On January 29th, 2021, the Alberta Government established specific, step-by-step benchmarks based on the number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations for the re-opening of organizations and facilities.  Since that time, Step 1 was fulfilled on February 8th, 2021 based on the number of hospitalizations well below the Step 1 benchmark (600).

However, Step 2’s benchmark (450) was only partially fulfilled on March 1st, 2021 based on hospitalizations that were well-below even Step 3’s established target (300).  As you may already know, the fulfillment of Step 3 will allow all recreational team sports to re-start.

Who is to say that an alteration of the plan by the Alberta Government will not occur for subsequent steps unless pressure is applied on the government to stop changing the parameters (or, in hockey terminology, changing the goal posts) to accommodate political objectives?  Although flexibility is important, why are the non-verbal elements of society consistently given longer timelines compared to others simply because “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”?

Team sport is necessary for the mental health of people of all ages.  It should not be just confined to professional and junior elite-level players based on politics.  Enough is enough.  Sport for the average person is just as important as it is for Calgary Flames players.

If you care about playing hockey, baseball, football, soccer, or any sports as a recreational team for the sake of your child’s or your own mental health and want the government to be held accountable, then please sign this petition and pass it on to others by March 15th, 2021.  It will be forwarded to Jason Kenny following this date.