As pressure from the Freedom Convoy protests over COVID-19 mandates mount, two Canadian provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have announced they are dropping some COVID-19 restrictions and will no longer require proof of vaccination.
Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney announced that as of Wednesday, his province will no longer require vaccine passports in a three-step phase-out of COVID-19 mandates.
“The time has come to lift COVID-19 health restrictions in Alberta and begin getting back to normal,” Kenney said.
Food and beverages will now be allowed at large venues, and mandatory masking for children will end Feb. 13 at 11:59 p.m., with capacity limits ending and all indoor masking requirements gone March 1.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also announced that his province will get rid of its proof of vaccination or negative test requirements on Feb. 14.
It’s time to heal the divisions over vaccination in our families, in our communities and in our province.
Today, we announced the end of the proof of vaccination/negative test policy effective February 14, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. pic.twitter.com/dvLuY9viHr
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) February 8, 2022
“The benefits of the proof of vaccination policy no longer outweigh the costs, this policy most certainly has run its course,” Moe said. “So it’s time for us to take a step back in living with COVID and make every effort to get our lives back to normal.”
WATCH: TRUDEAU FACES HEAT FOR NOT MEETING WITH FREEDOM CONVOY PROTESTERS
Moe’s announcement follows his promise on Jan. 30 to end Saskatchewan’s proof of negative test or proof of vaccination policy when he issued a letter in support of the Freedom Convoy truckers, saying vaccination mandates were an unnecessary burden on the economy.
Both Moe and Kenney stated that their easing on COVID-19 restrictions comes at a time when divisiveness over vaccine mandates must stop.
“It is time for us also to heal the divisions in our communities over vaccination,” Moe said. “Those divisions are in our families, yes, they are in our communities, but they are across our province and across this nation.”
“Now is the time to begin learning to live with COVID,” Kenney said. “These restrictions have led to terrible division.”
Alberta’s premier added that none of the restrictions staying in place will end COVID-19.
“We will likely also see times when there is additional pressure on the hospitals,” Kenney said. “But restrictions, mandates, and those kinds of interventions will not and must not become a permanent feature of our lives.”
Kenney also called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end the vaccine mandate for truckers.
If the Canada-USA trucker vaccine mandate wasn’t bad enough, now Justin Trudeau wants to bring in a mandate for truckers going between provinces.
Alberta will fight this every step of the way – including in court, if we have to.
? WATCH: ⬇ pic.twitter.com/YvUTSgAj1t
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) February 8, 2022
“If the Canada-USA trucker vaccine mandate wasn’t bad enough, now Justin Trudeau wants to bring in a mandate for truckers going between provinces,” Kenney tweeted.
The decisions to ease up on COVID-19 restrictions have drawn praise and criticism.
Dr. Noel Gibney, professor emeritus in the department of critical care medicine at the University of Alberta, said the decision to remove restrictions is premature.
“COVID is far from over,” Gibney said. “Our healthcare system is still under severe stress.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business wrote in support of ending vaccine mandates.
“Removing business restrictions is a big step, but only the first toward a small business recovery plan,” CFIB President Dan Kelly said.
Residents of Ontario, where the Freedom Convoy protests are being held, called on its government to also end restrictions.
“Dear Premier Ford, Saskatchewan has lifted their vaccine passport requirements,” a Twitter user wrote. “Please do the same for Ontario, we need to move on with our lives and stop this divisive policy that has no meaningful health benefit whatsoever. Please let us go back to our normal lives.”
@fordnation Dear Premier Ford, Saskatchewan has lifted their vaccine passport requirements. Please do the same for Ontario, we need to move on with our lives and stop this divisive policy that has no meaningful health benefit whatsoever. Please let us go back to our normal lives.
— Lisa (@SpringMorning92) February 8, 2022
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Freedom Convoy truckers enter their 13th day of protests in Ottawa as they vow to stay in place until the Canadian government removes all COVID-19 mandates.
