Premier Jason Kenney talked about a lottery last week to encourage more Albertans to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so the province could climb past the 70 percent threshold to remove all public health restrictions this summer.  

On Saturday, June 12, the Premier came through when he announced a multi-million dollar lottery will begin in Alberta.

Kenney said more details on the "Open for Summer Vaccine Lottery" would come in the days ahead but did reveal some information in a video posted on his Twitter account. 

The video was taken at an immunization centre in Edmonton which, the Premier explained, was empty on a Saturday afternoon.  He said Alberta is not getting enough demand for first doses of the vaccine, which is why the lottery is going ahead.

It will offer three prizes of $1 million dollars each along with other prizes as yet unspecified.  Kenney said the first installment of the lottery will be open to Albertans, 18 or older, who get at least their first dose within a week of the day the provinces reaches 70 percent of first doses given. 

The first grand prize draw will happen the day we enter Stage Three of the Open for Summer Plan.

As of Friday Alberta had issued first dose vaccinations to nearly 69 percent of people 12 and over.

Here is Premier Kenney's announcement regarding the "Open for Summer Vaccine Lottery."