On September 15, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney broke his promise and announced the province’s new vaccine passport system.
“It has now become clear that to save lives and prevent business closure, we must go further in encouraging and increasing vaccination and reducing the chance of infection for those who are unprotected,” Kenney said.
“That is why the government has reluctantly decided to adopt the ‘Restriction Exemption Program,’ a proof of vaccination program for participation in certain discretionary activities that have a higher risk of viral transmission.”
Kenney then said that no one will be compelled to be vaccinated against their will and that a negative COVID test will be accepted as an alternative — making Alberta’s vaccine passport system slightly less oppressive than Ontario’s… for now.
According to the Alberta government, starting September 20, businesses must either implement the Restriction Exemption Program requiring proof of vaccination or negative rapid test results or follow capacity and operating restrictions.
The new vaccine passport system will apply to sports, fitness, recreation, and performance businesses, including many youth-oriented sports and fitness businesses, restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, and nightclubs, and most retail, entertainment, and recreation facilities.
As in Ontario, essential services like grocery stores and hospitals are exempt.
Kenney’s announcement comes after weeks of denial following his return to a government hellbent on blaming the unvaccinated for the pandemic and restricting their rights.
In July, Kenney had essentially written off the pandemic, with Alberta seeing fewer and fewer cases each day while steadily lifting restrictions. However, when he returned on September 1, after a three-week vacation, he and his government were singing a different tune.
Rather than being warmly welcomed back, Kenney returned to claims that the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases was entirely a result of lifting restrictions too early and that the Alberta healthcare system was on the brink of collapse.
The UCP literally fundraised off NOT bringing in vaccine passports. These passports protect people, protect hospitals and protect the economy.
All the UCP sees is a political opportunity to pander to extremist members of their own Caucus. #ableg #abhealth https://t.co/ObUZSVqOoM— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) September 15, 2021
“If we do see this wave jeopardizing the healthcare system, we may have to take some very targeted actions,” Kenney said while responding to questions on Facebook Live.
Jason Kenney says "if we do see this wave jeopardizing the healthcare system, we may have to take some very targeted actions."
Kenney didn't say what those actions could be. ICU cases in Alberta have more than doubled over the last 10 days. pic.twitter.com/Cbuo5q5t3H
— Andrew Brown (@browncbc) September 2, 2021
While the suggestion of restrictions was enough to turn many against the distraught Premier, it also became apparent that vaccine passports may be on the table.
“[More] lockdowns? No. I think the trick is to get more people vaccinated. That is the alternative to lockdowns,” Kenney said.
The restrictions came two days later when he clarified what these targeted actions would be: a $100 bribe for the unvaccinated in the form of an incentive program to get a single jab, as well as a return to mask mandates and liquor curfews.
“The Delta variant of COVID-19 is causing concerning rises in hospitalizations in our province,” Kenney said on September 3, “almost entirely amongst unvaccinated Albertans.”
“COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide amazing protection against infection and severe disease, even with the Delta variant. So, I’d like to thank the 2.9 million Albertans who have chosen to roll up their sleeves.”
Perhaps, Kenney believed the restrictions would be enough to twist the arm of Albertans into getting vaccinated, but clearly, it was not.
Opposition leader Rachel Notley certainly did not think so and added additional pressure on Kenney.
“Vaccine verification is coming to Alberta whether Jason Kenney likes it or not,” Notley said. “The UCP must follow other provinces and step up.”
“By providing Albertans with easy and secure access to their immunization records while establishing a verification standard for public settings, Albertans who are vaccinated can protect their neighbours and continue to do the things they love to do.”
Simple. Secure. Scannable. And just in time for hockey season. By providing easy and secure access to immunization records while establishing a standard for large public settings, Albertans can protect their neighbours and continue to do the things they love. #ableg #abhealth pic.twitter.com/40anOBjia7
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) September 2, 2021
Following these announcements, Alberta MLA Peter Guthrie came out on September 7 to warn Albertans of the inevitability of vaccine passports, apologizing profusely while providing details of what the Kenney government had in the works.
“During last week’s announcement, it was also revealed to me that the province will be introducing a QR Code for Albertans to use as proof of vaccination for organizations choosing to introduce a so-called ‘vaccine passport’,” wrote Guthrie.
“Such a move suggests that the government’s position on this practice is shifting,” he continues, referring to Premier Jason Kenney’s flip flop. “Various public opinions exist on the use of vaccine passports, but I am not convinced it is a good practice for domestic use as it not only limits access to services and isolates individuals, it also provides a false sense of security for those who are vaccinated — all of which increases the divisions we, unfortunately, see now.”
The Alberta government subsequently announced a printable proof of vaccination card on September 14, with a QR code confirmed for release weeks later.
This brings us to today, with Kenney breaking every promise he made to Albertans regarding restrictions and vaccine passports.
Indeed, in less than one month, Kenney has gutted Alberta of its freedom and instituted the apartheid state for which Albertans blissfully believed they would be spared.
With representatives like these, who needs an opposition?
