More than two-thirds of Albertans stayed home on holidays, poll finds

More than two thirds of Albertans who responded to a national poll reported staying home over the holidays as politicians were being outed for taking tropical vacations overseas amid COVID-19.

The poll, released earlier this week by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, says 68 per cent of Albertans reported staying home and never visited anyone over the holidays, the highest percentage of any province in the country.

But the polling company is already planning more questions to see how much growing rage at politicians who chose to travel impacts people's willingness to follow the rules in the future.

The survey of 1,506 Canadians, including 129 Albertans, was conducted between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3. Nationally, 48 per cent of those surveyed said they visited with people outside their households, compared to 52 per cent who said they did not.

The poll was conducted online, and cannot be assigned a margin of error as online surveys aren't considered truly random.

The survey was carried out just as news in Alberta began to trickle out that UCP MLAS and staffers had taken international vacations over the holidays despite repeated advisories from national and provincial officials to stay home.

While he originally said he wasn't going to sanction anyone for travelling, Premier Jason Kenney said Monday he had accepted the resignation from cabinet of former municipal affairs minister Tracy Allard, who went to Hawaii.

MLAS Tany Yao, Jeremy Nixon, Tanya Fir, Jason Stephan and Pat Rehn lost committee responsibilities over their travels.

Leger vice-president Christian Bourque said the initial effects of a scandal are usually felt up to seven days afterwards.

The next round of polling is expected to go into the field the weekend of Jan. 15.

“So I think when we measure again next week, in terms of people's willingness to actually continue doing what they're asked, that's potentially where we will measure the full extent of the damage, if any, that this has created,” he said.

Kenney has not spoken at a news conference since Jan. 1, when he said there would not be sanctions for travellers.

News of the resignations was posted on his Facebook page.

At a news conference Wednesday, NDP deputy leader Sarah Hoffman continued to push for Kenney to make a public appearance.

“It's been five days. Where is the premier? There's a lot of work to do. We need a government that is completely focused on creating and delivering a plan,” she said.

Christine Myatt, Kenney's spokesperson, said Wednesday he is working in what is colloquially known as the “Sky Palace” — a controversial suite built in the Federal Building under former premier Alison Redford — while construction is taking place at the legislature. The temporary move was announced in August.

Myatt said Kenney had multiple calls and briefings throughout the day.

It's not clear when the premier will hold a news conference next.

“I assure you that we will send out a media notice advising of the next Premier media availability,” Myatt said.