Time will tell if Albertans determine Danielle Smith should be premier

By Lethbridge Herald on November 11, 2022.

Editor:

I will grant Ms. Smith, our premier-in-waiting, one thing and that is following through on promises made before and during the leadership race.

Specifically, her intention of overhauling the health care system and mandating, yes mandating, the non-wearing of masks in schools. 

Given her dubious assertion that the dangers of mask wearing are “well understood” and are in fact “detrimental” to children, it is no wonder that those who actually work in the industry such as Dr. Louis Francescutti (emergency room doctor and a professor in public health), are not amused by such a blatant disregard for scientific evidence emanating from a powerful political figure. 

She is not alone though – some politicians municipally, provincially and federally espouse similar views.

Her blame-game for the lockdowns and other mandates in the earlier stages of the pandemic, ignore the fact that without those admittedly uncomfortable but necessary measures, the health care system would have collapsed, largely because of overcapacity hospitalizations and even more overworked, stressed out health professionals. 

Vaccines now thankfully (and hopefully) negate a return to such drastic restrictions and yet she is also striving to create a “protected class” for those choosing to remain unvaccinated (Remember her odious suggestion that such persons were the most discriminated of any group in her life time?).

Still, we are a democracy and she was elected leader but it remains to be seen whether Albertans at large will accept these extraordinary days of libertarian rhetoric over human health. We’ll find out in May 2023!

John P Nightingale

Lethbridge