Alberta top doctor’s claim of cabinet confidentiality challenged in court
COVID-19 pandemic.Throughout the trial, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw maintained that public health restrictions were necessary to protect the province’s health-care system during the pandemic.Hinshaw also repeatedly said she provided recommendations to elected officials and used their policy decisions to inform subsequent public health orders.
Alberta lawyer accuses Hinshaw of ‘controlling the narrative’ around COVID-19 During cross-examination on Wednesday afternoon, lawyer Jeffrey Rath asked Hinshaw if the premier or his cabinet ever rejected her recommendations related to COVID-19 public health restrictions.Nick Parker, a lawyer for the province, objected and raised concerns about cabinet confidentiality.Nicholas Trofimuk, another lawyer for the province, presented a certificate from the executive council to the court.
The certificate states Hinshaw was involved in confidential, high-level discussions with Premier Jason Kenney and his cabinet about the province’s COVID-19 response, Trofimuk said.These discussions must be kept confidential because COVID-19 is still a politically sensitive policy issue and publishing details could interfere with cabinet decisions, Trofimuk and Parker argued.
Alberta’s top doctor takes stand during civil trial regarding response to COVID-19 Rath disagreed. He also said the public deserves to know if Hinshaw’s decisions were being presented as public health orders instead of political policies.
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