Former Alberta Speakers condemn actions of Cooper and Pitt
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Two former Speakers of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly say recent actions by current Speaker Nathan Cooper and Deputy Speaker Angela Pitt in signing a partisan letter with other UCP backbenchers opposing the government’s latest public health restrictions should mean they must face a vote of confidence in the legislature. “It is the most appalling thing that has happened in all of Alberta’s legislative history,” said former Speaker David J. Carter, who served in that role during the Don Getty years from 1986-1993. “Not only did the Speaker, but also the Deputy Speaker, fail to take note of the importance of their positions when they joined that group of 17 who surprisingly as government members really attacked the government. A government of which they are members. And having done that in public. Which is fine except these two individuals, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, had their responsibilities, and the
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Cooper was one of 16 UCP MLAs representing mostly-rural constituencies who signed a letter posted online last week saying closing dine-in service in restaurants and lowering capacity for retail stores and gyms is the “wrong decision,” even as COVID-19 variant cases surge in Alberta.
“We have heard from our constituents, and they want us to defend their livelihoods and freedoms as Albertans. For months, we have raised these concerns at the highest levels of government and, unfortunately, the approach of the government has remained the same,” the letter said.
Since then, another MLA has spoken out against the restrictions and a second specifically about the government’s decision to close GraceLife Church.
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CBC News ·
Posted: Apr 13, 2021 11:00 AM MT | Last Updated: April 13
People who oppose the Alberta government s public health restrictions tied to COVID-19 take part in a rally outside the legislature in Edmonton on Monday. Law enforcement and health officials say defiance of public health restrictions intended to contain the spread of COVID-19 is growing in the province.(Jason Franson/Canadian Press)