Western Standard - WATCH： UCP MLA calls on Kenney government to end vax passports

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.

00:00:00.640 Hello everyone, MLA Pete Guthrie here. We are now approaching two years dealing with COVID,

00:00:06.320 and the time is well upon us to make a transition beyond restrictions, to move away from divisive

00:00:13.200 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.

00:00:33.680 But it has also become apparent to many that yes, the vaccinated can still get and transmit the virus,

00:00:40.080 just the same as an unvaccinated individual. On this path to transition, we should center on a 1.00

00:00:48.480 couple of areas. One focus should be providing normality for children, especially within the

00:00:53.200 school system. And the second, and my focal point for this video, being the elimination of vaccine

00:00:59.840 passports, or the restrictions exemption program, as we call it in Alberta. Now as some of you may know,

00:01:07.840 I've been outspoken against vaccine passports since they were initially proposed. I can also tell you 1.00

00:01:14.560 that there has never been any evidence presented to me indicating that passports are effective in

00:01:21.120 reducing spread or that they lead to improved outcomes. Vaccine passports have serious side

00:01:30.400 effects. One, they divide society, pitting people against each other, causing animosity, even amongst

00:01:37.920 the closest of friends and family. Two, it is counter to medical privacy, an area that was always, without

00:01:46.880 question, previously protected. And three, it's expensive for business to implement. It causes numerous

00:01:53.680 conflicts between owners and their customers, and it limits their clientele, therefore negatively affecting

00:01:59.440 their bottom line. The province's own data shows that vaccinated Albertans continue to

00:02:05.840 disproportionately account for new cases and hospitalizations. It is unnecessary to continue enforcing

00:02:13.440 policies that infringe on the rights and freedoms of Albertans with no demonstrable positive outcome.

00:02:20.640 In my view, vaccine passports are more about conforming to the norm than they are about healthcare.

00:02:27.680 Vaccine passports are really a freedom negotiating tool. They're a mechanism to make life so uncomfortable

00:02:34.880 for people that they succumb, undermining choice. And on that point, our province now has approximately 90%

00:02:44.400 of those 12 and older who are vaccinated. And I think it's pretty safe to say that anyone that has not

00:02:50.800 gotten the jab by this point is not going to. If Alberta truly wants to claim that we do not have a vaccine 1.00

00:02:58.000 mandate, then getting rid of this policy would be an excellent first step in our transition away from

00:03:04.560 restrictions. We should learn from our mistakes. And this is wrong, so let's not keep acting like it is

00:03:11.760 right. Albertans need to take the lead. Vaccine passports are the epitome of leftist identity politics.

00:03:20.240 Removing them will come with outrage from the opposition and gaslighting from the media,

00:03:25.120 but it is the right thing to do. So let's show other provinces and this repressive federal government

00:03:32.640 what leadership looks like. Let Alberta become the beacon of hope for Canada. Thank you, everyone.

Western Standard - January 26, 2022

WATCH： UCP MLA calls on Kenney government to end vax passports

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