A panel reviewing Alberta’s COVID-19 response is calling for rule changes to ensure the premier and cabinet have the last word in future crises, with help from a new senior science officer. (Photo: Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press, David Opinko

COVID-19

Alberta COVID-19 panel calls for more cabinet control in crises

Nov 15, 2023 | 12:06 PM

EDMONTON, AB – A panel reviewing Alberta’s COVID-19 response is calling for rule changes to ensure the premier and cabinet have the last word in future crises, with help from a new senior science officer.

Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, who chaired the panel, said a senior science officer could create a roster of experts from medicine, social sciences, psychology and law to advise on decisions and their potential effects.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting global turmoil was unprecedented. Alberta, like the rest of the world, had to make decisions quickly and with limited, changing and even conflicting information,” Manning said.

“It is my hope that by adopting these recommendations, the Government will be better equipped to cope with future emergencies, and that the impacts on Albertans – their personal livelihoods, civil liberties, and mental health can be mitigated to the greatest extent possible.”

The report put forward more than 90 recommendations on how Alberta can better prepare rules, regulations and its organizational structure to deal not just with future pandemics, but any emergency.

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The core recommendation is that all province-wide emergencies are to be directed by cabinet and implemented through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.

According to the province, the recommendations fall into three main categories – improving the administrative framework used to respond to public emergencies, balancing the protection of Albertans from the harms caused by public emergencies with the protection of basic rights and freedoms, and increasing the overall capacity of the healthcare system.

In future pandemics or health crises, Alberta Health Services would be called on to make recommendations related strictly to health matters, but government would make all decisions through the emergency agency.

The report urges the government to spell that out in new legislation.

The full report can be accessed on the Government of Alberta website.