Bell: Kenney, COVID-19 and the elephant in the room

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A question has to be asked of Premier Jason Kenney.

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One day the history books will ask if it’s not answered.

The question is not meant to be mean or hateful. The question is not an attempt to pick on anybody.

We’re called newshounds for a reason.

Like a good old dog with a bone we don’t let go of a question until we get an answer that’s closer to the truth than some official talking point conjured up a high-priced stickhandler on the public payroll whose job is to get their guy out of hot water by any means necessary.

So this day the premier is asked how he plans to restore trust in his government and in its approach to COVID given what happened leading up to the rampaging fourth wave of the virus in Alberta, a hell of a wave much harder-hitting here than in almost all of the rest of the country.

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We know the score.

When the Delta variant wreaked its havoc on the best-laid plans of a politician looking for redemption by opening up the province for good, the government led by that politician failed to act with urgency to take on the fourth wave and Alberta became national and international news as a basket case.

Kenney has never fessed up to what happened and the part his government played by not stepping up fast enough to fight the contagion.

And the job of ink-stained wretches is to hold people to account, no matter the political stripe or how much you may have supported them or how well you may know them.

This is not a right-wing thing or a left-wing thing. It is a truth thing.

Besides, Albertans aren’t stupid. They can tell where the bear crapped in the buckwheat. That’s why Kenney’s approval numbers are in the toilet.

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Come on, 19% approval in both Calgary and Edmonton areas. You’d think that would be cause for reflection and contrition.

Kenney, of all people, knows confession is good for the soul.

On Tuesday Kenney answers the question about restoring trust in a most curious way.

The premier says he listens respectfully to different views.

His government looks very closely at the numbers. They listen to public health advice. They protect the hospitals. They make the best decision based on the circumstances the province is facing.

Is he talking about what his government is doing now or also in the first, second and third wave?

Or is he also talking about the fourth wave and the dereliction of duty in the summer when no one seemed to be minding the store as COVID went on its infection binge, facing little pushback until there was one big problem?

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Kenney talks about introducing “wide-ranging public health measures” last month as if closing the door after the horse has left the barn is a great achievement.

The premier says he brought in the measures because they had to bend down the fourth wave.

He still doesn’t mention how the fourth wave in Alberta became such a fourth wave. It’s as if the Delta variant just woke up one day and decided to single out this province. A fluke, an act of God.

Guess we’ll have to wait for those history books or an investigation of some sort.

Truth be told, Kenney has some good news. Daily COVID cases dropped like a stone Tuesday. It’s only one day but still quite a drop.

“We see the numbers appear to be trending in the right direction in terms of cases,” he says, adding there’s been some progress avoiding the worst-case scenario.

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Kenney says we are making headway in the fourth-wave fight but he admits the situation on the health-care front line is under extreme pressure, far too much pressure.

“We can’t maintain this pressure on our front-line workers at this pace indefinitely.

“We’ve really got to push the curve down. We’ve got to push it down so we relieve the pressure on the hospitals.”

He urges Albertans, especially the unvaccinated, to skip the Thanksgiving gatherings. This is not party time.

Kenney fears a significant spike after the long weekend if Albertans don’t behave.

“We have a long way to go yet,” says the premier. No kidding, Sherlock.

Dr. Verna Yiu of Alberta Health Services never thought Alberta would be where it is.

The doctor tells us hospitals cannot handle another spike in COVID cases.

“We’ve made some progress in reducing pressure in our health-care system but that was not without a price.”

Yes, Albertans paid the price but Kenney made the bet.

rbell@postmedia.com