Alberta Health Services staff and officials have done good work during this COVID-19 Crisis. Their response appears to have been appropriate and effective.



Our UCP government, on the other hand, has done little to help, and much to harm the situation.



This weekend, Alberta Education cut funding to elementary and high schools, laying off 26,000 teachers and staff across the province. On April 1, the new billing contract with Alberta doctors takes effect, replacing the prior agreement the government simply cancelled without consultation.



Our UCP government seems determined to continue with spending cuts, including massive cuts in health care services, even during a health care crisis.



It is true that the planned cuts to nursing staff have been delayed, but it is clear these cuts will still take place just as soon as the crisis is over.



Provincial aid to those in need during this crisis has been limited to a one-time only personal grant that ended on April 1, and a cut in the Workers' Compensation Board fee to businesses — which amounts to a credit on next year's fee since most of us paid the bill when it was due in early March.



The only significant help for anyone so far has come from our federal government. Employment Insurance rules have been relaxed to allow more workers to qualify, the Child Benefit payment has been increased, and income tax deadlines have been extended. Business owners have been offered the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and a new wage subsidy, as well as an emergency loan program.



This is an emergency. Premier Jason Kenney has himself declared it so. As in a flood, tornado, stock market crash or in time of war, it is the time when we most depend on our government for aid and protection.



Our municipal government is doing what it can, and our federal government is doing much more.



Kenny may well try once again to blame this all on Prime Minister Trudeau. But so far we have only Trudeau and our health care workers to thank.





