From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   It's not something that wasn't suspected long before leaked tape recordings.   
   The right wing likes of Jason Kenney will always put profits and dollars   
   before consideration for health or environment.   
   Kudos to whoever had the courage to release the recordings and confirm it.   
   __________________________________   
   CBC News · Posted: Nov 26, 2020   
      
   Alberta's top doctor calls secret recordings of pandemic meetings a 'betrayal'   
   of trust   
      
   Government to launch internal investigation into leaked recordings   
      
      
   Alberta's chief medical officer of health Thursday said she feels personally   
   betrayed after CBC News reported the contents of secret recordings that   
   revealed disagreements and, at times, political interference in the province's   
   pandemic response.   
      
   "I am profoundly disappointed that confidential internal conversations have   
   been shared, actions that are a violation of the public service oath and code   
   of conduct," Dr. Deena Hinshaw told a news conference.   
      
   "This is a personal betrayal and a betrayal of the trust that our hardworking   
   team has placed in each other," she said. There will be an internal   
   investigation to try to determine who leaked the recordings, Hinshaw said.   
      
   CBC News also quoted several confidential sources, one of whom said Hinshaw   
   had confided that her dealings with the politicians were an "uphill battle."   
      
   "My dad used to say that if you and your partner always agree, then one of you   
   is unnecessary," she said, acknowledging that "at times I have felt frustrated   
   as I am a human being. The reality is that it is critical to have multiple   
   perspectives and that    
   those perspectives are heard."   
      
   But Hinshaw insisted, as she had previously, that she has always been treated   
   respectfully by politicians and her advice has been considered in final   
   decisions by the government. She again stressed her job is simply to provide   
   advice.   
      
   "I was not elected by Albertans," she said. "The final decisions are up to   
   elected officials who were chosen by Alberta. This is how democracy works.   
      
   "I know that there are many views about how we should proceed. However, we are   
   becoming divided when we most need to engage in respectful dialogue."   
      
   A previous statement emailed to CBC News from a spokesperson for Premier Jason   
   Kenney said it is the job of elected officials to make decisions and there was   
   no political interference.   
      
   The Opposition NDP have called for Kenney's government to make Hinshaw's   
   pandemic recommendations public, to engender trust in its response to the   
   pandemic. Hinshaw said disclosing that information would be a breach of her   
   oath as a public servant.   
      
   Health Minister Tyler Shandro also told the news conference he couldn't   
   disclose the advice provided by Hinshaw because it would breach cabinet   
   confidence.   
      
      
   Secret recordings reveal expert advice overruled   
      
   Hinshaw delivered her public rebuke after CBC News earlier on Thursday   
   reported it had obtained 20 secret recordings from daily meetings of the   
   province's COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre, as well as meeting minutes   
   and interviews with staff directly    
   involved in pandemic planning.   
      
   They reveal how Kenney, Shandro and other cabinet ministers often overruled   
   the expert advice of already overwhelmed civil servants.   
      
   On two occasions health officials acceded to political requests to provide   
   testing to the public that officials believed had little value in limiting the   
   spread of the virus.   
      
   The recordings also reveal the Kenney government pushed an early relaunch   
   strategy that seemed more focused on the economy and avoiding the appearance   
   of curtailing Albertans' freedoms than enforcing compliance to safeguard   
   public health.   
      
   The recordings did confirm what Hinshaw has repeatedly stated publicly: she   
   believes her role is to advise, provide recommendations and implement   
   decisions made by the politicians.   
      
   For weeks, the government has faced intense criticism for its handling of the   
   pandemic as Alberta registered among the highest infection rate per capita in   
   Canada. Kenney and Shandro have repeatedly said the pandemic response has been   
   directed by Hinshaw.   
      
   At Hinshaw's news conference Thursday, Shandro said the reporting of the   
   leaked recordings was an "irresponsible attack" on Hinshaw's credibility and   
   the independence of her office, which in turn undermines her work as chief   
   medical officer of health.   
      
   "Since the pandemic began, as minister of health, I have worked closely with   
   Dr. Hinshaw. She has provided detailed, evidence-based recommendations to me   
   and to Alberta's government as legislated in the Public Health Act," Shandro   
   said.   
      
   "She has also participated in on-going cabinet discussions about what is right   
   for Alberta in the response to this pandemic.   
      
   "We listen closely. We debate the range of policy options that she offers and   
   their different impacts. And then, as elected officials, we do what we were   
   elected to do: we make decisions that are in the best interests of Albertans.   
   I want to express my    
   own and Alberta's government's support for Dr. Hinshaw."   
      
      
   Hinshaw used as political shield: NDP   
      
   Earlier in the day, Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the Kenney   
   government has used Hinshaw as a shield.   
      
   "Every time there is a decision that gets to be a little unpopular, or there   
   is any pressure, he hides behind her," she said. "But what we clearly see here   
   is that he is not following her advice on a number of occasions and Albertans   
   are suffering as a    
   result."   
      
   In the legislature, Notley pressed the Kenney government to establish an   
   independent panel of experts to make recommendations on the pandemic response   
   that would be made public.   
      
   Kenney however, ignored the demand, saying Hinshaw is capable and stressing as   
   he has previously that it is for elected officials to make the final decisions   
   because there are considerations, other than public health, that must be   
   weighed.   
      
   "Alberta is a democracy," Kenney said, "and under this government it is going   
   to stay that way."   
   __________________________________   
   Hey, Kenney . . . to be able to "stay that way" it first needs to be   
   established and respected as a democracy. What you've created is a   
   corporate-chummy, profit-driven climate that has no regard or respect for the   
   health of your population or the real    
   climate.   
   And you cheated to gain that government.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)