Angry protesters demanding that Canada build new pipelines interrupted speeches by Calgary’s mayor and councilors at a downtown rally yesterday.
Loud boos rose from the crowd at any mention of Quebec or free trade after city council passed a resolution declaring its support for the oil and gas industry.
According to Canadian Press, the resolution also called for solutions to a crisis in low oil prices blamed on a lack of pipeline export capacity.
Rally organizer Cody Battershill of Canada Action stepped up to ask the crowd of around 1,000 to stop shouting when Mayor Naheed Nenshi began to speak in French — a message aimed at the people of Quebec.
A volley of boos also rang out when Coun. Peter Demong pointed out that Quebec City council supports pipeline construction and, therefore, Calgary residents should buy Canadian cheese, not take part in trade boycotts.
Tim Vader, who says he is an under-employed well site geologist, says he attended the rally to protest and send a message to Ottawa.
“We’ve had enough of the globalist elite determining how the rest of the world and average Canadians are going to live,” he told Canadian Press Monday. “I’m tired of it.”
There were a scattering of yellow construction vests in the audience but none of those interviewed said they are associated with the anti-United Nations Yellow Vest Canada group that held rallies in Calgary and other cities across Canada on Sunday.
Vader, who was wearing a vest, said he identifies with vest-wearing French workers who have been recently staging sometimes-violent protests against their government.
(Canadian Press)
