Alberta premier hopes cities stay in lockstep when provincial COVID-19 mask rules lift
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he hopes the cities of Edmonton and Calgary will stay in lockstep with the province when it comes to eventually lifting mask restrictions tied to COVID-19.
“I would just hope that everyone in the province follows the advice of the chief medical officer, whose team proposed our open for summer plan, which is a safe plan,” Kenney said Wednesday.
“We've seen places all across the world open up completely at much lower levels of (vaccine) population protection and see their (COVID case) numbers continue to fall.”
Earlier this week, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson suggested the city may go its own way on mask rules when the third and final stage of Alberta's reopening plan begins.
That stage, tentatively set for late June or early July, will occur when 70 per cent of eligible Albertans - those age 12 and older - have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.
At that time almost all restrictions will be lifted, including laws mandating masks be worn in indoor public spaces and in workplaces.
Iveson, responding to concerns from the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association, said the city is considering keeping the mask rules in place until at least 70 per cent are fully vaccinated with two doses.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi has said Calgary city council will discuss masking and weigh options, with community health and safety being the priority.
Asked if he would step in if necessary to keep the mask rules aligned provincewide, Kenney said, “We've been trying to work co-operatively with municipal leadership over the past 16 tough months.
“I hope that will continue to be the case, and I have got to believe that our municipal leaders will respect the (provincial) plan put forward.”
In a letter sent June 3, the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association urged the two mayors to continue mandating masks in indoor public spaces until the level of two-dose vaccination is higher and Alberta has more control over a more contagious COVID-19 variant first identified in India.
About 67 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one vaccine dose and about 15 per cent are fully vaccinated.
On Thursday, Alberta is set to take a major step toward reopening when Stage 2 of its plan begins, with many businesses shuttered for months finally able to reopen.
Gyms and other indoor fitness facilities can open for solo and drop-in activities as well as fitness classes.
Movie theatres are back in business, as are museums, art galleries and libraries. Restaurants can sit up to six people to a table indoors or out.
Public outdoor gatherings for events like concerts and festivals can have up to 150 people maximum. Day camps and youth camps are allowed, as are indoor or outdoor youth and adult sports activities.
Outdoor gatherings among family and friends are capped at 20 people. Similar indoor get-togethers remain banned.
Post-secondary schools can reopen to in-person learning.
Customer capacity at retail stores and attendance at worship services rises to one-third of the fire code maximum.
“We continue to be able to reopen thanks to Albertans who protect each other every day,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, said in a news release Wednesday.
“We can keep up this progress if Albertans continue to book their first and second-dose appointments and follow public measures, such as masking, maintaining a safe distance and staying home when feeling even slightly unwell.”
Alberta reported 313 new cases of COVID-19 and 4,204 active cases Wednesday.
There are 329 people in hospital with the illness, including 83 in intensive care.
About 3.2 million Albertans have received at least one vaccine dose.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.