EDMONTON – Premier Jason Kenney said his government will announce a date next week to cancel Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccination passport, adding that the end will be in “the very near future.”
Kenney says he will also announce a phased approach to ending nearly all COVID-19 health restrictions by the end of the month, provided the pressure on hospitals continues to ease.
Kenney says Alberta’s high vaccination rate, coupled with easing pressure on hospitals, makes the upcoming end of the vaccine passport possible.
A week ago, Kenney said the passport could be phased out by the end of March.
But since then Kenney has come under increasing pressure from members of his own United Conservative caucus to end the passport while dealing with protests over the vaccination mandate from truckers and supporters that have created chaos and traffic jams at the main US border checkpoint in Alberta.
Truckers and some members of Kenney’s caucus say the passport has served its purpose, unfairly infringes on individual rights and should be rescinded.
The passport – known in Alberta as the restriction waiver – requires anyone using non-essential services such as bars and restaurants to show proof of vaccination.
Alberta’s program is voluntary, but businesses that do not participate are subject to restrictions, including significantly reduced customer capacity.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 3, 2022.
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