Mayor Ted Clugston at Monday's Council Meeting (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Clugston ‘completely disappointed’ with province’s restriction easement

Mar 1, 2021 | 10:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Mayor Ted Clugston did not mince words Monday evening when pressed about the province’s announcement of some easing of restrictions.

Earlier in the day, the province announced that libraries can open up at 15 percent capacity, and low-intensity group fitness can resume, but any high-intensity fitness is limited to one-on-one training. Drop-in fitness is still prohibited and rules surrounding mask-use and distancing still apply.

“I’m absolutely, completely disappointed actually,” Clugston said.

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“ The goalposts just keep getting moved. First of all, it was hospitalizations and now it is just cases and three weeks ago when they came out with their new relaunch plan and they had measurable targets, maybe you didn’t like them or you liked them, at least we had goals and now when the goalposts keep moving like this I get a little frustrated,” Clugston said,

The Mayor noted the city continues to pressure the province for a more rationalized approach to restrictions, but when asked about how the talks were going, Clugston said the province hasn’t been very receptive.

“It has been acknowledge receipt. Thank-you for your letter. Please don’t bother us again,” he said.

The mayor also called out a group of doctors in the province who were pleading with the premier to hold off easing restrictions.

“ I want to see every one of those doctors that said that to give half of their salary to a business owner, or restaurant owner. When you demand people to lose their livelihood you better be willing to give up some of yours,” Clugston said.

As of the last update, there are 20 cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat. A total of 519 people have recovered and there have been 17 recorded deaths.