Public health measures to try to curb the spread of COVID-19 have sown a stark divide in Mackenzie County, the least vaccinated region in Alberta
Residents and local leaders say friendships have ended, arguments have erupted in shops, and government projects have been unable to move forward amid disagreements over masking, vaccines and other pandemic responses.
Mackenzie County is larger than New Brunswick and has abundant oil, gas and agriculture. In addition to High Level, it is home to the hamlets of La Crete and Fort Vermillion as well as to four First Nations. The Beaver First Nation says 60 per cent of people living on the two reserves it manages are fully vaccinated.
The animosity between High Level and the county peaked in February when the county’s council passed a motion to stop working with subcontractors and businesses that had a vaccination policy for employees. A letter stated that those businesses would not be permitted to enter county premises.“To protect our workers, High Level’s employees had to be vaccinated, including the fire department,” McAteer said.
“I can appreciate what they do as long as they don’t expect us to do the same … The biggest frustration that I’ve seen through this all is the division that it’s caused.”