Today, Public Interest Alberta Executive Director Brad Lafortune made the following statement in response to the UCP Government’s sudden decision to suspend the legislative sitting as of Monday, May 3:
“Last April, Jason Kenney said ‘the work of democracy does not end in a crisis.’ Apparently if you’re Kenney, that is precisely when it ends, and you tuck tail and run from the hard work of leadership.
At this moment of crisis, Jason Kenney’s decision to suspend the legislative sitting is unconscionable and self-serving. While Alberta restaurant workers, teachers, health professionals, and hundreds of thousands of other front-line workers went to work today, Kenney and his government stayed home and locked up the legislature.
Not only did they skip work when Albertans across the province went in, but they left critical and life-saving work unfinished. Paid sick leave was supposed to be in place for Albertans who need it. There are much needed updates to protocols for online learning as more and more students transition across the province away from the classroom for the time being. Furthermore, enforcement of existing public health orders need to be bolstered so that Alberta can bend the curve and positivity rates, which are both unacceptable and entirely avoidable.
Right now, we need strong leadership in our province, not cowardice. Public Interest Alberta is supportive of strong workplace health measures. However, it is critical for the public interest and democracy that the government be held accountable by strong and transparent legislative processes.”
