Critics are questioning why only two of the 12 members of Alberta's Economic Recovery Council are women, when half the province's population is female who critics say are being disproportionately affected by job losses. Thomas noted that the Kenney government has focused its messaging and economic policy on job losses in the oil industry. Thomas said if she was being "super cynical" she might conclude that the UCP government addresses gender in economic policy "just enough to head off critiques that they are being deliberately exclusionary." The perspective of the trades is obviously important for the work of the economic recovery council." Gil McGowan of the Alberta Federation of Labour said Blakely would not have been his choice for the council.

Source: CBC News April 10, 2020 12:00 UTC