Alberta- Premier Jason Kenney, in conjunction with Minister of Health Tyler Shandro and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has rolled out a set of new restrictions as Alberta enters a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With cases on the rise, the United Conservative Party of Alberta is facing pressure from health officials to find different ways of lowering the province’s case count while also working to appease the concerns of Alberta’s citizens.  

Premier Kenney’s new restrictions include; mandatory masks in indoor spaces in the Calgary and Edmonton areas, a cap of 10 persons who may attend weddings and funerals, and new restrictions for school children. These include grades 7-12 moving to online learning. However, all students will be returning to in-person classes on Jan. 11, 2021.

“To protect our vulnerable, we all need to do our part to help limit community spread.” Said Premier Kenney in a press conference on Nov. 24, 2020, “These steps are not being taken lightly.”

However, Albertans appear to have mixed emotions about Premier Kenney’s new restrictions. Between anti-mask rallies taking place all over the province and small businesses worrying over how they will make enough income with the holidays just around the corner, there is a fair bit of contention around the new rules. Not only that, but some Albertans feel that Premier Kenney is not doing enough to help them.   

“Keeping non-essential business open is directly killing the lower class. Those who work full-time are allowed to work remotely and safely. But minimum wage workers, self-employed people, and those with disabilities are stuck in our current predicament. Kenny should have closed everything down but essential businesses from the beginning. This is too little too late,” said Max Beatie, a self-employed model.

As well, many Albertans feel that Premier Kenney’s new restrictions are too little too late with no serious province-wide action being taken until now.

“I don’t think these restrictions will work well because people suck. I like that we finally have some provincial laws but we started them later than we should have,” said gas station attendant, Thomas Foster.

But, whether or not people agree with them, Premier Kenney’s new restrictions are now in place and ready to be enforced.

For more information on the new public health emergency please visit https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx