By Chris Brown

Apology from Glasgo

MLAs split on province’s new public health restrictions, vaccinations

Sep 16, 2021 | 5:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat’s MLAs are striking different tones on the province’s new proof of vaccination program and on vaccinations themselves.

Businesses that require proof of vaccination for entry – a vaccine passport – can operate as normal. Those that don’t will be restricted by capacity limits and other measures.

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo says she “hates” the decision had to be made by the government to implement new health restrictions yesterday.

The UCP MLA says it shouldn’t have come to this and the decision was not made lightly but was necessary to protect the health-care system

“I know that there’s a lot of polarization and there’s a lot of really, really big feelings around vaccination and proof that comes with it and everything else that is being seen around the world,” said Glasgo. “But what I can say is I know that I cannot live with myself if we are turning people away from the ICU. And at the end of the day, this is about protecting human life.”

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Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes says he is against proof of vaccination.

“I am not in favour of vaccination passports,” he said. “No, I believe that again the premier has totally missed the balance between our civil liberties and keeping us safe and also we’re in a situation where we’re dividing society.”

He would prefer a better rapid testing system.

Barnes adds the province is now in a situation where Premier Kenney and the government is forcing businesses to get involved in dividing Albertans.

Glasgo and Barnes are also divided on vaccination.

Glasgo, who is fully vaccinated, says the restrictions were needed because of inadequate vaccine coverage

“We need to get people vaccinated so that we can take that pressure off of our health care system and so that we can keep businesses open,” she said.

Barnes, who will not disclose his vaccine status, says immunization is a personal choice for everyone to make.

He would only go so far as to recommend and ask all Albertans to talk to their family, doctor and health care workers and make their decision.

Glasgo said this fourth wave of COVID-19 can’t be compared to any other.

She said health-care workers are burning out to a greater extent than previously.

They need and deserve a break, she said.

Glasgo says she respects the decision on restrictions made by UCP leadership and offered an apology.

“I was in Calgary a few times over the past couple of weeks talking about these things with leadership and I can say it’s not a decision that anybody wanted to make,” she said. “At the end of the day I apologize to my constituents that we misled them. I apologize to my constituents that this isn’t what it was supposed to be and I will do everything I can to make sure they have the most information possible.”