(Contributed photo)

By Troy Gillard

“You should all be ashamed”

Angry “Welcome Home” display appears outside MLA Jason Stephan’s office

Jan 4, 2021 | 6:05 AM

Angry Red Deerians aren’t just taking to social media to let Jason Stephan know how they feel about his recent trip to the United States.

A “Welcome Home” display popped up outside the Red Deer-South MLA’s constituency office Sunday night, a day after it was revealed that he travelled to Arizona despite advisories from both the provincial and federal governments to avoid non-essential travel outside the country over the holidays.

RELATED: Frustration grows as list of UCP MLAs who travelled over holidays grows

The display features a painted cactus saying “Happy 2021 Jason, (heart) AZ” along with palm trees adorned with Christmas cards and stockings.

One of the cards, addressed to Stephan and other MLAs who travelled abroad, said, “You should all be ashamed. You tell us stay home, save lives, Christmas is to be household members only. Yet how many have travelled out of country while people die alone with no loved ones at their side, while healthcare workers are denied holiday time because it’s ‘all hands on deck’ and work through Christmas, missing Christmas (and sometimes a loved one’s last one) with their families. You feel you are above all of the people affected by repercussions of COVID-19. Hope you had a fantastic holiday while the rest of Alberta put theirs and their livelihoods on hold. Congrats on showing us your true colours.”

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Another card read, “While most Albertans cancelled their trips this Holiday season, it seems that you believed you were above the rules. You are wrong. Your constituents demand your resignation.”

(Contributed photo)

The display also features print-outs of public health guidelines posted to the provincial government and UCP websites and of a tweet from Premier Jason Kenney in March where he told Albertans “If you have plans for leisure travel outside Canada – CANCEL THEM.”

More than 1,600 mostly angry comments have been posted to Stephan’s Facebook page in response to his statement regarding his trip to Arizona. Several hundred more have been shared on rdnewsNOW’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.

In his statement, Stephan offered no apology for his trip and said, “I support individuals and families having the freedom to choose for themselves whether they travel or not, provided they are respectful of others in doing so. International travel, in and of itself, does not negatively impact Alberta’s COVID curve if it is done responsibly.”

Stephan said he would be returning home “right away” as per Premier Jason Kenney’s directive issued Friday. Upon his return Stephan says he will be “complying with all isolation requirements.”

Kenney said he made an error by not issuing a clear directive earlier urging them to remain in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that there will be no punishment forthcoming to any of the MLAs or government staffers who travelled abroad.

RELATED: Anger, disappointment shared with “#AlohaAllard” sign outside Grande Prairie MLA’s office