Convoy passes to great support
Dozens of trucks roll through the Hat on their way to rally in Ottawa in support of oil, gas and pipelines
A convoy to voice dissent with the federal government’s handling of energy development and pipeline approvals rolled through Medicine Hat on Thursday afternoon.
Several dozen heavy trucks and as many pickups adorned with banners and flags arrived shortly after 2 p.m.
They were greeted with blaring horns and cheers from small number of supporters at several points long the TransCanada Highway through town.
Organizers say 100 trucks left Red Deer on Thursday morning with plans to reach Regina in the late afternoon.
The plan is to bring on oilfield and construction vehicles along the 3,900-kilometre trek to the nation’s capital.
The trip’s leg on Friday would carry them to Kenora, Ont.., and then through Ontario over the weekend in hopes of staging a rally on Parliament Hill on Monday.
Several dozen local supporters wearing yellow vests gathered near the highway pedestrian overpass near Sixth Avenue, SW waving flags, holding signs and cheering as passing motorists hit their horns.
Hatter Jamie Schigol told the News she showed up in cold weather on behalf of her husband, an oilfield driller, and other family members who work in the oilpatch.
“These guys are out in the cold 14 hours a day to make sure everyone else is warm and cozy,” she said. “That’s a statement that needs to be made.”
Hatter Brian McGee waited nearby as temperatures hovered at -20 C.
“I’m here to show my support with all the people who are out of work in this province,” said McGee, who works in oilfield construction but is currently unemployed. “There’s a whole lot of machinery doing nothing when there’s no need for it.”
Jurgen Vollrath told the News he was standing with “fellow patriots” to send a message to the federal government.
“We want pipelines all across Canada,” he said.