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard apologized Friday after admitting to taking a family vacation to Hawaii. Calgary-Peigan MLA Tanya Fir apologized Friday night for having visited her sister in the United States. It’s also been confirmed that Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn, who owns a home in Red Deer, travelled to Mexico.

Three other Alberta government, including Kenney’s chief of staff and two press secretaries, are also confirmed to have left the country despite provincial and federal advice to avoid non-essential international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alberta’s NDP Opposition says all 24 of its MLAs spent the holidays in Alberta.