Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (right) wears a mask during a news conference Saturday, July 18 in Red Deer. (rdnewsNOW/Troy Gillard)

By Troy Gillard

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OVER ‘HYPER-MANAGING’

Kenney says wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 spread encouraged, but won’t be mandatory

Jul 20, 2020 | 9:38 AM

The province’s premier is imploring Albertans to do the right thing by wearing masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

But despite a recent rise in the virus in Alberta, Jason Kenney says the province has no plans to mandate the wearing of masks in public.

“Alberta has done well in combating COVID by focusing on personal responsibility rather than hyper-managing people’s lives,” Kenney said Saturday in Red Deer. “We’ve had the least severe public health restrictions in Canada with, until recently, some of the best public health outcomes in the western world.”

Kenney said it’s fortunate that very few of Alberta’s cases are ending up in hospital and in intensive care. But he cautioned that huge outbreaks in many U.S. states and around the world show the virus is still a challenge.

“I would much rather that we prevent (an outbreak) through the widespread use of masks to prevent the spread rather than the government ‘big-footing’ in and suspending the operation of all sorts of businesses that would have massive economic and social consequences.”

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Kenney’s comments came ahead of anti-mask rally planned for Sunday in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton.

“If they’re upset about mask usage then the alternative will inevitably be more widespread suspensions of economic activity if we get a second outbreak,” he suggested.

“I think the responsible exercise of personal freedom through mask usage where people cannot physically distance is a lot better alternative.”

Kenney highlighted the fact that the province is providing 40 million free masks to Albertans to help prevent the spread of the virus.

A new Angus Reid poll found 60 per cent of Albertans surveyed supported mandatory masking laws.