LAC LA BICHE - Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Laila Goodridge was picking up pizza and pitting in for the night on Friday after a long week that left her exhausted.
Leaning away from a Friday night update about reactions to a letter signed by 15 of her UCP government colleagues criticizing their own government's COVID-19 response, Goodridge told Lakelandtoday she had nothing more to add to a statement she made earlier in the week which still "sums up" her feelings.
Since new pandemic restrictions were put back into place last Tuesday afternoon, Goodridge has faced many questions from residents. The conversations have also centred on a letter was released on Wednesday by 15 Alberta UCP MLAs — including her neighbouring MLA for the Lakeland area Dave Hanson. The letter openly criticized the restrictions and their disruptive effects on the economy and the social well-being of Albertans
In the days since it was released, two more provincial UCP MLAs have attached their names to the letter. While Goodridge says she is frustrated by the fallout from the global pandemic, she has not put her name to the letter.
"Like you, I am frustrated by recently imposed restrictions and worry about the physical and mental health of my constituents," she said in a statement on April 7. "We need this pandemic to end. Period."
To suggest —as the MLAs did in the open letter — that restrictions should be reduced to create more economic opportunities and improve mental health for Albertans, is "irresponsible" at this point in time, says Goodridge.
"Dropping restrictions just as we are looking at variant surge would be unconscionably irresponsible and we would see hospitals overwhelmed," she said, but adding that when it is safe to do so, things need to open up right away. "Restrictions should be in place not one minute longer than necessary."
Vaccine help
The area MLA says the vaccine rollout is vital to get back toward a restriction-free society.
"Easing and dropping restrictions will become possible as more and more Albertans are vaccinated," she said, adding that a new committee is being put together by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to prepare for that eventual re-opening."Premier Kenney has announced a committee of MLAs is being assembled to prepare recommendations for re-opening as soon as possible."
While many have commended her for not being one of the 17 MLAs now linked to the critical letter, many comments on the politician's social media page have also challenged her for not speaking out.
Deflecting some of the concerns of the last week away from the provincial level, Goodridge says federal indecision has not helped the situation for provincial officials.
"If the Trudeau government wasn’t asleep at the wheel when it came to procuring vaccines we would not be in this position today," she said.
