By Sheldon Spackman and Jordan Bay / RDNewsNow

United We Roll convoy hits the road to Ottawa

Feb 14, 2019 | 12:56 PM

RED DEER, AB — More than vehicles left Red Deer for Ottawa Thursday morning in their bid to gain support for the oil and gas industry from the federal government.

The United We Roll, Official Convoy for Canada left Edgar Industrial Park, headed for Parliament Hill with hundreds more expected to join the convoy along the way over the next few days.

Organizer Glenn Carritt says people from all four western provinces are taking part.

WATCH: (Video Credit: RDNewsNow)

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“We’re just not happy with the current government. The current government has such a disconnect with the Canadian people and we need to get our pipelines in the ground and we need to get them in immediately,” he says.

Carritt says Bill C-48, C-69, and the carbon tax need to be abolished.

“All across Canada people realize that these are issues and we’re having our voice heard once we get to Parliament Hill,” he declares. “We’re losing business left, right and centre and it’s just silly that we’re spending $50 million a day on foreign oil. We need to get our product to tide water and we need to get the differential between West Texas Crude and the Canadian price gap closed so we can get our product out and get more money for our Canadian product.”

Yellow Vest member Roberta Graham from Bonnyville is part of the convoy and says the carbon tax and more pipelines are big issues for her.

“We’ve been hanging on but nothing has come down the line,” laments Graham. “Our jobs have been cut, our pay has been cut, our hours have been cut and we need to put an end to this. We notice every day less and less cars, less and less people in restaurants and hotels, we’re dying.”

Michael Horley of Spruce Grove is also part of the convoy and claims the government is not listening to Canadians.

“The more people that we make aware, the more they will wake up and see what’s going on here in Canada,” he exclaims. “We need a government of the people to listen to the people and make decisions for the people. We the people need the power back.”

Red Deer – Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen says people in the convoy need to get their own personal stories across to the federal government.

“I know that my friends and my family, they’re concerned about the fact they are in oil and gas and they’re losing their jobs or they’ve got businesses and they have to let people go,” he explains. “These are critical issues and they know that has simply come about because of the actions of this government. The whole point is letting people know what really matters to them because they see what’s happening in their community and understand what’s happening to individuals and families.”

Red Deer – Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins describes the convoy as a manifestation of three and a half years of frustration for energy workers.

“My hat’s off to the organizers and the folks who are coming out here to raise awareness and bring attention and basically help us in our fight down in Ottawa to get Justin Trudeau to realize that his policies are not beneficial for all Canadians,” adds Calkins. “If we can’t change the government’s mind, we’re going to have to change the government and that’s the sentiment that we have here in Alberta right now. You can’t fault people for sticking up for their way of life and for defending their jobs.”

“The message around our oil and gas industry tying us all together as one nation, and the importance of getting our product to tidewater, specifically Trans Mountain, and making sure that we get full value for those Canadian resources is an important message,” Sarah Hoffman, Alberta’s deputy premier told rdnewsNOW in a phone interview.

“The (provincial) government has been running the clock around lost revenue in Ottawa and across the country. It’s important for people to know that $80 million is lost opportunities to keep investing in things like healthcare, like health infrastructure, hiring more front-line healthcare workers and more staff in our schools.”

A Go Fund Me account set up to help pay for the costs of the convoy has raised over $55,000 of its $100,000 goal. 

The convoy plans to convene for a protest at Parliament Hill on Feb. 19.