Alberta UCP holds Christmas party after health minister asked all to cancel plans
CBC
Alberta's Opposition says the governing United Conservative Party showed hypocrisy by going ahead with a Christmas party a few hours after the health minister strongly encouraged workplaces to cancel holiday gatherings.
A spokesperson for the UCP says the event was compliant with the Restrictions Exemption Program, Alberta's vaccine passport system.
NDP house leader Christina Gray says Albertans are sick of the government not following its own advice to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"This government continuing to ask Albertans to do what they say but not what they do is incredibly frustrating and unfortunately, I think, contributes to the challenges we're in now," Gray said Thursday.
Health Minister Jason Copping had asked workplaces Tuesday afternoon to cancel their holiday social gatherings to align with the province's work from home order, even if their get-togethers were set for venues participating in the vaccine passport program.
"These measures bear an extra weight during the holiday season when we want to gather with family and friends," Copping told reporters. "I encourage all Albertans to keep their contact with others limited this holiday season."
He also announced the government was expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, buying more rapid tests and imposing new capacity limits and rules in an effort to curb rising case numbers of the Omicron variant.
A few hours later, the UCP held a Christmas reception at Edmonton's Parlour Italian Kitchen and Bar.
UCP spokesman Dave Prisco said government officials decided to proceed with the party because the venue was compliant with regulations and the health minister had given the advice only a short time before.
"This event was compliant with the Restrictions Exemption Program and we were at reduced capacity at the venue throughout the evening," Prisco said in a email.
Prisco added that a UCP holiday party scheduled in Calgary for Wednesday was cancelled.
He did not respond to questions about how many people were at the Edmonton party.
Gray said the NDP caucus cancelled its holiday party, which had been set for Dec. 16, "to limit in-person contacts given rising COVID-19 case counts and other provinces imposing restrictions."
She said this is not the first time the UCP government has not followed its own advice.
Efforts to restore an iconic fish stage destroyed by fire over the summer is being supported by a piece of art in its likeness.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax today during a stopover before Ukraine’s president heads to the U.S.
A New Brunswick biochemist says fish and humans have something in common — and it could change how we look at promoting heart health.
When Gurdeep Khinda moved from India to Montreal 30 years ago, he thought his dream of becoming an actor on stage was over. He was too busy navigating his new life and there weren't any theatre groups in the city catering to the Indian community at the time.
More than 53,000 Manitobans have accessed birth control at no cost in the first year of the provincial government's free contraception program, the province says.
The Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band is inviting beginners and youth to try its free music program to help carry on the world-calibre musical ensemble's tradition.
Mayors of municipalities across southwestern Ontario say they’ve focused on the things they could control this year, as the U.S. trade war with Canada and the world has hammered local economies.
A house filled with snakes and spiders might be straight out of many people's nightmares, but to longtime exotic pet keeper Nolan Asplund, they’re like family.
The Ontario government is introducing new rules for publicly advertised job postings in the new year, but questions remain over whether the changes will result in tangible benefits for jobseekers.
Did you know ambulance services on Prince Edward Island were once largely provided by funeral homes?
The past 12 months brought big political headlines, new partisan players and plenty of parliamentary surprises. How much do you remember from it all?
The Ontario government has quietly given itself the power to override archaeological protections on development sites.
A freezing rain event that's left roads and trees across southwestern Ontario coated in ice has also seen emergency crews overwhelmed with calls for help from people without power and snapped trees.