Regional leaders unified in call for following restrictions

By ALEX McCUAIG Special to the News on May 6, 2021.

The latest round of public health measures announced Tuesday have put fuel on the fire for the already blazing debate regarding how the province is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. But the region’s elected leaders are calling for unity in tackling the spread of the virus by following the new measures.

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo, Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita and County of Newell Reeve Molly Douglass stressed to the News Tuesday of the need for a collective effort in fighting the virus.

Premier Jason Kenney called for much the same, while Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton added his voice for the need to adhere the latest restrictions to the News on Wednesday.

“If it’s going to take three weeks to do this, let’s do the three weeks. Let’s get it over with,” said Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton. “Let’s get back to functionality.”

But Hamilton also expressed frustration with the current situation.

“I hope it works because we’ve heard for 14 months that we are trying to curb this and it hasn’t worked,” he said, adding that as a small business owner himself, he can personally relate to what others are going through.

Hamilton added the next move can’t just be about reopening for businesses, “but knowing they can stay reopened.”

Following this week’s city council meeting – but prior to the latest restrictions being put in place – Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston stressed the end of the situation is in sight.

“We have done exceptionally well over the summer. We were almost under five cases and doing really well following the rules,” he said. “But I am asking, please, please we don’t have too much further to go.”

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