WATCH： UCP MLA calls on Kenney government to end vax passports
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
134.1719
Summary
The time is well upon us to make a transition beyond restrictions, to move away from divisive policies, and begin healing this province. In speaking with constituents, I m feeling a shift occur, a positive shift in sentiment. Omicron is making people realize that perhaps this virus is subsiding in strength, and we may be through the worst of it. Which provides a renewed sense of hope. But it has also become apparent to many that yes, the vaccinated can still get and transmit the virus, just the same as an unvaccinated individual.
Transcript
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Hello everyone, MLA Pete Guthrie here. We are now approaching two years dealing with COVID,
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and the time is well upon us to make a transition beyond restrictions, to move away from divisive
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policies and begin healing this province. In speaking with constituents, I'm feeling a shift
00:00:19.680
occur, a positive shift in sentiment. Omicron is making people realize that perhaps this virus is
00:00:27.040
subsiding in strength and we may be through the worst of it, which provides a renewed sense of hope.
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But it has also become apparent to many that yes, the vaccinated can still get and transmit the virus,
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just the same as an unvaccinated individual. On this path to transition, we should center on a
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couple of areas. One focus should be providing normality for children, especially within the
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school system. And the second, and my focal point for this video, being the elimination of vaccine
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passports, or the restrictions exemption program, as we call it in Alberta. Now as some of you may know,
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I've been outspoken against vaccine passports since they were initially proposed. I can also tell you
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that there has never been any evidence presented to me indicating that passports are effective in
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reducing spread or that they lead to improved outcomes. Vaccine passports have serious side
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effects. One, they divide society, pitting people against each other, causing animosity, even amongst
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the closest of friends and family. Two, it is counter to medical privacy, an area that was always, without
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question, previously protected. And three, it's expensive for business to implement. It causes numerous
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conflicts between owners and their customers, and it limits their clientele, therefore negatively affecting
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their bottom line. The province's own data shows that vaccinated Albertans continue to
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disproportionately account for new cases and hospitalizations. It is unnecessary to continue enforcing
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policies that infringe on the rights and freedoms of Albertans with no demonstrable positive outcome.
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In my view, vaccine passports are more about conforming to the norm than they are about healthcare.
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Vaccine passports are really a freedom negotiating tool. They're a mechanism to make life so uncomfortable
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for people that they succumb, undermining choice. And on that point, our province now has approximately 90%
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of those 12 and older who are vaccinated. And I think it's pretty safe to say that anyone that has not
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gotten the jab by this point is not going to. If Alberta truly wants to claim that we do not have a vaccine
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mandate, then getting rid of this policy would be an excellent first step in our transition away from
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restrictions. We should learn from our mistakes. And this is wrong, so let's not keep acting like it is
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right. Albertans need to take the lead. Vaccine passports are the epitome of leftist identity politics.
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Removing them will come with outrage from the opposition and gaslighting from the media,
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but it is the right thing to do. So let's show other provinces and this repressive federal government
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what leadership looks like. Let Alberta become the beacon of hope for Canada. Thank you, everyone.