P.E.I. Green Leader says Tory premier's scolding him on COVID-19 revealed as improper
Prince Edward Island's Opposition leader says a rise in COVID-19 cases has revealed the inappropriateness of a public scolding dished out by the premier over criticisms of the government's back-to-school pandemic policies.
Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker put out a YouTube video on Friday recalling that Tory Premier Dennis King had said critics "pissed him off" when they called for the province to keep mandatory masking requirements for schools.
In late August, King said he'd heard politicians asking him to "this or that," and continued, "if you were in my job, would you take the advice of a partisan politician or the chief public health officer who is a Rhodes scholar, who is an infectious disease expert?"
The Green leader is now saying he's angered by the premier's lack of consideration of his critique, and notes that infections have occurred at multiple schools.
Health officials reported three new cases of COVID-19 on the Island Saturday, including two that involved close contacts of an outbreak at West Royalty Elementary School. There have also been recent outbreaks at Ecole La-Belle-Cloche in Rollo Bay and Charlottetown Rural High School in Charlottetown.
Bevan-Baker noted he had called for improvements to school ventilation systems and wanted to see students continue to wear masks at all times, arguing these suggestions didn't warrant King's rejection and outburst.
In his video statement to students, parents and teachers, Bevan-Baker said he strongly supports recent measures that included closures of all Charlottetown schools and a large testing effort, but he also called on King to stop ignoring his views in the future.
"What pisses me off is that when Islanders brought forward real concerns about their health and safety, they got a scolding from the premier," he said in his video statement.
The province announced Saturday it has 46 active cases, the highest level seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are about 540 close contacts of the school cases who are in self isolation.
Two of the three new cases announced on Saturday were close contacts associated with the outbreak at West Royalty Elementary School, and have been in isolation. The other new case was associated with travel outside the province.
The province has announced that all schools on the Island are shifting back to cohorting and masking for students in Grades 4 through 12.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.