Thousands took part in a province-wide day of action on Friday to protest the Alberta government. The Fight Back Now campaign hosted 20 events in 15 communities across Alberta, all pushing back against Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party (UCP) agenda. Events were largely organized by the Alberta Federation of Labour, though smaller rallies popped up that claimed to have no association. In Calgary, organizers and participants rallied against several major grievances, including separatist sentiment. Alison Dennis spoke out against “Smith throwing out the independent electoral map developed by a bipartisan committee.” Andy Sytsema was there to draw attention to “pathetically lower” AISH funding and “privatized healthcare and education at the expense of public education.” James Lee says he’s unhappy with the province “bleeding municipalities dry.” Calgary rally organizer Sead Tokalic told CTV News it’s a constant barrage from the government that has forced Albertans out into the street. “There’s something coming in at us every day, and I wonder if that’s part of the plan,” he said. “I’ve had enough for sure, and I don’t know about other Albertans, but these people here definitely have had enough.” “This is nonsense.” Calgary’s main afternoon rally took part in front of Mickey Amery’s northeast MLA office. Tokalic says the representative has “ignored” his constituents. “This is not the government that we asked for, and they weren’t elected to do any of this.” Provincial press release No one from the provincial government accommodated an interview request Friday. It did, however, strongly push back against suggestions it’s not doing its job. “Our government is continually responding to the issues on the minds of Albertans,” Jobs Ministry press secretary Hunter Basil wrote in a statement. “Health care, education, affordability, creating jobs, and growing the economy are all priorities for us, and we have demonstrated that with tangible action.” As for claims the government is driving the province toward independence? Smith has framed the referendum as a response to what she describes as repeated federal encroachment on Alberta’s resources and economy. In a release, AFL president Gil McGowan describes the referendum as a “divide-and-distract tactic”, adding “Albertans can see through it.” “That’s what this day of protest is about: a desperate, weak, and corrupt government that doesn’t work for the people.” “The fact that we have 20 events confirmed in communities across the province, both big cities and small towns, suggests to us that we’ve really tapped into a vein of anxiety, frustration and even anger,” says McGowan.
