Medicine Hat, AB – Over 160 residents of Medicine Hat turned out to yesterdays yellow-vest protest on 13th Ave.
Hatters flooded the Tim Hortons parking lot, as they looked to continue their momentum heading into 2019.
The yellow-vest movement originated in France, after French residents demanded such things as lower taxation on fuel.
That movement then found its way overseas into Canada and weekly rallies have been happening not only in Medicine Hat, but across the entirety of Canada.
Yesterdays rally was the fourth and final protest of 2018 and comes off the heels of a massive truck-rally that took place in Medicine Hat last weekend.
The rallies themselves have been garnering plenty of attention.
Federal MP Glen Motz spoke at the second rally held outside of his office and MLA Drew Barnes spoke at last weekends protest held near Staples.
This weekend, Oilfield Wives of Canada representative Kasandra Sajinovic got up on a truck and said her piece.
Sajinovic said she needed to add her voice to the conversation, for those who may not have necessarily been heard from yet.
“I really wanted to represent all women in the oilfield,” said Sajinovic. “Like I said, whether it was being at home or actually in the industry, I wanted us to have a voice. I wanted to reiterate what we’re doing this for and who we are behind the scenes.”
Sajinovic said seeing everything that is going on across Canada is simply heartbreaking.
“These men and women who work in this industry are the toughest people I know. They’re so loyal to their lifestyle and I’ve talked to my spouse several times about maybe getting out of the oilfield and trying something new. But, deep down I know you’re bred to do this and you are going to go through the ups and downs and hold it with pride.”
She then stated she hates having to protest to get the message across.
“Everybody should want everyone to be happy and successful. Right now, we’re only being represented by maybe a third of what Canada and our Prime Minister believes in.”
Unfortunately, Sajinovic said she doesn’t know when all of this will end.
“All I really know is this is growing. We keep getting exposure and we have to keep going until we see change, until we’re happy with what is going on in this world. Maybe there’s no stop. Maybe we continue to press on and show people what we’re made out of.”
Protest organizer Cindy Parker echoed Sajinovic’s comments.
“I think what is happening across Canada and across the world, is people are waking up to the fact that their government’s aren’t representing them,” said Parker. “We think we live in a democracy and people are starting to realize that we elect people that are looking after their own best interests or interests of other people instead of, for example, Alberta or Canada.”
And that’s all Parker is hoping for, that the government looks out for the best interest of the Canadian people.
“It needs to be Canada first. It’s time for Canadians to have their voices heard and it doesn’t work at the ballot box because politicians know as soon as they get elected, that they can go ahead and do whatever they want and we go on with our lives. We have to show them we’re not going to stand for that any longer.”
And just like Sajinovic, Parker doesn’t know when all of this will all come to an end.
“As long as it takes we’ll be here. The people need to start standing up because we have power in numbers. We have the power, the politicians don’t. We gave them their power and it’s time for Canadians to take it back.”
Parker said rallies such as this give her hope for the future of Canada.
“It gives me hope for my kids future and my grand-kids future because I didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. People are starting to realize that we have stayed silent for too long and it’s time for Canada to wake up.”
One person who decided to ‘wake up’ was Matt Maier.
Maier said he’s worked in the oil and gas sector for the entirety of his life and ironically enough, had to move to Ontario to find pipeline work, as there were barely any jobs available in his home province of Alberta.
“I had a friend that was working out east and he gave me a heads up that there was a job available in Ontario, so I moved there. I hope to make it back here some time when there’s jobs available.”
During his time spent working in the oil and gas sector, Maier said he’s never seen something quite like this.
“No I haven’t. People in Alberta are usually pretty busy working and don’t have much time for activism.”
Maier has been working in Ontario for about 8 months and explained the conversation out east varies, depending on who you speak to.
“I think some people are pretty upset with the Federal Government, others seem to support it. Kind of a mixed bag out there depending where you’re at I guess.”
Maier said he has one concern in regards to this entire process.
“Specifically around the pipeline question. There’s been about 4 or 5 major pipelines that have either been killed or seem like they’re not going anywhere. I think that would be a good step in getting the Alberta economy running and getting people back to work.”
The event details for the first yellow-vest rally of 2019 in Medicine Hat have yet to be finalized.
