By Chris Brown

Two avenues for government to enforce

Notley says enforcement of public health orders falls to the UCP government

May 3, 2021 | 3:15 PM

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the province is missing leadership and Alberta needs stricter penalties and stricter enforcement of penalties for those who defy the public health orders in place.

This comes the day after about 2,000 people attended a rodeo in central Alberta and as Hatters continue to wonder why a local restaurant that was issued a closure order on April 22 continues to operate.

Notley says she’s not familiar with the specific situation in Medicine Hat, but says ultimately enforcement of any public health measures is in the government’s hands.

She says there are two avenues they could go down.

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“The solicitor general who’s also the attorney general, has the ability to transparently issue guidelines to police services and the cabinet as a whole, by admission of Deena Hinshaw, has the ability to direct her on where to go with her recommendations and the act gives her the authority to make decisions around enforcement.”

Alberta Health Services has said it is considering legal options in regards to the rodeo near Bowden, Alta.

Notley says she believes a small number of people have too much access to the ear of premier and caucus. She adds that by continuing to allow a small minority Albertans to flout the rules without consequences others are emboldened to do the same.

“And then we suddenly find ourselves in a position where we have twice the number of cases of any other jurisdiction in North America,” she says.

She says it’s been 13 months of mixed messages and support for the arguments used by the people who are behind the anti-lockdown rodeos and rallies.

It’s time for the premier to send a much clearer message, she says, and to give more consideration to the vast majority of Albertans who are following the orders.

“We owe it to them to do more to stop those who refuse and who thumb their noses at the public health orders,” Notley says. “It’s only fair.”

The NDP on Monday proposed four measures to deal with enforcement.

The party wants to see fines for individuals who break the orders tripled to $3,600, which would be the highest in Canada.

The NDP also wants a specific fine created for anyone who obstructs the enforcement of public orders. That would include frontline workers enforcing mask mandates, physical distancing requirements and household rules for patio dining.

Clear and consistent enforcement guidelines from the solicitor general and transition fines under the Public Health Act to the new administrative penalty process introduced through Bill 21 The Administrative Penalties Act 2020 are also being called for.

Notley also said that 14 months ago, “you couldn’t get up in the morning without hearing Jason Kenney espouse the value of the rule of law and the need to make sure everybody follows the rule of law. Yet now apparently you can’t for love or money get the guy to utter the phrase.”