B.C.’s political parties say no MLA’s have left the country during the pandemic.
It comes after it was revealed that multiple Alberta politicians left travelled to the United States for vacation and Ontario’s Minister of Finance was caught spending his holidays abroad in St. Barts.
Five United Conservative Party members in Alberta travelled over December including Tanya Fir, who represents Calgary-Peigan riding, travelled to Las Vegas to visit her sister.
Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn went to Mexico and Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South, visited Arizona.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Nixon, MLA for Calgary-Klein, and travelled to Hawaii — as did the province’s Municipal Affairs Minister, Tracy Allard.
“I’m issuing this clear directive today that we will not accept folks in senior positions of leadership of public trust travelling abroad,” said Alberta Premier Jason Kenny on Thursday,
Yet, Kenny is not punishing them, saying it was his fault for not setting a clear directive.
“I don’t think it is reasonable for me as a leader to sanction people who very carefully followed the public health orders and legal requirements, in a province where we have frankly been encouraging safe travel,” he said.
The argument is making international headlines, with outlets such as the Washington Post picking up the story. Critics say advisories were in place and say they felt the politicians were bending the rules.
“That leaves the public with a sour taste,” said David Black, an associate professor at Royal Roads University’s School of Communication and Culture. “Because everybody — the political class and ordinary Canadians — have been asked to be on their best behaviour, to commit to getting us through the pandemic through ways that can not be ultimately legislated.”
CHEK News reached out to all three parties in the B.C. Legislature.
The B.C. NDP sent a statement that says none of their caucus or cabinet members, which includes Health Minister Adrian Dix or Premier John Horgan, have travelled out of the country since the pandemic began in March.
The B.C. Liberals saying no Liberals have violated any travel restrictions or travelled.
The B.C. Greens say Party Leader Sonia Furstenau and MLA Adam Olsen have not travelled since the pandemic began.
“I think the politicians take their cue from the public health officer,” added Black. “In this case, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and she lays a strong moral foundation how the political class in British Columbia at large should behave, and other provinces have been a little less stringent.”
Julian Kolsut
