Kenney insists no rules were broken during Sky Palace patio dinner that defied COVID-19 restrictions
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Premier Jason Kenney is doubling down on the claim that he and three of his cabinet ministers did not violate public health orders with a Tuesday night patio dinner at the Federal Building.
Photos obtained by Postmedia show Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon, Finance Minister Travis Toews and at least two others eating on the patio of the offices commonly known as the Sky Palace.
The rules, which took effect on Tuesday, require physical distancing among members of different households in outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people. In the pictures, some in the group are seated closer than the required two metres apart, and none are wearing masks.
Similar to what Kenney said the day before, he repeated on Thursday in question period that the meeting was allowed under public health rules because there were fewer than 10 people outside.
“We had a business dinner which we moved outside with six people that was fully rule compliant, and what the NDP should be doing is joining us in encouraging people to move things outside,” said Kenney.
The Premier did not address why the group did not appear to follow mandated safety measures including distancing, which are posted on the government website and in a formal order that was signed by chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw on May 28.
Under restaurant patio dining rules, only four people from the same household are allowed per table, or three if someone lives alone and the other diners are their close contacts.
“We made every reasonable effort to be physically distanced outdoors, rather than doing an indoor meeting,” said Kenney.
Kenney noted that he attended a similar outdoor picnic two weeks ago, and plans to attend a barbecue tonight.
“We actively encourage Albertans to move to outdoor social gatherings, as long as it’s fewer than 10 people,” said Kenney.
Kenney deflected several questions by accusing New Democrats of not wanting the province to reopen. He also noted that attendees paid for the meal themselves, and he dismissed allegations of entitlement and elitism by saying the Jameson whiskey, pictured on the table, is a “budget liquor.”
At Thursday’s COVID-19 update, Hinshaw said she could not judge whether adequate safety measures were being taken based on the photos.
“With new rules coming into effect, I think there’s always a bit of confusion about which rules apply in which setting,” said Hinshaw.
She noted that outdoor events present a lower risk than indoor gatherings, but that two meters of physical distancing is required to mitigate risk.
“With respect to role models and setting an example, I think all of us sometimes make mistakes … where we’re doing our best to follow the rules in place and (if) there’s a mistake made, that we acknowledge that and move on,” said Hinshaw.
Both Todd Loewen and Drew Barnes, former UCP MLAs now sitting as Independents, and the Official Opposition, said the gathering shows that Kenney’s government believes it is above the public health rules for other Albertans.
NDP deputy leader Sarah Hoffman called for Kenney to apologize to Albertans for violating his own public health orders.
“This is the height of hypocrisy,” Hoffman told reporters.
Loewen said before question period that Kenney’s decision to hold the event was “shameful.”
“It’s a pretty obvious case where the Premier is not living by the rules that he’s instituted himself,” said Loewen. Barnes said Kenney should resign over the debacle.
In April, Kenney said dissent within his party over COVID-19 orders was part of a healthy democratic debate, but any MLAs breaking health rules would be expelled from UCP caucus.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
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