Michael Dawe For Red Deer

Today’s announce by Premier Kenny

A lot of people are sending me a video of a statement on behalf of a nurse/group of nurses at a rally in Edmonton. Yes, I listened to it. It is important to hear all viewpoints. However, a couple of very important points. This is NOT a statement by the "nurses union in Edmonton". That claim is NOT made in the clip. The United Nurses of Alberta have issued an statement that this does not represent the official position of UNA or other nurses unions. Secondly, the person speaking is Karen Dickson, a retired school teacher. My point to everyone, is if you want others to watch and believe what you post and share, DO NOT embelish it or make it out to be something it is not. When you do that, you undermine the credibility of your message. https://www.facebook.com/donald.stanley.//185908189871887/

I get asked about the mask rules in Red Deer all of the time - here is something which I hope will help. Although not included, under the Red Deer Bylaw, a face shield can be worn instead of a mask.

Please remember this - borrowed from a friend

From Pope Francis Pope Francis has harshly criticized people who refuse to wear masks or who protest against coronavirus restrictions saying they move in "their own little world of interests." Francis, who has himself been criticized for not wearing a mask in public, made the comments in his new book, 'Let Us Dream: A Path to a Better Future,' published Monday.... He wrote: "Some groups protested, refusing to keep their distance, marching against travel restrictions - as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom!" "You'll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd or joining a demonstration because there are shantytowns where children lack water or education or because there are whole families who have lost their income." "You won't find them protesting that the astonishing amounts spent on the arms trade could be used to feed the whole of the human race and school every child." "On such matters they would never protest; they are incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests." While the Pope praised the reaction of many governments in tackling Covid-19, he criticized those governments who ignored the severity of the pandemic. "Some governments have shrugged off the painful evidence of mounting deaths with inevitable, grievous consequences," he wrote.

7 pm news flash (Monday November 23) - third reading on Red Deer masking by-law passed by a vote of 7-2 . Exemption for small businesses, 15 patrons or less, removed. Broad exemptions from wearing masks for health and other specific reasons remain. Also, wearing plastic shields are acceptable as substitute for wearing masks. Bylaw is temporary - it ends on March 1. Province going to announce new strict COVID control measures tomorrow (Tuesday) .Possibility that province-wide mask by-law like the one in Saskatchewan may be implemented ,but we won't know until tomorrow (photo shows Council meeting in 1963)

A lot of people are sending me a video of a statement on behalf of a nurse/group of nurses at a rally in Edmonton. Yes, I listened to it. It is important to hear all viewpoints. However, a couple of very important points. This is NOT a statement by the "nurses union in Edmonton". That claim is NOT made in the clip. The United Nurses of Alberta have issued an statement that this does not represent the official position of UNA or other nurses unions. Secondly, the person speaking is Karen Dickson, a retired school teacher. My point to everyone, is if you want others to watch and believe what you post and share, DO NOT embelish it or make it out to be something it is not. When you do that, you undermine the credibility of your message. https://www.facebook.com/donald.stanley.5492/videos/185908189871887/

I get asked about the mask rules in Red Deer all of the time - here is something which I hope will help. Although not included, under the Red Deer Bylaw, a face shield can be worn instead of a mask.

Please remember this - borrowed from a friend

From Pope Francis Pope Francis has harshly criticized people who refuse to wear masks or who protest against coronavirus restrictions saying they move in "their own little world of interests." Francis, who has himself been criticized for not wearing a mask in public, made the comments in his new book, 'Let Us Dream: A Path to a Better Future,' published Monday.... He wrote: "Some groups protested, refusing to keep their distance, marching against travel restrictions - as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom!" "You'll never find such people protesting the death of George Floyd or joining a demonstration because there are shantytowns where children lack water or education or because there are whole families who have lost their income." "You won't find them protesting that the astonishing amounts spent on the arms trade could be used to feed the whole of the human race and school every child." "On such matters they would never protest; they are incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests." While the Pope praised the reaction of many governments in tackling Covid-19, he criticized those governments who ignored the severity of the pandemic. "Some governments have shrugged off the painful evidence of mounting deaths with inevitable, grievous consequences," he wrote.

7 pm news flash (Monday November 23) - third reading on Red Deer masking by-law passed by a vote of 7-2 . Exemption for small businesses, 15 patrons or less, removed. Broad exemptions from wearing masks for health and other specific reasons remain. Also, wearing plastic shields are acceptable as substitute for wearing masks. Bylaw is temporary - it ends on March 1. Province going to announce new strict COVID control measures tomorrow (Tuesday) .Possibility that province-wide mask by-law like the one in Saskatchewan may be implemented ,but we won't know until tomorrow (photo shows Council meeting in 1963)

I , and many other members of City Council, have received several emails and text messages about the statements made by Dr. Roger Hodkinson to a committee of Edmonton City Council. Commitments were made to do follow up on those statements. Here is the formal written response from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Please do NOT start posting comments alleging lies and fake news to this posting. I am not interested. People keep saying to do research and look at bot...h sides. Here is another side to what people have already been posting on my FB site. On November 19, 2020 the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) was made aware of statements regarding COVID-19 by a Royal College Fellow, Dr. Roger Hodkinson. In some online references, Dr. Hodkinson is being incorrectly identified as a chair/past-chair of the Royal College. We would like to clarify that Dr. Hodkinson is not nor has ever held the position of chairman of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. We can confirm that Dr. Roger Hodkinson was certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a general pathologist in 1976. The Royal College believes COVID-19 presents a serious threat to the health of Canadians. The Royal College strongly supports all public health advice given by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, including recommendations to practise physical distancing and to wear masks to help prevent COVID-19 transmission. We are very appreciative of the dedication and commitment of our Royal College Fellows, residents and all front-line health care workers in the fight against COVID-19. See more

I should address the story that appeared in the Advocate. First, I did not rush to the paper with my story. They phoned me after they heard me talking in yeaterday’s Council meeting. That being said, I should make a bit of a correction. I am not sure that I would say I thought my life was threatened. Nevertheless, I certainly thought there was a real and credible possibility of a serious, possibly violent confrontation at my doorstep. That is why I called the Police and slept away from my home that night. I still have the recordings of the phone calls just to remind myself that this was not something I imagined. It was all too real. And hopefully, everyone will take a big pause and calm down a bit. We shouldn’t have this going on with anyone in the community - regardless of their opinions.

Tonight, City Council voted unanimously to make the wearing of masks mandatory when using City facilities (City operated and/or City owned when operated by another body). On the broader issue of mandatory mask wearing, there were a number of amendments made. After that, the bylaw did NOT get unanimous consent to proceed to third and final reading so that by-law will come back at the meeting of Monday, November 23. I am not allowing comment on this post this evening. I am just doing this for now for information. That is NOT because I don't want to hear what people think (positive and negative) but rather after 8 hours of debate (1:30 pm. to 9:30 pm) I am going to now have supper, a hot bath and then go to bed. Lots of time of discussion/debate starting tomorrow.

In preparation for Monday’s special City Council meeting I asked that Alberta Health address the widespread claim about a person, or persons who went to get a COVID test in Red Deer. When they found the line too long, they left without being tested. Later, they were contacted by Alberta Health to say they had tested positive. In some cases, there is a further claim that the person was told that in case of no-shows, they are put down as being positive for COVID. This is the w...ritten answer that I, and the rest of City Council, got from Alberta Health : This is patently untrue. Cases are confirmed through laboratory testing only. In order to conduct a laboratory test, the sample needs to be collected from the patient using a swab. If someone has proof that this statement by Alberta Health is untrue, I would like to see it. Please note. I am only interested in PROOF. I am NOT interested in hearing that someone told someone else. An accusation of deliberate lying by someone in authority is a very serious allegation and needs to have verifiable backup. If someone can provide me with proof, I promise to follow up. See more

Just a reminder that the Michener Hill Community Association annual general meeting will be held on Monday, November 2 at 7 pm in the Michener Recreation Centre gymnasium. All are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.michenerhill.ca

Had a wonderful time last night doing tours of Sylvan Lake and telling ghost stories, tales of murders and unexplained phenomena, relating the history of historic (and somewhat spooky looking) homes and buildings etc. We were sold out - three full bus loads running from 5 pm to 10 pm. Since thanks to everyone who joined in and to Piper and the other town staff who organized the event. Because of the extensive waiting list, we thought of doing another set of tours next Friday ...(October 30) but unfortunately it did not work out. Maybe if the weather improves, I will do a cemetery tour of the Red Deer Cemetery instead. Check this page over the next couple of days for possible announcements. In the meanwhile, sincere thanks to the very pleasant Megan Hanson for joining the first tour and supplying the photo. P.S. I generally wore a mask but once the tour was underway, I removed it so people could hear me better. Full social distancing and sanitization was followed and everyone else remained fully masked throughour the tours. See more