Protest in Grande Prairie Friday morning (Photo: Abby Zieverink, Everything GP)

By Abby Zieverink

Grande Prairie Protest

Grande Prairie residents voice opposition, approval over Alberta’s COVID policy shift

Aug 6, 2021 | 2:06 PM

Two groups stood outside Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard’s constituency office Friday in protest, or in favour, of the province’s policy changes surrounding COVID-19 testing, tracing, isolation and masking.

On one side of the road, a group of individuals stood in favour of the provinces’ decision to remove COVID-19 restrictions as of August 16, while on the other side of West Side Drive stood a group calling for the province to reinstate COVID-19 testing, tracing, and isolation measures as new cases rise in the province.

James Friesen stood in favour of the province’s move, saying he is in support of the governments’ policy to end COVID tracing, testing, and isolation.

“We believe that the government must respond to people and government must listen to what people want and Jason Kenney made some terrible mistakes in the past but now he’s starting to listen.”

Friesen says he believes the government should not be able to legislate things such as isolating, mask-wearing, and COVID-19 testing.

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“I don’t believe the government has a right to legislate things in our personal lives, that our parents must die in the hospital alone because we can’t see them and we can’t shake hands and we can’t talk to each other…. They need to protest and have their say.”

Meanwhile, Grande Prairie teacher and resident Melanie Golding was protesting against the removal of such measures.

She says she hopes the government will dial back its decision to cancel testing, isolating, and contact tracing for COVID-19, which is slated to take effect 10 days from now.

“If not for anything but for kids in schools,” she says. “That’s the biggest thing, children don’t have a choice (to get vaccinated) and the adults are kind of putting themselves into this position and somebody has to stand up for them.”

Golding is hopeful that by standing outside Allard’s office, she will take their message to the provincial government.

She worries that the mental health of residents will be at a higher risk this year if there is no COVID testing, tracing, and isolation requirements.

“We don’t want to silence anybody; we don’t want to put people’s mental health (at risk), but the mental health of a lot of people is going to be at risk this year with the unknown.”

“If Dr. Hinshaw would dial back her plan, I think that would make people happy,” she adds.

As of August 16, 2021, the provincial government’s changes to COVID-19 restrictions include:

• Provincial mandatory masking orders will be lifted. Some masking in acute care or continuing care facilities may still be required.
• Isolation following a positive COVID-19 test result will no longer be required, but strongly recommended.
• Individuals with symptoms of any respiratory infection should still remain at home until symptoms have resolved.
• Staying home when sick remains an important way to care for those around us by not passing on any infection.
• Isolation hotels and quarantine support will no longer be available.
• Testing will be available for Albertans with symptoms when it is needed to help direct patient care decisions.
• This testing will be available through assessment centres until Aug. 31; after that, testing will be in primary care settings including physicians’ offices. For those with severe illness requiring urgent or emergency care, testing will be available in acute care and hospital settings.

Melanie Golding protesting the governments decision to remove COVID-19 testing, tracing and isolation legislation. (Photo: Abby Zieverink, Everything GP)

Residents supporting the provincial government’s full reopening plan (Photo: Abby Zieverink, Everything GP)

Someone in favour of ending all provincial mask mandates looks to burn a face mask. (Photo: Abby Zieverink, Everything GP)

Two protesters in Grande Prairie on Friday morning (Photo: Abby Zieverink, Everything GP)