Alberta Stands Alone: The Province that Punished Premiers for COVID-19 Restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed authoritarian tendencies in Canada's government, but Alberta was unique in its response to the restrictions. The province has a distinct political culture that values personal autonomy and individual conscience, shaped by its settlement patterns, economy, and history of dealing with Ottawa.

In contrast to other provinces, where premiers who imposed harsh COVID-19 measures were rewarded with renewed mandates or even landslide victories, Jason Kenney's government in Alberta was punished for its restrictions. The premier lost his job after receiving 51.4% in a party leadership review, with many of his own MLAs opposing the renewed measures.

Kenney introduced the Restrictions Exemption Program, a vaccine passport by another name, despite previously promising Albertans he would never impose one. He apologized for being wrong about his Open for Summer plan and dismissed internal opponents as 'lunatics trying to take over the asylum.'