Medicine Hat residents are seen protesting outside Danielle Smith's constituency office Saturday, many holding signs calling for the Premier's resignation.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Approximately 20 residents, holding signs calling for resignation of the premier, gathered in front of Danielle Smith’s Brooks-Medicine Hat constituency office Saturday morning for a brief protest prior to her arrival in the Hat today.
Along with calling for her resignation for the UCP government’s involvement in an alleged health-care spending scandal, protestors gathered to express concerns with the negative impacts of coal mining in the eastern slopes as well as the province’s legislation on transgender youth and student pronouns.
“There are so many people that are being touched negatively by the things the government is doing that you can kind of pick a topic and have a new protest on a different topic for months on end,” said Ashley Large. “So we are trying to show solidarity.”
Along with ongoing developments on the health-care spending scandal, Large says the UCP government is “dismantling” the province health-care system with a new system that will include a new provincial health agency for primary care.
“Ignoring all the expectations about how a health-care system should improve and doing the opposite. It’s unbelievable the number of things on fire in our province right now.” says Large.
Several horns honked from vehicles passing by as protestors spent more than an hour outside the premier’s office, many of whom concerned with the amount of water that could be involved in a proposed coal-drilling operation that is currently seeking AER approval at Grassy Mountain in the Crowsnest Pass.
The project was squashed by a joint-review panel in 2021 citing significant environmental concerns.
“All the experts say coal mining in the eastern slopes is going to damage our water supply, a water supply that’s just barely hanging on when we talk about the Milk River Basin,” said Large. “These are big problems that need to be addressed.”
Debbie Hoefling, who is a retired teacher, says her passion for the education and health-care system inspired her to join Saturday’s gathering of solidarity against Smith, and she says the province’s new legislation surrounding transgender youth is dangerous.
“Those kids are going to be damaged, it’s just damaging to our youth,” said Hoefling. “I’ve known so many children in school that don’t know themselves and need help and guidance, and all those things they’re not going to get.”
Protestors wanted to send a message to Smith before her visit to Medicine Hat today.
The premier is expected to join Tanya Fir, minister of arts, culture and status of women, in Redcliff this afternoon to announce a Community Facility Enrichment Program grant at the Rec-Tangle Arena.
Following the announcement in Redcliff, Smith will join Justin Wright, MLA Cypress-Medicine Hat, for a town hall discussion at the Medicine Hat College Theatre that will begin at 6 p.m. The town hall discussion will include only pre-submitted questions, but an open microphone period for in-person questions is scheduled if time allows.
