Going back to school safely is a HUGE worry. I’m worried for my son in high school, his teachers, my two older kids who are both teachers, my friends and former colleagues who teach, their children, our extended families, and for myself when I go in to do some subbing. 1/ #ableg

There can be no valid argument to deny that what UCP is doing is wholly inadequate. Every, and I mean EVERY, scenario around a safe return to school calls for physical distancing as the foundation of safe practices. 2/ #ableg

For all that the UCP tries to claim that Dr. Hinshaw has signed off on all of this, her message about distancing has never changed. That is #1. The other things like hand sanitizing, cleaning, and masking are complementary to that, but not replacements for it. 3 / #ableg

Many classes are overcrowded. We’ve been seeing photos and comments from teachers who can fit MAYBE a dozen desks (if they have desks and not tables) in their room at the 2m distance. Many classes in Alberta are at least double that size, or even triple. 4 / #ableg

Even a 1m distance is impossible for most classes. The government has decided to spend 0$—as in absolutely NOTHING—to do anything about this whatsoever. Sure, they gave a big contract to some of their biggest supporters for 2 masks per person. 5 / #ableg

How much good will that do for people in very close proximity for six or more hours a day? UCP’s excuse is that because they can’t come up with 13,000 teachers for smaller classes in less than 3 weeks, they therefore will do NOTHING about it. 6 / #ableg

As if there is no middle ground between 13,000 and 0. Kenney let it slip in a recent interview when he said that he doesn’t want to get into a situation where, going forward, that would be the expectation. Bottom line—money matters more than safety and health. Shocker. 7 / #ableg

So there are groups who are trying to put pressure on to get the government to do something. There is controversy today that one group has conservative members who, although they like low taxes, are galvanized enough by this issue to speak out against UCP. 8 / #ableg

I totally get being wary of people who, up until now, were fine with the idea of UCP making cuts and hurting *others* as long as their own taxes stayed low. Many of us tried to warn that this would happen and were dismissed. 9 / #ableg

But, the important thing now is that the only thing that seems to register on UCP is a LOT of public outcry, particularly from people who voted for them and who are regretting that. This school issue is important enough that we need each other. 10 / #ableg

There have been, and will continue to be, other equally important issues. Every time an issue opens peoples’ eyes and makes them see UCP for what they really are is a win, isn’t it? However they got there and why will be better for 2023. 11 / #ableg

Infighting and ‘cancelling’ each other plays right back into UCP’s hands. UCP’s mean-spirited diviseness, scapegoating and making enemies out of one another is a win for THEM. End / #ableg