UCP staffer facing criticism after trip to Hawaii during pandemic

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A UCP staff member has been the target of criticism on social media after he allegedly posted pictures of himself in Hawaii during the pandemic.

The pictures were posted on the education minister’s press secretary Michael Forian’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The pictures show him and a woman standing in front of the ocean with the caption “Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family, whether it’s blood or not. My friends are my ohana, period!”

It’s unclear when the photos were taken, but they have since been deleted from both accounts.

On the Alberta government website, it advises against any non-essential travel with only essential service workers are exempt from the restrictions.

All non-exempt travellers returning to or entering Alberta from outside Canada are legally required to isolate for 14 days, monitor for symptoms, and get tested if any symptoms develop and isolate for at least 10 additional days from the beginning of symptoms or until feeling well.

Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, says if the allegations are true it would be problematic.

“Our government, both at the provincial and at the federal level, are asking us to make sacrifices and the stay-at-home orders are based on the counts within the province,” she said.

“The province is giving guidance about what’s safe, what’s necessary to protect the health of ourselves, of others and, most importantly in my view, to keep those hospitalizations and intensive care numbers low and now we have people that are insiders who, presumably have access to enough information to make an informed decision, who have decided not to follow the guidelines.”

Williams said this is incredibly insensitive to those who have not seen their family at all over the holiday.

The premier’s office could not be reached for comment.