Edmonton, October 11: Alberta’s new premier, Danielle Smith, wants to shake up the province’s healthcare system and protect those who were not vaccinated for COVID-19, calling them “the most discriminated-against group” in her lifetime.
After being sworn into office Tuesday morning, Smith, while speaking with the media, pressed on the use of the sovereignty act and declared the unvaccinated as the most oppressed.
“[The unvaccinated] have been the most discriminated-against group that I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,” Smith told reporters at the legislature.
Smith says she doesn’t “take away from any of those groups,” referring to 2SLGBTQI+ and other marginalized people, but wants the public to know “that we are not going to create a segregated society on the basis of a medical choice.”
At her swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Smith added, “Albertans have been through so much over these last two and a half years. Our rights and freedoms have been tested.”
“I will ensure as head of this government that those rights and freedoms are protected and will never be taken for granted again.”
When asked about Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Smith said she would look for a different approach as the COVID-19 response has changed.
“I appreciate the work that Dr. Deena Hinshaw has done, but I think that we are in a new phase where we are now talking about treating coronavirus as endemic, as we do with influenza. So I will be developing a new team of public health advisers,” Smith said.
Hinshaw and others with AHS remain for the time being, but Smith has indicated that she would seek a new management team by the end of the year.
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