Alberta Premier Jason Kenney refused COVID-19 help from N.L. premier

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney refused Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey’s supply to assist the Prairie province via the fourth COVID-19 wave because the health-care system teeters on the point of collapse.

There are at present 20,513 lively COVID-19 circumstances in Alberta, based on provincial information. Alberta Well being mentioned 1,100 persons are in hospital with the illness — 263 of whom are in intensive care.

‘The supply nonetheless stands’

Furey mentioned Tuesday Kenney requested him to face down.

“When the Alberta disaster was effervescent, Premier Kenney reached out, and we had a dialogue and supplied him comparable assets to what we supplied to Premier [Doug] Ford and Ontario,” he mentioned.

“He was supportive of that and open to it, and we started organizing right here on the bottom in Newfoundland and Labrador in live performance and co-operation with our regional well being authorities and have been in a position to put collectively comparable groups to what we did for Ontario.”

The beginning date would have been both subsequent week or the week after, Furey mentioned.

“Then final week, Premier Kenney mentioned that the state of affairs had advanced to the purpose the place their predictive modelling would recommend that they wouldn’t require assets at the moment,” he mentioned.

“I reassured them that we’d be there for him, and the supply nonetheless stands, supplied our personal state of affairs is OK into the long run.”

Kenney mentioned Tuesday discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador are ongoing.

“I used to be very joyful to obtain a name from Premier Furey — starting of September, I imagine — simply to specific solidarity and say Newfoundland would in precept be keen to pitch in like they did for Ontario through the spring wave of this 12 months,” he mentioned.

“We began discussions. We’ve gone forwards and backwards, and people discussions are carrying on as we speak.”

Kenney mentioned he defines most ICU capability as 380 obtainable beds.

“What I indicated to Premier Furey final week was that we weren’t reaching the higher restrict of our well being system. We have been involved we would round Sept. 23. I mentioned, primarily based on our early warning system, that worst-case situation wouldn’t occur till the third or fourth week of October,” he mentioned.

“If Newfoundland feels that they will release some medical personnel to complement our personal front-line employees, we’d be delighted to obtain that help. The truth is, I feel they’re most involved in sending some folks as much as the hospital in Fort McMurray as a result of as Premier Furey mentioned, Fort McMurray is Newfoundland’s second-largest metropolis.”

3:06
No new restrictions in Alberta as COVID-19 circumstances stay excessive

Trudeau talks federal helps

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned if Alberta carried out extra restrictions, federal applications would kick in.

“If Alberta have been to decide on to take additional steps and go right into a lockdown, federal helps for companies, for people would sit back in, and we’d guarantee that we have been there to help folks,” he mentioned.

“So we’re making it simple for provinces to observe the perfect public well being steerage that they presumably have. That’s the position Canadians wish to see from their federal authorities — not selecting fights, pointing fingers and laying blame.”

Trudeau mentioned he has requested his workplace to succeed in out to the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan to reiterate the federal authorities’s help throughout this “heartbreaking” state of affairs.

“Our officers at a number of ranges have been reaching out to Alberta and Saskatchewan to supply any and all assist from Canadian Crimson Cross to army to additional tools to airlifting in nurses and docs from different jurisdictions who’ve supplied,” he mentioned.

“We’re there to help folks going via an especially tough time in Alberta.”