The Yellow Vest movement showed itself in Drumheller on Sunday morning as 150 people rallied to protest a number of perceived issues, namely in support of the Alberta oil and gas industry and the federal government’s immigration policies.
Crowds donning high visibility vests and picket signs gathered at the empty lot on the corner of Highway 56 and 575, passing out pamphlets as drivers honked as they passed. Signs read “Canada Needs Pipelines” and “Trudeau Must Go,” and while there were no speeches made by the protestors, there was much talk about the need for federal support for Alberta’s energy industry and protests against Canada’s involvement in the UN Immigration Compact.
“I just wanted to make people aware of what’s really going on,” said Corey Bulechowsky, one of the organizers. “It’s more than just the oil patch here in Alberta, it has to do with the sovereignty of Canada. The future of our kids is at stake here.”
One of the protesters, Earl Brownlee, is employed in Alberta’s oil and gas industry and mainly attended the rally in support of building an eastern pipeline.
“We have to have a pipeline in the ground to get this oil to tidewater, we have to go east and west. We’ve been put on the backburner as Albertans. We’ve talked about it, we’ve knocked it around a bit – it’s time.”
Cori Grieve attended the rally because she feels Albertans have not had proper representation of their needs.
“I just feel we have really weak leader representation in Canada, provincially and federally. They’re not listening to us and they have their own agendas. Our freedom of speech is gone and our rights are being taken away, it’s time to speak up,” she said.
The meeting was largely organized on social media and come after large rallies and vehicle convoys in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, and Medicine Hat over the last week. The Yellow Vest movement originates from French protestors who have been rioting over high costs of living and taxes.
