By Chris Brown

Would release info weekly

Notley calls for independent COVID-19 Science Table

Sep 8, 2021 | 11:35 AM

Saying that Albertans need a credible source of information on COVID-19, the NDP is calling for the creation of an independent COVID-19 Science Table.

“Albertans need an independent, credible source of information one that is not compromised by the internal political drama of Jason Kenney’s UCP,” says Rachel Notley. “We need to take the political filter off of the science in this province.”

Notley said a more formal group with an official mandate needs to be established. The group would look at the evidence from around the world and consider the policy options available to keep Albertans safe.

In her plan, the group would be include recognized leaders from Alberta universities and hospitals and appointed by an all-party committee.

“Crucially, this table would release its findings to the public and answer questions on a weekly basis,” says Notley.

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“And the government, through that mandate that was defined, would be compelled at least to respond to these recommendations and justify decisions to not take them if they did not.”

She said the Ontario government has a similar table that has helped course-correct the government.

On Friday, the province announced a few measures aimed at curbing the spread of the fourth wave of COVID-19. An indoor mask mandate was put in place as of Saturday morning and bars and restaurants can no longer serve alcohol after 10 p.m.

As well, the province is offering a $100 gift card for people to get their first or second dose.

There were more than 4,900 new cases over the Labour Day weekend and 17 COVID-19 deaths. There are more than 600 people in hospital, 137 in ICU.

“Every day I hear the anger and the frustration of Albertans who want to know why this Kenney UCP government got this so wrong and refused to take action for weeks when that became clear while the warning signs of a fourth wave were obvious to everyone who was watching,” said Notley.

She says the premier is focused on saving his political skin and his policy choices are pandering to “the extremist fringe of his own caucus and his party.”

Notley said she’s confident a COVID-19 Science Table would call for vaccine passports, saying hard evidence in Canada shows vaccine passports immediately boost vaccination rates.

Kenney and UCP government has drawn a hard line against vaccine passports in Alberta.