EDMONTON — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Alberta, the Opposition NDP is calling on the government to hold an emergency sitting at the legislature to pass two bills.
First, the NDP is looking to introduce 10 days of paid sick leave that would help eliminate the transmission of COVID at the workplace, and secondly, reintroduce the commercial eviction ban to bring relief to Alberta businesses.
NDP House Leader and Labour Critic Christina Gray says the province needs to step up and give Albertans the options to protect themselves.
“The premier has repeatedly failed to recognize workplaces as a common source of transmission. If we want people who are sick or symptomatic to stay home, we need to give them the financial security to make that choice,” Gray said.
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She added the talks of a possible vaccine passport in Alberta is good news, but the province needs to quit dragging its feet.
“But to be clear the Official Opposition has been calling for weeks for a safe, secure, scannable solution. We need to be supporting businesses, workers and Albertans in this crisis that we’re in, and instead, we’ve seen a premier that has disappeared for weeks on end and a crisis that’s expected to get worse and worse,” Gray adds.
She says that many businesses across the province can’t wait until Oct. 25 for when the House is scheduled to reconvene.
“Our caucus is ready to work — to do whatever it takes — to protect Albertans and walk a path out of this crisis.
“If the legislature were recalled this week, we would work with the Government to pass this life-saving policy and any other bills necessary to protect Albertans. I believe that working collaboratively we could get these measures through the House in a single day,” she said.
The Opposition sent a letter to House Leader Jason Nixon to recall the Legislative Assembly and 660 NEWS has also reached out to the UCP government for comment.
