Thousands of Calgarians converged at Riley Park on Friday evening to voice their opposition to a range of policies by the United Conservative Party (UCP) as part of a provincewide protest that mobilized residents from over a dozen communities.
Protesters Voice Grievances
As the sun beat down on the crowd, anger swelled. Many chanted in unison with a speaker who railed against a litany of issues, including the separatist movement, the use of the notwithstanding clause against teachers and transgender students, and recent health-care policies. The protest was one of several held across Alberta, drawing participants from various regions.
Among the attendees was Evan Gregory, who discovered the rally a few days prior and decided to publicly express his disappointment with the government. "I just inherently disagree with everything that the UCP is doing, and what they've done since they got in office," Gregory said. "It's a lot of wishy-washy messaging. I don't even know what's going on, you know. She's (Premier Danielle Smith) on the radio two days ago saying she's a federalist, but nothing—none of her actions point towards that."
Gregory also voiced concerns about recent health-care policies that critics say push Alberta toward a two-tiered, profit-based model, potentially depriving vulnerable residents of essential services. "I definitely don't want to leave Canada—I think it would be exceptionally detrimental to our economy," he added. "I think it's time we stand up and do something. I've had enough."
Notwithstanding Clause at Heart of Protest
The protest originated from opposition to the province's use of the notwithstanding clause to force striking teachers back to work. The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) had considered a general strike but backed off due to legal ramifications for teachers violating recent legislation denying their right to strike. Instead, they established regional committees and coordinated a provincewide protest, according to Gil McGowan, AFL president and former NDP leadership candidate.
Initially focused on the notwithstanding clause, the protest quickly expanded to encompass a flood of government policies. "Starting with separatism, but that's certainly not the only thing that is motivating thousands and thousands of Albertans to get out and participate in our protests," McGowan said. "We have a government that is implementing an agenda that no one voted for."
The province dismissed the protests as a union-driven ploy. "We are putting a historic $8.6 billion into building and modernizing schools across the province, helping reduce class sizes and pressure on teachers and other educational staff," wrote Hunter Baril, press secretary for the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, in an emailed statement. "We are leading the country in job creation and have the most resilient economy across Canada in the face of global economic uncertainty."
