Paddlers hit the water to protest at Sask. Party event
Two canoes and a kayak floated through a west-side Regina golf course on Monday.
The paddlers had signs protesting the 2016-17 provincial budget and chants of “stop the cuts” directed at golfers participating in the Saskatchewan Party Golf Tournament.
Chelsea Flook was one of the people who was on a canoe as it wound through the Royal Regina Golf Club.
She is an organizer with Stop the Cuts, a group that formed after the provincial budget was released in March that has since disrupted a number of Sask. Party events.
“We noticed that the creek runs right through, and you know, water is still public in this province, so we decided we’d go through there to make the point that no matter what they do or where they go, people are still reeling from the 2017 budget and there is still a lot more to revisit on the table,” she said.
Flook pointed to reductions in services and benefits for people on social assistance, as well as less money for post-secondary institutions as examples of where she would like the Sask. Party government to “stop the cuts.”
The province has already backed away from some cuts. Funding to libraries was restored, and the province limited the cuts it had planned on making to those on social assistance.
Last week, it was announced a planned 10-per-cent cut to community based organizations would not going forward.
“The reaction was a bit of shock. It’s not that often you see a canoe group or flotilla, go through your golf course to make a point but I think that’s the level we’re at with this government, in terms of talking about rolling back more of those cuts,” said Flook, who was ousted from Premier Brad Wall’s annual dinner in June after interrupting his speech.
Kelsey Morrison, representative for Students Mobilizing Against Cuts (SMAC), said she took part in the protest to, in part, raise awareness of cuts to post-secondary education. The budget saw university funding go down $25 million yearover-year to $450 million, while technical institute funding went down to $150 million from $156 million. Colleges are receiving $27.3 million, down from $28.8 million.
Morrison said “most people were pretty shocked when they saw us” and that the protesters message got out “loud and clear.”
Regina police officers and a private security team were present at the event.
Sask. Party executive director Patrick Bundrock was aware of the protest and said in advance of it that he looked forward to it being peaceful.
“Everybody has a right to publicly express their views,” he said.