MLA Dave Hanson says Albertans are angry over Premiers rule-breaking rooftop supper

MLA Dave Hanson from Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul says Albertans are angry over photos of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and members of the United Conservative caucus dining together on a rooftop patio.

The image of the dining was captured by a concerned “resident.” Health Minister Tyler Shandro was also in the photo sitting around a table on a balcony of the Federal Building in downtown Edmonton.

MLA Hanson took to social media with his disgust for the rooftop rule-breaking gathering after MLA Airdrie – East Angela Pitt posted on social media saying, “Looking at these photos it seems clear to me that several health restrictions were violated.”

MLA Pitt says, “By now, many of you have seen the photos of several senior politicians wining and dining on the Sky Palace patio. There has been some speculation online that I took part. I would like to assure my constituents and all Albertans that I had nothing to do with this. Much of the public concern about this incident has been about the hypocrisy of senior officials breaking their own rules. I can certainly understand these concerns.”

MLA Pitt stated on social media, “As a proud conservative, a former business owner, and the representative for Airdrie-East, it pains me to watch the small businesses in my community being the constant target of government restrictions. I see the extreme amounts of uncertainty. I see the unmeasurable levels of creative problem-solving being invested into working with COVID-19 restrictions, only for the restrictions to change over and over again. I see the stress on so many suffering business owners and their families, and I know as well as every other Albertan that many of these businesses will not make it.”

“The current Stage one restrictions allow restaurants to operate patio-only service for up to four household members per table, or three people if diners who live alone are with their two close contacts,” Pitt added.

“The Premier had a restaurant dinner on his patio with seven friends, and it remains unclear to Albertans why a restaurant owner can’t have larger groups on their patio,” MLA Pitt wrote on Facebook. “I am calling on the Premier today to make the rules more consistent, to give businesses fairness, and to allow restaurants to safely operate in the same fashion in which the Premier just portrayed.”

MLA Dave Hanson was quick to respond to MLA Pitt’s post saying, “Surprising considering he told us all we would be ejected if we were caught violating the health guidelines.”

“I’m with you Angela, Albertans are angry, again, and rightly so, disappointing,” Hanson said.

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca