Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson appearing virtually at the emergency debate at the House of Commons Wednesday night on Alberta's COVID-19 situation.--Photo Courtesy of the House of Commons
Alberta’s lone non-Conservative MP asked for and was granted an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the COVID-19 situation in the province Wednesday.
Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Heather McPherson launched the bid to have the debate, stating the situation in Alberta is so bad that Parliamentarians have an obligation to acknowledge it.
“The premier and prime minister are playing political games,” said McPherson during the debate, “and Albertans are dying.”
In an interview with the News prior to the debate, McPherson said successive federal governments failed to prepare the country for a pandemic while “our provincial government’s response has been absolutely abysmal.”
She highlighted Alberta has the highest rate of COVID-19 on the continent, while hospitals are preparing to deal with triage of patients and, “who lives and dies. That’s what we are looking at.”
McPherson said if the provincial government can’t control the situation, the federal government needs to step up and provide more assistance.
“I can’t stand by and watch my province burn and watch (PM Justin) Trudeau brush his hands and say, ‘not my problem,'” said McPherson.
As for the federal government over-reaching its jurisdiction when it comes to infringing on provincial responsibility for dealing with health matters, McPherson said during Wednesday’s debate, “not one family I’ve talked to said they don’t want help from either government to save their loved ones. No one is saying the feds shouldn’t act because it’s up to the province. They want their elected officials to throw everything we have so their loved ones can come home at the end of the day.”
Contacted Wednesday regarding the calls for unity in supporting this week’s added health restrictions, Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz provided a written statement stating he doesn’t insert himself in provincial or municipal jurisdictional matters.
But he is asking constituents to follow public health measures.
“From day one, I have always encouraged Canadians to follow all public health guidance and measures,” read Motz’s statement.
He also criticized the Liberal government’s handling of vaccine rollout, testing and instituting border controls.
“To avoid criticism, they’ve tried shifting the blame for their inaction to the provinces, municipalities, international travellers and anyone else they can think of,” the statement read.
Though Motz says he has yet to be vaccinated, he strongly encourages constituents to consider getting the shot as evidence shows it prevents the spread of COVID
