NDP accuses Alberta government of ‘cowardice’ by avoiding debate on Kenney’s COVID-19 leadership

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Alberta’s NDP is accusing the government of “cowardice” after the UCP MLAs used their majority to avoid debating a motion condemning Prime Minister Jason Kenney’s leadership on COVID-19.

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The motion, which calls for formal censure of Kenney’s “failed leadership” before and during the fourth wave of the pandemic, was carried to the end of the legislature’s order document Monday night, increasing the likelihood that he will die in the order document without a vote. when the session ends.

On Tuesday, NDP MLA Irfan Sabir told reporters in the legislature that it was a “shameful display of cowardice” on the part of the government.

“Rather than debate the motion, Jason Kenney and his UCP MLAs ran away,” Sabir said, adding that the private member’s motion is about holding Kenney accountable for the crisis created in the healthcare system, including 15,000 surgeries. delayed.

During Tuesday’s question period, NDP leader Rachel Notley asked Kenney why members weren’t allowed to vote on their COVID-19 leadership history.

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Kenney responded that the House voted to adjourn the motion.

“The NDP is desperate to continue trying to divide people on the basis of the pandemic rather than uniting Albertans in enthusiasm for this economy,” said Kenney, who listed several recent major investments in the province.

In the legislature Monday night, House Deputy Leader Joseph Schow called the motion “frivolous.”

“Rather than discuss issues that would benefit Albertans, the NDP would rather spend time on a worthless motion,” said Schow.

Several UCP MLAs have publicly criticized Kenney’s leadership, including Richard Gottfried and former Cabinet Minister Leela Aheer.

Sabir noted that the motion could have given other members of the law a chance to speak at home.

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Independent MLA Todd Loewen, formerly a UCP MLA, said in a statement Monday that by avoiding a critical motion by the prime minister, the government “took open partisanship to a new level” and denied MLAs the opportunity to speak at name of your constituents.

“That Jason Kenney allows the private member’s business process to stop in a way that protects his own interest tells you everything you need to know about his respect for our democratic traditions and institutions,” Loewen said.

Notley commits to a more ambitious $ 10-a-day child care plan

After Alberta signed a $ 10-a-day child care agreement with the federal government on Monday, Notley pledged Tuesday to accelerate that plan by more than a year if elected in 2023.

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The current federal plan aims to deliver the reduced average rates by March 2026, but Notley said it would ensure the province has $ 10-a-day child care by the end of 2024.

“Five years is a long wait for parents now looking for affordable child care,” Notley said.

That would mean supplementing the federal contribution of $ 3.8 billion over five years with $ 2.8 billion in provincial funds. Based on the province’s latest budget, the province is projected to spend approximately $ 2 billion on child care over five years. Monday’s deal did not come with new provincial investments.

Notley told reporters that the revenue from the accelerated plan would come from tax revenue from the economic growth brought about by the program.

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