Click here to email Brittney LeBlanc
1/23/2010
Close to 300 Edmontonians marched from Corbett Hall to Gazebo Park in Old Strathcona Saturday afternoon.
Carrying signs that read: "It is our parliament, not theirs" and "Defend Democracy", the protesters gathered and chanted against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's proroguing of Parliament.
New Democrat MP Linda Duncan spoke at the rally, but made it very clear, that this rally was non-partisan. "The rally is just organized by ordinary citizens - completely not party oriented. They just wanted to come out and send the message, the same that people have been sending on Chris White's Facebook - they're very upset that the Prime Minister prorogued parliament completely unnecessarily."
"I think this is a wake-up call. People are starting to pay more attention to what's going on with the federal government." Duncan says, "This shows people actually care. They actually care about the people they elect, and they actually care that we're there doing the work that we're paid to do. It's totally refreshing, and not surprising to me in Edmonton-Strathcona, because it's an incredible constituency in which the people really care about what's going on."
Chris White stands in front of the rally Saturday afternoon.
Christopher White, a student at the University of Alberta, started the Facebook group "Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament" shortly after the announcement was made. White, who helped organize Edmonton's protest, says similar rallies were held world-wide - including a one-woman protest in Oman.
"This is the start." White says, "I hope that people stay involved and stay committed to this issue of prorogation. If we just forget it, tomorrow it will be brushed under the carpet. We do have to push for some sort of change, either legislation change, or constitutional exchange."
"We don't have to do the heavy lifting though, that's why we elect MP's. We give them our suggestions and they work for a solution for us." White wants those involved to keep the momentum going, "Keep at it keep writing letters to the editor. Keep doing small rallies. Keep it local and see what we can do."
White says he's proud so many Edmontonians turned up for the protest.
Over 212,000 people have joined the Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament group on Facebook. (blb)
|
«
Return to previous page
»
Send to a friend
|
|