Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi
Courtesy CBC
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi sharply criticized the United Conservative Party (UCP) government’s decision to charge Albertans for COVID-19 vaccines, calling it "wrong" and urging an immediate reversal.
In a statement posted to X, Nenshi argued that Albertans deserve the same free access to vaccines as other Canadians, emphasizing the need for a free registration system to ensure widespread vaccination and reduce hospital strain this fall.
Nenshi also took aim at the UCP’s health spending, accusing them of wasting millions on a "Turkish Tylenol stockpile" and "bloated CorruptCare contracts" while neglecting public health priorities.
“If the UCP government were truly concerned about waste in health care, they wouldn’t be bleeding millions on these questionable deals,” he said.
The NDP leader’s remarks come after the UCP announced in June that most Albertans would need to pay for COVID-19 vaccines, with the province later reversing course to cover shots for health-care workers.
Nenshi insisted that free vaccines for all Albertans are essential to protect public health and align with national standards.