Protest planned in Medicine Hat as local coalition voices concerns with UCP government

Local organizer Brittany Doctor said the protest is intended to encourage residents to become more vocal about provincial issues.

Doctor described the event as a “family-friendly” and “really passive” protest that would be “non-violent” and “non-aggressive.”

“It is a community-wide protest against the Alberta government because we feel they are advancing their own agenda and no longer listening to their constituents,” Doctor said.

“The goal is to tell people, the time to be polite and let government and law work itself out is past,” she added.

“It’s time to start standing up, start advocating for your beliefs and for what you’d like to see happen in our government.”

The Medicine Hat event is part of a broader provincewide effort organized through the Alberta Federation of Labour and supported locally by unions, AWARE Medicine Hat, and other community members.

Doctor said organizers hope the rally will lead to continued public engagement beyond Friday’s demonstration.

“This is the inaugural opportunity to tell Albertans, if you didn’t get a chance to show up on May 29, stay tuned because we are here,” Doctor said.

“We are not going away. This is not getting smaller. This is getting bigger.”

Doctor also said AWARE Medicine Hat has held weekly demonstrations outside the constituency office of Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright for about 15 months.

Wright, a member of the United Conservative Party who was recently appointed Alberta’s Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services, said residents who disagree with government policies are encouraged to contact his office directly.

“If folks feel that there is changes or policies that they don’t necessarily align with, please book a meeting, come see me,” Wright said.

“I’ll meet with any constituent on any topic, whether we think the same or not,” he added.

“I think it’s important to maintain the dialogue so that people have an understanding of where Albertans are at for policy.”

Wright said he plans to continue advocating for provincial investments in the region, pointing to funding commitments made in the constituency in recent years.

“To make sure that we are positively impacting the everyday lives of Albertans,” Wright said regarding advocating for provincial investments.

Organizers for the Fight Back coalition are also encouraging attendees in the rally to prepare for hot weather conditions by bringing water and taking precautions against heat-related illness.

by Jett Schwaier

Protest planned in Medicine Hat as local coalition voices concerns with UCP government

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