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St. Albert councillor Sheena Hughes vacationing in Mexico amid pandemic

Mayor denounced trip as disappointing, stopping short of disciplinary action
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St. Albert councillor Sheena Hughes is facing public outcry following her decision to vacation in Mexico amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The shadow of what looks like a palm tree can be seen behind Hughes during the Dec. 21 council meeting.

A previous statement from Coun. Sheena Hughes has been amended to clarify the mayor knew about her travel plans.

St. Albert city councillor Sheena Hughes is under fire for her decision to travel to Mexico for a vacation while Albertans have been told to stay home to help bend the COVID-19 curve.

Hughes, who held the deputy mayor position in November and December, left St. Albert for Mexico in December. It is not yet known when she will be returning. News of the councillor's trip broke over the New Year weekend, with many residents taking to social media to call for Hughes' resignation from council.

Hughes declined an interview over the phone, but sent the Gazette an emailed statement regarding the trip on Sunday.  

"I apologize that this decision has upset people in our community and recognize that it has been a very difficult and stressful year," Hughes wrote. Hughes said the mayor was aware of her travel plans.

After reviewing the risks of travelling with airline precautions and public health measures, including a 14-day isolation period upon return, Hughes said she "concluded that there is minimal risk of contracting or passing COVID to our community if we continued to follow all public health measures when away and upon return."

Hughes said it is legal to travel outside of Canada. Neither Canada nor Alberta have banned travelling, though Canada has issued an advisory urging people to avoid non-essential travel out of the country and Alberta is advising against non-essential travel in general.

"As a part-time municipal councillor I was not responsible for the provincial health measures and restrictions. I have and will continue to adhere to all public health measures, regardless of where I am located, including working from home and quarantining for 14 days to ensure there is no health risk to the community."

Hughes has been vocal in her opposition of St. Albert's face covering bylaw and municipal enforcement of provincial COVID-19 restrictions in previous council decisions. 

Mayor Cathy Heron issued a statement denouncing the councillor's vacation on Sunday, though she said there was "no basis" for council to vote to sanction her since Hughes did not break any rules. 

As the last council meeting of the year wrapped up on Dec. 21, Heron noted Hughes was joining the meeting from Mexico, commenting on the palm-tree shaped shadow cast in the background over Zoom. 

"Yes I knew about her decision to go to Mexico. I was disappointed by her choice. In hindsight I should have made my concerns known to Councillor Hughes. I did not, as I highly respect the autonomy and role of each council member," Heron wrote in her statement Sunday. 

"Councillors do not work for the mayor, and therefore I had no authority to limit her travel or ask that she stay in Alberta. Likewise, while many may feel her decision was in poor taste, she has not broken any laws that I'm aware of. Therefore, there's no basis for council to vote to sanction her. Elected officials should, however, hold ourselves to the highest standards, and respect the recommendations as if they were laws. As community leaders, it falls on us to lead by example." 

Heron said she can confirm the rest of council, including herself, stayed at home during Christmas "observing the health recommendations, and not taking any unnecessary risks." 

The Gazette has reached out to Heron for an interview. 

As of Dec. 29, there were 301 active cases of COVID-19 in St. Albert. In total, 1,606 St. Albertans have tested positive for the virus. Of those, 1,290 people are no longer testing positive. At least 15 people have died. 

Throughout the pandemic, the federal government has recommended Canadians avoid all non-essential travel. Travellers arriving in Canada will have to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding a flight starting Jan. 7. Anyone with a negative test result must still complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine after arrival.

Public outcry

Hughes' decision to travel abroad came to light as numerous other jet-setting Alberta MLAs and their staff face mounting pressure from their constituents. 

Minister of Municipal Affairs Tracy Allard is in Grande Prairie after vacationing in Hawaii in December. Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn confirmed his return to Alberta following a trip to Mexico. Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South, travelled to the U.S.

Two other UCP MLAs, including Calgary-Klein's Jeremy Nixon and Calgary-Peigan's Tanya Fir, also travelled to the U.S. over the holidays. Premier Jason Kenney also confirmed his chief of staff Jamie Huckabay travelled to the United Kingdom before returning to Canada. 

During a New Year's Day press conference, Kenney said he apologized for not making travel restrictions clearer for legislative members, calling it a "significant error in judgment," but did not announce any disciplinary action. 

Though decisions to travel abroad amid the pandemic have had consequences for other provincial politicians elsewhere in Canada. In Ontario, finance minister Rod Phillips resigned over his trip to the Caribbean while the province remained in lockdown. 

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