While many lakecity residents are preparing for the holidays a group of concerned citizens have begun to organize weekly protests.
In the last week or so a movement has risen in Canada that has taken inspiration from the Yellow Vests movement across the pond in France. Called Yellow Vests Canada the group seems to have originated on Facebook and has inspired protests across the country this week.
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While they’ve lacked the violence of the French protests, its already gained similar traction among Canadian workers and conservatives. Almost 60,000 people have joined the Facebook group created ten days ago whose about section describes themselves as “We are Canadian Patriots who refuse to allow this country to walk down the path of Tyranny.”
Common grievances seem to be directed towards the controversial federal carbon tax, concern’s about Canada’s sovereignty and a general discontent against the actions taken by the Federal Liberal Government. Protests have occurred in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Maritimes and just Saturday, here in Williams Lake.
In Grande Prairie Sunday, hundreds of protesters, many wearing yellow vests, took to the streets there to support the struggling oil and gas sector.
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In Williams Lake for about two hours down the hill from City Hall on Oliver Street, a fluctuating number of 30 to 40 locals protested to raise awareness over their issues with both the Federal Liberal Government and Premier John Horgan’s provincial coalition government. Much like the movement as a whole, born and raised lakecity resident and Yellow Vests protestor Eric Brigden said today’s protest just kind of came together naturally.
Brigden describes himself as just a normal guy, having worked in prospecting, forestry and mining like many of the protestors.
“I just get by doing what I do,” Brigden said.
He said that he, like many of his fellow protestors, is just tired of seeing what policies the provincial and federal governments are implementing in Canada. This group is still new, however, Brigden said and that more concrete organization is still being worked on.
As it stands he and his fellow protestors intend to protest every Saturday until their message is heard by the government, with Bridgen adding they may look at moving the weekly protest to a workday to reach more people.
“We’re just trying to show the government that we’re upset with what’s happening federally and provincially, but mainly federally with the current Liberal Government,” Brigden said.
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In addition to being concerned about Canada’s Sovereignty, in the wake of deals made with the United Nations, Brigden is of the opinion Trudeau has done a poor job of negotiating and renegotiating several important trade deals and feels he is making Canada a laughing stock. Furthermore, Brigden believes several of Trudeau’s policies are hurting Canadian jobs and, in his opinion, are destroying what makes Canada Canada.
He is of the mindset that many elected officials are currently not doing the job they were hired to do and until that changes, he intends to continue to protest.
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