Alberta legislature member criticizes patio dinner

One of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s caucus members says restaurant owners should be allowed more leeway if the premier is allowed to break COVID-19 rules on patio dining.

Angela Pitt says it’s clear to her that Kenney and members of his inner circle were breaking restrictions when they had drinks and dinner on a rooftop patio near thelegislature grounds this week.

Photos of the dinner, provided anonymously to news outlets, were circulated widely on social media.

The member for Airdrie-East says Albertans are frustrated with what she calls the hypocrisy of senior officials breaking public health measures while telling others to follow them.

Pitt calls the patio dinner one more slight against business owners who have been trying to adapt for months to shifting health orders.

Kenney has said the Tuesday dinner was below the 10-person limit on public gatherings, but has not addressed apparent violations of masking and distancing rules.

Pitt has been a persistent critic of the government's health restrictions, and recently two other members of Kenney's United Conservative caucus were voted out for challenging his policies and leadership.