Danielle Smith, sworn in Tuesday as Alberta’s new premier, said she will shake up the top tier of the health system within three months and amend provincial human rights law to protect those who choose not to get vaccinated. “(The unvaccinated) have been the most discriminated-against group that I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,” Smith told reporters at the legislature. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a situation in my lifetime where a person was fired from their job or not allowed to watch their kids play hockey or not allowed to go visit a loved one in long-term care or hospital, not allowed to get on a plane to either go across the country to see family or even travel across the border. “We are not going to create a segregated society on the basis of a medical choice.” Read more: Alberta’s premier-designate wants ‘greater’ provincial autonomy, but is it her 1st priority?
Earlier in the day, Smith was sworn into the job by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani at a ceremony at Government House. In a speech there, Smith said, “Albertans have been through so much over these last 2 1/2 years.
Our rights and freedoms have been tested. “I will ensure as head of this government that those rights and freedoms are protected and will never be taken for granted again.” Smith, 51, ran and won the United Conservative Party leadership race last week to replace Jason Kenney as leader and premier.
She ran on a promise to provide human rights protections for the unvaccinated and fire the top management of Alberta Health Services, the province’s front-line provider of care.