EDMONTON — The Official Opposition in Alberta fundraised double that of the reigning provincial party during the second quarter of 2021.

Elections Alberta released contribution reporting for April to June that shows the New Democratic Party (NDP) raising more than $1.5 million while the United Conservative Party (UCP) raised approximately $715,886.

The NDP continued their streak of raising more funds than the UCP. The party has out-fundraised the UCP since first quarter 2020. The opposition raised more than $5 million in 2020 while the UCP gathered around $3.7 million.

In 2019, the UCP raised more than the NDP every quarter, with an annual total of around $6.4 million while the NPD raised approximately $5.5 million.

‘UNPRECEDENTED’ RESULTS

“The reason why we look at (donations) is they give us a good indication of how broad based a party’s support is,” Melanee Thomas, political scientist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, told CTV News in an interview.

For Thomas, contributions of $250 and less are an important indicator of support as they can show everyday people making decisions to financially support a political party.

“That is a form of political participation. Usually when people think about political participation, they think it is only about voting,” she added. “(Donating) is important as it is literally somebody saying, I care enough about politics to put my money into it.”

According to Elections Canada reporting, the NDP have raised $1.3 million in donations from contributions of $250 and under. The UCP have raised more than $437,000.

“These numbers are shocking,” Thomas said. “This is unprecedented for Canadian politics.

“In our system the party in government has all the resources, they control the political agenda, they get to dominate the news,” the political scientist added. “For the Official Opposition to double the party in government if I were that party in government, I would be very concerned about these numbers.

“The party in opposition out-fundraises the government, this is weird,” Thomas said. “This does not happen.”

The United Conservative Party did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, the NDP said they have raised more money in the second quarter than the UCP has in all of 2021.

“With each passing day, more Albertans are frustrated with Jason Kenney and his UCP government,” said Rachel Notley, leader of the official opposition.

“He ran on a promise of jobs and economic growth, and over halfway through his mandate, he has failed to deliver on any of those promises,” Notley added. “We’ll continue to bring forward a positive vision for Alberta’s future. One that diversifies our economy and creates good jobs for Albertans while recognizing the vital role of the public service and rejecting the race to the bottom.”

The NDP say they had 14,811 total donors, including 2,462 who were first time donors. The average donation amount was $42.43.

Premier Jason Kenney had the lowest approval rating among Canadian premiers, according to Angus Reid polling released in June. When Kenney took office in June 2019, his approval was 61 per cent. In June this year his approval rating was at 31 per cent.

The next provincial election is slated for between March and May of 2023.

EDMONTON — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Alberta grew for a fourth straight day on Thursday as the province reported 233 new infections. 

It’s the second straight day Alberta has reported more than 200 new infections as active cases rose to 1,520.

There are 89 COVID-19 patients in Alberta hospitals, an increase of nine over the past five days. Twenty patients are receiving care in intensive care units.

There were no new deaths reported Thursday, leaving the province’s death toll at 2,325. The last Albertan to die due to COVD-19 was on July 23.

The province reported a 2.84 per cent test positivity based on about 7,000 tests.

Among eligible Albertans, 75.7 per cent have received a first dose and 64.6 per cent have gotten a second shot.

On Wednesday, the province announced it was shifting its public health response and lifting a number of measures related to quarantine, isolation and masks.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro said the changes follow rising vaccination numbers and comparably lower risk of severe outcomes for children who contract COVID-19. 

“The data shows that what the vaccines are doing is making it less infectious and less deadly. That’s a good thing that allows us to move to that endemic response.”

Doctors have criticized the changes as reckless. 

Noel Gibney, a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta’s department of critical care, says the province’s plan leaves too many unanswered questions. 

“Why? Why are we doing these stupid things? Why are we going against all basic principles of public health?” 

“It makes absolutely no medical sense.”

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alberta has spiked sharply in recent weeks after the removal of most health restrictions on July 1. 

In previous waves, a rise in both hospitalization and deaths has followed several weeks after an increase in cases. 

Dr. Hinshaw had said that pattern may not repeat itself given the protection vaccines afford against severe outcomes.

The province’s next data update is scheduled for Friday.

EDMONTON — Alberta’s health minister defended a series of changes to the province’s COVID-19 response plan, calling the loosening of restrictions “the inevitable next step.”

Tyler Shandro spoke to reporters in Edmonton on Thursday, citing vaccination numbers and comparably lower risk of severe outcomes for children who contract COVID-19. 

“The data shows that what the vaccines are doing is making it less infectious and less deadly. That’s a good thing that allows us to move to that endemic response.”

“The pressures on the health system and our concerns about protecting lives are changing.” 

On Wednesday, the province announced it was shifting its public health response and lifting a number of measures related to quarantine, isolation and masks.

Shandro said the changes were made on the recommendation of Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health.

Shandro defended Alberta being the first province to announce such a sizable shift in policy, saying other jurisdictions will soon follow.

“Other provinces know this will be the inevitable next step,” he said.

Shandro also said the province’s trigger to move towards treating COVID-19 as an endemic was a vaccination rate of 65 per cent of eligible Albertans with a second dose. 

The province is nearing that mark with 64.3 per cent of eligible Albertans having had two shots of COVID-19 vaccine. 

LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS

Dr. Hinshaw, in her first appearance since June 29, announced the changes on Wednesday.

Starting today, close contacts of COVID-19 cases will no longer be mandated to quarantine, but isolation will still be required for positive cases and people with symptoms.

On Aug. 16, people who test positive for COVID-19 will not be mandated to quarantine anymore, but the province will recommend it.

Albertans with COVID-19 symptoms will not be asked to get tested, but to stay at home until they feel better. And two weeks later, COVID-19 tests will only be available to people who need to go to the hospital or see a physician.

Masks won’t be mandatory in public transit, rideshares and taxies starting on Aug. 16, the province announced. Some masking may still be required in hospitals or continuing care facilities.

Hinshaw noted a significant amount of concern in the questions raised by primary care physicians while concluding Wednesday evening’s session.

“I want to acknowledge that any course of action we’ve taken throughout COVID has never been risk-free,” said Hinshaw. “Every course of action we take comes with consequences both positive and negative, and it’s no different with this policy change.”

Intensive care unit doctor Dr. Darren Markland told CTV News Edmonton the changes will especially impact young children.

“It will have repercussions,” said Markland. “Especially in younger kids who now potentially can show up maskless, unvaccinated with symptoms, and there will be no repercussions – just spread.”

Noel Gibney, a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta’s department of critical care, says the province’s plan leaves too many unanswered questions. 

“Why? Why are we doing these stupid things? Why are we going against all basic principles of public health?” 

“It makes absolutely no medical sense.”

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alberta has spiked sharply in recent weeks after the removal of most health restrictions on July 1. 

In previous waves, a rise in both hospitalization and deaths has followed several weeks after an increase in cases. 

Dr. Hinshaw had said that pattern may not follow given the protection vaccines afford against severe outcomes.

With files from Diego Romero and Sydney Upright

EDMONTON — Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer hosted an information session Wednesday evening following Alberta’s announcement to transition its COVID-19 public health response.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw presented an overview of the province’s plan to eliminate its mask mandate, remove its isolation requirements, and move away asymptomatic and close-contact COVID-19 testing.

Hinshaw said Wednesday that the province will treat the COVID-19 virus the same way it treats other respiratory illnesses, citing Alberta’s widespread vaccination rates as a reason for the new approach.

“This is a major, major shift,” said Hinshaw. “We’re asking people to integrate that risk of COVID-19 into other risks and to not see it as the primary number one risk that all other things are secondary to.”

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer says there will be a surge in other respiratory viruses come fall, and the province is shifting away from treating COVID-19 as the highest risk but rather one risk among many.

“We only have a limited amount of resources,” said Hinshaw. “And if all we focus on is COVID-19, we’re allowing many other things to go without intervention. From a population level, that’s going cause more harm than good.”

RISE IN CASES, CONCERN

Hinshaw noted a significant amount of concern in the questions raised by primary care physicians while concluding Wednesday evening’s session.

“I want to acknowledge that any course of action we’ve taken throughout COVID has never been risk-free,” said Hinshaw. “Every course of action we take comes with consequences both positive and negative, and it’s no different with this policy change.”

Intensive care unit doctor, Dr. Darren Markland, told CTV News Edmonton that these changes will especially impact young children.

“It will have repercussions,” said Markland. “Especially in younger kids who now potentially can show up maskless, unvaccinated with symptoms, and there will be no repercussions – just spread.”

EDMONTON — A collision between a car and semi-truck Tuesday afternoon sent three people to hospital.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of 50 Street and 41 Avenue.

According to police, the three occupants of the Ford Fusion, a 32-year-old woman, a 29-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy were all transported to hospital.

The youth was taken by STARS in serious but stable condition.

The 32-year-old male driver of the semi sustained minor injuries.