Alberta’s premier is defending his response to the second wave of the pandemic amidst growing criticism and news of tension with the chief medical officer of health. Jason Kenney declared a state of emergency but said he would not bow to political pressure or ideology and lock down the economy. This on the same day the province released a financial update reflecting Alberta’s economic crisis. Kathleen Petty assesses the government’s approach with two economists: Trevor Tombe and Lindsay Tedds of the University of Calgary, and political scientist Jared Wesley of the University of Alberta.