Premier Jason Kenney says he became aware on Tuesday afternoon that Municipal Affairs Minister, Tracy Allard was out of the country.
That is what Kenney told reporters in his first press conference of 2021 as he said that the Grande Prairie MLA had went to the United States before Christmas.
“I immediately contacted the minister and asked her to return to Alberta, which he did immediately, arriving back yesterday morning,” says Kenney
Kenney also stated that despite being away, she was working on her file, and other responsibilities.
“I was on calls and participated in virtual cabinet committee meetings in recent days in which she was an active participant,” stated the Premier.
Kenney never said where in the United States that Allard had travelled, but she held a press conference later in the day and said she was in Hawaii.
The opposition NDP believes that Allard needs to step down.
“Serious mistakes have been made with our only long-term weapon against the COVID-19 virus and it turns out the minister responsible for the rollout of the program was vacationing in Hawaii,” says Municipal Affairs Critic, Joe Ceci in a written statement.
“She vacationed while Albertans have been sitting in their homes through the holidays, following strict public health orders and separated from family and friends while waiting on the vaccine. This goes beyond just a member of the Government Caucus or a member of the Government Cabinet — Minister Allard is in charge of emergency management. She has made an unforgivable error and must resign her position immediately.”
Kenney added that he also became aware that some MLA’s and senior staff also left the province and accepts responsibility.
“Here I take responsibility for not having clearly communicated a policy against international travel for senior decision makers in government,” he says.
“I should have done so.”
He added that those who left the province have told him they followed the health regulations of their destinations.
Among those believed to have been out of the country was Lesser Slave Lake MLA, Pat Rehn.
The Trending 55 Newsroom got a response from Rehn’s office saying that there is no comment at this time.
Photos of Rehn in Mexico surfaced on social media.
Later in the day, Allard had a press conference of her own to address her trip and pointed to the province currently piloting the International Border Testing Program, which is approved by Ottawa.
“We entered into this program as a province; both to give Albertans a safe way to travel abroad, but also to help an industry that employs thousands of Albertans survive this pandemic,” explains Allard.
She also told reporters that she has been the last 17 Christmas seasons in Hawaii with family.
Allard says due to health restrictions, her sons were unable to make the trip, so it was limited to the minister, her husband, and their daughter.
“We knew that by limiting the trip to our immediate household, coupled with the international border testing program, we could safely move forward with our altered plans, confident that we were fully compliant with Alberta’s current health mandate,” says the minister.
While federal and provincial regulations discourage non-essential international travel, it is not forbidden.
However, Allard acknowledges that she needs to hold herself to a higher standard as a Minister of the Crown.
“Many Albertans responsibly chose to forego dearly held traditions with family in order to follow public health recommendations and guidelines,” says Allard.
“I know that my actions seem dismissive of the frustration and grief that many have experienced, and for that, I am truly and deeply sorry.”
Allard concluded her remarks saying she will continue to serve as municipal affairs minister, as well and the legislative member for Grande Prairie.
“My commitment to my constituents, and indeed to the service all Albertans remains unchanged; and I can only hope to earn their forgiveness and trust going forward.”
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
