MLA Calls Out Ineffective Measures in Support of a Full Return to Normal

One MLA says it's time to return to normal.

RJ Sigurdson is on board with dropping COVID restrictions.

With the mental and physical health impacts, he says it's clear this should be done as soon as possible.

"It's been clear to me, individuals over and over again, approaching me and expressing how they feel, and from what I see, this can't happen soon enough as far as I'm concerned."

He says that the feedback he's been receiving is still a bit mixed, though many support the dropping of COVID measures.

"The bulk of the input that I received on that was that people were happy to see it go, but definitely a lot of individuals didn't feel it was happening soon enough. And then of course, we do still have residents who are reaching out or that are concerned about the move forward and that have some questions and concerns."

Sigurdson says it's time to move forward and referenced the approval of the chief medical officer.

"But, of course, with the support we're receiving from our chief medical health officer to say it's safe to do so, you know, we have to recognize that, and with that also look at the overall picture, as I mentioned the overall impacts as a whole on our community and our society.

"We have to recognize that the ongoing pressures of these restrictions is something that's of a deep concern, and people want and see that it's time to move on."

One thing he does not support is the idea of municipalities putting in restrictions in contradiction to what's been stated by the chief medical officer.

"I'm not for municipalites overlapping into health issues. I feel that the province has Alberta Health Services, and if our chief medical health officer has said that these restrictions are no longer required, then I definitely don't support municipalities putting in restrictions in contradiction to that position."

According to the Alberta government, the provincial mask mandate will soon be no more, as will several other restrictions, effective March 1.

Sigurdson says it's time to recognize measures that have not been effective and move on.

"The intent of some of the things like the REP, it's more than clear that they were not effective. And we definitely have to recognize that and move forward, and remove those restrictions and get back to a place of normal."