UCP MLA suggests CERB funds used for Cheezies, cartoons and illegal drugs

Alberta’s NDP is calling for a United Conservative MLA to apologize for saying people collecting the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit are using the cash to buy drugs, eat cheesies and watch cartoons.

Shane Getson, the member for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, made the comments at a public meeting that was captured on video.

Getson says his remarks were taken out of context and that most people need the cash.

“It is absolutely vile that a UCP MLA would make such a baseless and harmful statement about the hardworking people of Alberta who were forced to access emergency support during a global pandemic,” said Christina Gray, NDP Labour Critic. “People accessed these funds because their workplaces shut down or because they or their families were forced to isolate. The UCP defends their own use of emergency support for their debt ridden political party, while their MLA attacks struggling Albertans who needed support.”

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Jaime Morrow is a substitute teacher from Lacombe and wasn’t able to work after schools closed in March. Her husband lost his job as an electrician in February.

“The CERB is what kept a roof over my family’s head and food in our stomachs for the past six months, as it did for many other Albertans and many other Canadians,” said Morrow on Wednesday. “This UCP government is completely devoid of empathy. They should (but won’t) be ashamed of themselves.”

More than one million Albertans have accessed the benefit since it was created in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

(With file from The Canadian Press and NDP media release)