After a three-week vacation, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has come back to a whole host of new criticism, stemming mainly from leftists concerned about case counts. 

However, the most shocking shift since his return is his sudden shift in attitude towards the necessity of vaccines rather than outright lockdowns.

Responding to an audience on Facebook Live, Kenney said, “[More] lockdowns? No. I think the trick is to get more people vaccinated. That is the alternative to lockdowns.”

He then says that lockdowns should be seen as a last resort and that if the healthcare system is jeopardized, the government may have to take “some very targeted actions.”

Jason Kenney says "if we do see this wave jeopardizing the healthcare system, we may have to take some very targeted actions."

Kenney didn't say what those actions could be. ICU cases in Alberta have more than doubled over the last 10 days. pic.twitter.com/Cbuo5q5t3H

— Andrew Brown (@browncbc) September 2, 2021

While Kenney did not specify what these “targeted actions” would entail, additional comments discouraged those seeking to avoid a passport system.

“We may have to take other measures to encourage people, the unvaccinated, to ensure they are not putting themselves in a position where they’re transmitting,” Kenney said.

In other words, it is not for sure, but it certainly sounds like the idea is being seriously considered.

Only yesterday, after months of promises that a vaccine passport would not be implemented, Premier Doug Ford pulled a full 180 and announced that he was doing just that. This decision came only weeks after his left-wing colleagues like Premiers John Horgan (B.C.) and Brian Pallister (MB) chose to do the same.

With the first Conservative Premier following the lead of the Federal Liberals on vaccine passports, a precedent has been set. The only question remaining is whether Kenney will cave to political pressure or forge his own way.