NDP seek emergency debate in Parliament on COVID-19 crisis facing Alberta

Yesterday, the NDP MP for Edmonton-Strathcona, Heather McPherson, called for an emergency debate on the deadly COVID-19 situation in Alberta.

It is clear Alberta’s provincial government has failed to protect people in the province from COVID-19, the federal government needs to do all they can to help.

McPherson sent a letter to the Speaker of the House yesterday requesting an emergency debate to urgently address this crisis.

“Alberta is facing a public health emergency unparalleled in Canada,” said McPherson. “Alberta should not be left to deal with this crisis on our own and it’s not just Albertan lives at stake. Every Canadian is threatened by the public health crisis in Alberta.”

On Monday, Alberta recorded the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in North America at nearly 300 cases per 100,000 people. At almost twice the rate of the next highest province, Ontario, Alberta now has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection in the world with hotspots like Calgary and Fort McMurray recording higher rates than India.

“It is critical that Parliamentarians debate the federal role in combatting COVID-19 in Alberta and whether the federal government should should do more to help Albertans manage this public health emergency,” added McPherson. “We need to do everything in our power to protect people in Alberta and across Canada from COVID-19.”

New Democrats are committed to continuing their fight to ensure that people across Canada get the help they need, when they need it, to get through this pandemic.