by The Honourable A. Brian Peckford
October 12, 2023
What Happened To Daniel Smith ? Swallowed By The Swamp?
You can’t make this up!!
When Smith interviewed me just a short two years ago before she ran for the Party leadership , she was full p—and vinegar —democracy —-the people , freedom —no coercion , nothing forced—let the person decide. Especially as it relates to the pandemic. She was curt with me about the Charter and its reach and effectiveness.
Then she is no sooner in power and she appoints Preston Manning to a Covid Inquiry helping to cause a ethical , conflict of interest issue within the already established National Citizens Inquiry in which Manning was intimately involved dealing with the National problems of mandates and lockdowns etc all across the nation , including Alberta.
I informed Danielle of this. I recognize that Manning should have resigned from the NCI —but Danielle could have made it a condition of his appointment on her Provincial one, thereby avoiding the conflict of interest issue. She did not!!
Then did the Legislature get involved ? You know Democracy? That which Smith was all about and of which she relentlessly attacked her opponents and the federal Government? No, the Government proceeds to appoint members to the Inquiry and a terms of reference without any reference to the elected Legislature.
And were there Public Hearings?
Well , I went to the website of the —wait for it—-Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel —-you know the Covid Panel —-but the bureaucracy already made sure the name reflected their capture.
Any reference to public hearings , when and where etc???
NO, No!!
Just the following meaningless words from the website :
‘Experts and members of the public are invited to share their input on what amendments to legislation could better equip the province to cope with future public health emergencies.’
Not another word about the public let alone public hearings!!!
Oh, the next thing on the website is
‘Thank you for your input, we are currently reviewing feedback.’
You got to be kidding!! No , right there in black and white —just look , read it yourself !!
Democracy hijacked!
Now we learn that masks are already back in the health facilities of Alberta —before the FLAWED INQUIRY has even reported and without the Legislature being involved .
Epoch Times Reports
‘EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta Health Services (AHS) has the autonomy to bring in mask mandates in acute care facilities, but says she is still committed to not bringing in “province-wide mask mandates.”
“I believe that if Albertans want to wear a mask, they should. AHS has announced their decision to implement a new masking protocol in AHS acute care facilities,” Ms. Smith said in a statement to The Epoch Times on Oct. 11.
“We recognize that AHS currently has the autonomy to make this decision. It is my expectation that no Albertan will be denied access to health care.”
In a statement posted on the AHS website and social media on Oct. 11, AHS said it has issued the “Use of Masks to Prevent Transmission of COVID-19 Directive,” to come immediately into effect, and it will allow zone executive leadership and site leadership of acute care centres to decide whether to require masking by all AHS staff, doctors, midwives, students, volunteers, and workers in hospital laboratories.
Zone executive leadership is defined by AHS as the management team consisting of a chief zone officer and a zone medical director, while site leadership is the individual or individuals responsible for a specific facility of operation within AHS.
The two are supposed to work collaboratively to decide if masking is necessary.
Patients, Visitors
AHS said that if the “enhanced measures” are put into effect, masking will also be required for patients, visitors, family members, and designated support persons in emergency departments in acute care facilities and hospitals.
The directive said masking will be required if a masking poster is posted on patient doors. Masking under the newly implemented Alberta directive will also be required for workers, family, support persons, and visitors when the Medical Officer of Health recommends masks during an outbreak, by staff with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID test, or in contact with a “severely immunocompromised individual.”
AHS said the directive is in place to support individual zone and site leadership to determine if masking is necessary, and could include elevators, hallways, common areas, gift shops, and cafeterias, as the site itself decides.
The leadership is supposed to carry out a risk assessment in order of importance, firstly considering the rate of hospitalizations in people with COVID-19; as well as the outbreak number, size, and impact; the percentage of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients; test positivity; and situational context. The assessment “should be done” in collaboration with the zone medical officer of health, AHS indicated.
AHS states the leadership should be reviewing the mask directive if circumstances change. EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta Health Services (AHS) has the autonomy to bring in mask mandates in acute care facilities, but says she is still committed to not bringing in “province-wide mask mandates.”
“I believe that if Albertans want to wear a mask, they should. AHS has announced their decision to implement a new masking protocol in AHS acute care facilities,” Ms. Smith said in a statement to The Epoch Times on Oct. 11.
“We recognize that AHS currently has the autonomy to make this decision. It is my expectation that no Albertan will be denied access to health care.”
WOW!
Smith saying AHS has the autonomy.
Who gave it them??The Government and Legislature!
Responsibility lies with the Premier, The Government , the Legislature !!
No buck passing please!!
And it is ‘ my expectation that no Albertan will be denied access to health care.’ A rather lame pronouncement!
Should not a special Legislative Committee on Health be established to oversee any new health restrictions??
Interesting that the Premier is quoted as saying ‘acute care facilities ‘ but the rest of the press release indicates it to be more than just acute care facilities. A little double speak, methinks.
Was it not Bureaucracy that led to the the tragic circumstance of a death concerning transplants? In Alberta!
And right in this Alberta release carried by Epoch Times is the following —
“AHS also indicated that the management could implement masking requirements even beyond those allowed by the directive.’
This is the Government , Administration that promised a NEW DAY in political governance — a beacon for all us freedom lovers , accountability advocates across the nation .
