Alberta MLA Says He Didn't Know He Was Told To Return From Mexico As His Phone Was Off
A whole whack of Alberta MLAs have been demoted or have resigned following trips abroad over the holidays.
According to the Edmonton Journal, the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA, Tany Yao, sent a text from Mexico apologizing for being unreachable when Jason Kenney ordered him to return to Canada.
Editor's Choice: A Guy Got Arrested At The Canadian Border For Faking Documents To Visit His Girlfriend
I’ve endured abuse and slander in social and mainstream media over my private member’s bill, which they misconstrued.
Tany Yao
As it turns out, he had reportedly turned his phone off so he could decompress after a stressful year.
He sent his apology and explanation via text message on Tuesday, January 5 from Mexico, said Fort McMurry Today.*
Apparently, Jason Kenney's office had been trying to reach the MLA since January 1 to demand that he came home.
He'll be coming back to Canada on January 8 and he'll reportedly be entering a 14-day quarantine.
As of now, Yao has been kicked off of additional committees he served on.*
“I know that my constituents, Albertans and the premier expect a role model of the highest quality. As a former paramedic/firefighter… I do know the effort and discipline required to be a good role model. I am truly sorry I disappointed,” he said in the message.
He said that he'd let his guard down when the vaccine rolled out.
Editor's Note: This article and its headline have been updated.
This article's cover photo is for illustrative purposes only.