RJ Sigurdson has joined other Alberta MLAs in calling for an end to the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP).

In a social media post from Feb. 3, Sigurdson addressed his constituents directly, acknowledging their own requests for the restrictions to be loosened.

"I have been working diligently to communicate those concerns to government. I have also advocated my personal belief that we need to return to normal as soon as possible," the post reads.

He also refers to specific requests from members of the public to make his opinion on the program known:

"My personal stance on the REP has been requested specifically,"

Sigurdson says in the post that he believes the program has not provided relief to the province's healthcare system.

As of Feb. 3, 86.1 per cent of Albertans age 12 and up have recieved at least two doses of the vaccine, with 74.6 per cent of the total population having been fully vaccinated.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Premier Jason Kenney stated that restrictions are to be lifted sometime this month, starting with the REP.

"I believe that will happen this month, in February. We need to see a sustained decline in hospitalization pressure, but with the overall trends, I am very optimistic that we will be able to move forward with meaningful relaxation of public health measures this month, including with the elimination of the Restrictions Exemption, or proof of vaccinations program."

Non-ICU hospitalizations sat at 1476 at the time of that COVID update, and have slightly risen since, though ICU cases continue to slowly decline.

Sigurdson acknowledged Kenney's intention in his post but called for more immediate action.

"While I'm encouraged that the end of restrictions is near, it is very obvious that for many residents, it's not soon enough."

Sigurdson isn't the first Alberta MLA to publicly request an end to the REP, with Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt and Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie having made similar statements the week prior.

The notion of easing restrictions has been met with opposition from the Alberta NDP, who have called for the UCP to release data that supports the easing of restrictions.

Elsewhere, the group Protect Our Province Alberta started the hashtag #REPnotRIP in an effort to keep the program in place.