Stage 3 reopening a cause for 'celebration' in Alberta, despite calls to cancel Canada Day

On Canada day, Premier Jason Kenney took this opportunity to celebrate the privileges and freedoms of this "great nation" while acknowledging its "imperfect history."

“Today is a Canada Day like none other before it. As we celebrate this great nation and all of its privileges and freedoms, Alberta has extra cause for celebration," he said.

"As we celebrate the founding of this great Northern Dominion, let us be grateful for those who went before us, who made enormous sacrifices to build this country. From the Indigenous people who founded the first communities here to the voyagers and pioneers and all those who followed in their footsteps, we are grateful for this nation that they built."

This message of togetherness and hope comes in light of a Morinville church that burned down yesterday morning.

Local law enforcement has not determined the cause of the devastating fire, but the premier was quick to say it appears to be arson. He also called the incident a "violent hate crime" towards the country's Catholic community.

A recent string of church burnings came following the uncovering of The remains of 751 unmarked graves in Cowessess First Nation were located with ground-penetrating radar last week 215 children were buried on the grounds of a former Kamloops residential school. Another 104 unmarked graves in Brandon, Manitoba and 182 in Cranbrook, BC, furthered the need for continued dialogue with Indigenous Canadians and subsequent calls to action.

Several cities, municipalities and hamlets have already called for Canada Day to be cancelled so that residents can reflect on the "true history" of Canada.

"Though our history is imperfect, Canada endures as a nation that learns from the mistakes of the past to build an ever more prosperous, welcoming, and free country," said Kenney.

Today also marks Stage 3 of the province's Open for Summer plan, officially becoming the first province in Canada to lift nearly all COVID-19 health restrictions.

Masks will no longer be required in retail stores, entertainment venues, restaurants and most other public venues in line with the repeal of the provincial mandate. All public health measures have now been lifted except for quarantine requirements and masking requirements in health care settings and public transit.

“We embark upon this reopening because of the miracle of vaccines and Albertans’ willingness to get protected," said Kenney.

Announced today, Tracey McIvor of Langdon, AB, was the recipient of the first of three $1 million lotteries, which 1.7 million Albertans already entered, as part of the Alberta government's initiative to bolster vaccination rates.

72.8 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 42.4 percent are fully vaccinated.

“Today, as we celebrate the country we continue to build, I’d like to thank each and every Albertan for the tremendous resiliency they have demonstrated time and again over the last 18 months," said Kenney. "This is a day you have earned, and it’s one I hope you can enjoy with friends and loved ones in ways you haven’t been able to in so very long."

"We take this step together, in confidence, and filled with the hope that much brighter days for Alberta are ahead.

“Happy Canada Day, Alberta! God bless Canada.”