By Adam Ophus

Following pandemic rules

NDP call out MLA Jason Nixon for supporting regional reopenings

Feb 17, 2021 | 2:45 PM

On February 11, the Alberta NDP Caucus sent out a media release calling for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon to be removed from the province’s COVID Cabinet Committee for allegedly undermining public health orders.

The NDP referenced a local news story where Nixon was quoted as saying that he would push for a regional reopening (lifting of public health restrictions) as opposed to on a province-wide basis.

The NDP claim that this would go in direct violation with Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, who had stated that a regional approach would increase the infection risk in those locations.

NDP Health Critic David Shepard stated in the release, “It is unacceptable to have someone at the table where the decisions on COVID are made actively undermining Dr. Hinshaw’s medical advice.”

The story the NDP referenced in their release quotes Nixon stating that in regards to regional reopenings he would, “continue to push that to be put in place.”

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Nixon’s Press Secretary Jess Sinclair says he would support a regional reopening, but only with the support and advice of public health experts.

Sinclair noted that the title of the news story cited by the NDP being “MLAs call for pandemic rules to be followed.”

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