(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Local politicians delivering mixed messages as province reverts back to step 1 restrictions

Apr 6, 2021 | 5:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- On Easter Sunday at least one local church appeared to defy public health orders.

The parking lot of Heights Baptist was relatively full, as worshippers could be seen entering and exiting the church without masks.

Mayor Ted Clugston was pressed for his reaction at Monday’s council meeting. He said the city is at the mercy of the province when it comes to restrictions, and when asked about what should happen to the church, he said he didn’t want to get into it, but stated he is a believer in personal freedoms.

“I do believe they have a right to free speech, and they do have the right to congregate. This is a difficult situation. If they would have called it a different type of gathering, a protest maybe people would have turned a blind eye to it,” he said.

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That message is in contrast to what health officials have been saying for months. Prior to the Easter weekend, the province’s chief medical officer of health pleaded with Albertans once again to avoid indoor public gatherings.

“ Do not gather with people outside your household with people indoors, and strictly abide by the restrictions,and public health measures in place,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw said during a press conference April 1.

Clugston isn’t the first local politician to speak out against the province’s restrictions.

MLA Drew Barnes was once associated with the End the Lockdown caucus, and he regularly pushes for a regionalized approach to restrictions.

City Councillor Jim Turner has also been very vocal, calling the province’s response to the pandemic, unacceptable. He also was in attendance at a local freedom rally.

The mayor said city councillors do follow a code of conduct, but in terms of the pandemic, and the many different views, they aren’t that limited in terms of what they are allowed to talk about.

“As a city councillor you can talk about whatever you want, as long as it is not criminal or inciting hate,” Mayor Clugston said.

In terms of enforcement, The MHPS, says they are obligated to follow the directive of the province when it comes to the public health order.

“If the province has created guidelines we will follow with our partner agency AHS, and if they decide that charges are warranted then we would support them in that, For us we are somewhat set in the middle here, we have varying public opinions on this, but for us we have to follow what guidelines are in place and what regulations are in place,” MHPS Chief Mike Worden said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Kenney pleaded with Albertans to follow the restrictions, as the province reverts back to step one in the reopening plan. Kenney said non-compliance is a large factor in the growth in cases which prompted the province to re-impose additional restrictions

Under some of the health guidelines, retail services must reduce customer capacity to 15 per cent of fire code occupancy. Only one-on-one training is permitted at indoor fitness facilities and no drop-in or indoor group fitness is allowed.

A further look into the restrictions can be found here.