I can’t stop thinking about the AHS planned rollout for vaccines (for utterly selfish reasons, TBH). The PM has said that enough vaccine will be available to vaccinate all of us by Fall, but AHS isn’t planning to start until September??? (1/?) https://twitter.com/rossmckenzieag/status/1345390338819518464

So what’s going on? Either the province doesn’t believe the feds will deliver on schedule, or they don’t plan to have the capacity for mass vaccination between May and August. ...

If the former, it’s a political gift to the beleaguered Kenney gov’t. Trudeau failed to deliver the promised vaccines! But this play only works if the province has demonstrated that it is able to get shots in arms right away when the vaccines arrive.

If it’s the latter, it will presumably cement the public’s view that Alberta’s response to the pandemic has been an epic failure.

The only strategy that’s a sure winner here for the Kenney government is to mobilize an exceptional vaccination campaign, outperforming other provinces. If the vaccines don’t arrive, and an army of eager inoculators sits idle, it reinforces public antipathy to the feds. Win!

If the vaccines arrive and Alberta can outperform other provinces, voters might forget the field hospital and Alohagate. Win!

We are still the same people who rolled up our sleeves to dig filth out of neighbours basements after the flood. As @nenshi can attest, harnessing that spirit pays political dividends (to say nothing of solving problems and bolstering social solidarity).

There’s a relatively narrow window to mobilize this kind of exceptional effort. For selfish reasons, I hope the government can rise to the challenge. / fin.