P.E.I. PC Leader Dennis King tells voter he disagrees with CPHO on school masking policy in secret recording
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — For a fifth time throughout the spring election marketing campaign, a controversial secret recording of PC Chief Dennis King speaking to a possible voter is drawing public criticism after surfacing on social media.
The newest on-line submit by Kevin J. Arsenault, a political opponent of King and runner-up within the 2019 PC management race, comprises a dialogue concerning COVID-19 measures.
Thus far, Arsenault posted 5 recordings on Fb of King talking with a possible voter throughout a marketing campaign go to forward of the April 3 provincial election.
Arsenault’s recording comprises solely quick snippets of an extended dialog between King and an unidentified man. This submit options King discussing masking in faculties and the way he labored with chief public well being officer Dr. Heather Morrison.
King is heard within the recording recalling a dialog in 2022 with Morrison.
“Dr. Morrison got here in and he or she stated, ‘I feel we must always put masks in class,’ and I stated, ‘Dr. Morrison, I feel we’ve to study to stay with COVID. This has received to be the top of the road, you realize what I imply? We’ve all been by means of that. We’ve had sufficient of that. If you wish to put on a masks, go put on it. I don’t care.”
At that time, the recording cuts off abruptly.
In response to SaltWire Community on March 29, the PC marketing campaign issued the next assertion.
“(PC Chief Dennis) King has by no means as soon as ignored the recommendation or suggestions of Dr. (Heather) Morrison,” it stated. “(King) and Dr. Morrison labored carefully collectively all through the pandemic, together with all authorities officers. Earlier than choices had been made, productive discussions had been held, and the selections had been made utilizing the most effective accessible proof.”
Response
Brittany Jakubiec, an Island father or mother of a Grade 7 scholar, was stunned to listen to the recording, they stated in a March 30 SaltWire Community interview.
Whereas King has instructed Islanders all through the pandemic he has taken recommendation from Morrison, the recording presents a glimpse behind closed doorways, Jakubiec stated.
“It all the time actually appeared like (PC Chief) King was listening to Dr. Heather Morrison about her suggestions about how the province ought to be responding to or placing in measures to guard folks in opposition to COVID. So, listening to this totally different story was sort of a shock.”
SaltWire Community referred to as and emailed the Chief Public Well being Workplace’s (CPHO) communications officer on March 29 to verify the alleged dialog described by King within the recording, however the CPHO has but to reply as of deadline.
Logan MacLean is a range reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @loganmaclean94.
