United We Roll to target Thunberg visit
A group of pro-energy advocates are planning to lead a demonstration championing the province’s oil and gas sector outside the legislature Friday at the same time as a climate strike led by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg.
United We Roll For Canada, who led a convoy of trucks to Ottawa earlier this year to advocate for the nation’s energy sector, announced on social media Wednesday they are planning on congregating at Gorts Truck Wash in Red Deer before driving up Highway 2 to “show Greta we do not need her yelling at us.”
“We’re proud of our oil and gas industry, we’re proud of our clean resources, we’re proud of the hardworking Canadians and it’s a point of pride actually. We’re taking the opportunity to show that we champion Canada’s resources,” said Haley Wile, a United We Roll organizer.
Thunberg has been touring across North America since arriving for the United Nation’s climate action summit in late September. She announced on Twitter last week that she would be visiting Alberta.
Wile said her organization is looking to advocate for Canada’s energy sector by taking advantage of the media attention Thunberg has garnered during her travels. Wile said the organization is planning to leave Red Deer shortly after 7 a.m.
“We’re taking it as an opportunity. Hey, there’s gonna be cameras, there’s gonna be people there, let’s show how proud we are,” said Wile. “There’s a big number of people who are proud of what we are doing in Canada, we should be proud.”
Edmonton’s climate strikes are inspired in part by Thunberg, whose weekly strikes in Sweden sparked a global movement for climate action and the hashtag #Fridaysforfuture. Climate Justice Edmonton announced Wednesday that Thunberg will join Edmonton youth and other activists in a “climate strike” at the Alberta legislature. The rally will begin at Beaver Hills House Park, 10440 Jasper Ave., at 11 a.m. and end at the Alberta legislature.
Premier Jason Kenney said he has not received any communication from Thunberg or a request for a meeting, but he’d be “happy to share” the information on Alberta’s energy sector with “anyone who inquires.”
Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said they will be looking at whether or not the NDP will have the opportunity to meet with Thunberg on Friday.