By Chantal Wagner

"double edged sword"

Political scientist weighs in on latest set of Alberta restrictions

Apr 8, 2021 | 4:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Albertans seem to be divided when it comes to having more or less COVID-19 restrictions.

According to political scientist at Medicine Hat College, the division in the province is nothing new, but it’s more than it’s been for many years.

Jim Groom says Premier Jason Kenney is between a rock and a hard place with medical professionals and his committees advising stronger measures.

While members of the public want fewer restrictions.

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“At the same time, his base is really that rural setting of the small business owner. Those folks are the most supportive of the UCP on a general basis and this does cut their legs out from under them a little bit. But then you have the medical professionals who are overwhelmed, the number of people being admitted to hospitals, all these things impact as well. And the day that people are knocking at the hospital door and they say there’s no room is going to be a terrible, terrible aspect for Albertans as well.”

Groom believes Kenney is trying to balance restrictions, but he’s not sure if a balanced approach is working.

He says Kenney has also been providing an inconsistent message.

Kenney’s MLA’s are also not seeing eye to eye.

17 MLA’s have now signed a statement that they do not support this set of restrictions.

Groom says if the Premier announced supports at the same time as this week’s restrictions…he would have had far less resistance from Albertans.

“One of the things he’s at a little fault is we’ve been at this for 13 months, and this is the third lockdown. Now, when he made the announcement he said we’re going to discuss next week, meaning this week, some compensation for folks to help them out. Well if he would have done that announcement at the same time as the lockdown announcement, I think he would have had far less resistance from those folks who are losing their livelihoods and jobs.”

As for the MLA letter on restrictions, Groom says over half who have signed have strong ties to the Wildrose or rural constituencies before the UCP merger.