Victoria Info & Events
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 11, 2010
CROWDS GATHER TO PROTEST PM’S SPEECH TO BC LEGISLATURE:
Harper uses tunnel to avoid questions from assembled crowds
Over three hundred British Columbians came together this afternoon to call for an end to the Conservative government’s anti-democratic actions. Unfortunately, despite claiming to have visited Victoria to speak to British Columbians, Stephen Harper used a decoy motorcade in an attempt to avoid the public and snuck out through an underground tunnel.
A grassroots, nonpartisan group, the Victoria chapter of Canadians Advocating Political Participation (CAPP), which formed in the wake of the successful January 23rd rally against prorogation, gathered 350 people from as far away as the North Island and Vancouver to send a clear message to the Prime Minister – “stop playing games with our democracy!” The sentiment was clear in the crowd who braved predictions of heavy rains, coming out in the hundreds to listen to several speakers and to share their views with their Prime Minister.
The group who gathered represented a full spectrum of the political landscape, with members and supporters of all parties. Conservatives were vocal within the group, with one Conservative Party member echoing the common sentiment that “this isn’t about Left and Right – this is about Right and Wrong”.
Melissa Farrance, a local organizer with CAPP-Victoria, argues that the ongoing involvement represents a turning point in Canadian political involvement. “Canadians aren’t apathetic. In fact, we care deeply about our democracy,” notes Melissa. “We’re simply rusty – we’re not used to active engagement. But as a country we’re waking up, and we’re demanding more from our government.”
Victoria was not the only city represented at today’s rally. Residents of communities across Vancouver Island were present, while several dozen members of the Vancouver Chapter of CAPP traveled by bus, ferry, bike, and car to add their voices, coming with a poster signed by 200 Vancouver members who wanted to be present but were unable.
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Media Contact: Melissa Farrance 250-208-4247
I am just wondering why this rally would be held behind city hall when it could and should be held in open view of our legislature in the inner harbor?
Not enough time for the planners to book the legislature, and the grass is off limits to the public during the rainy months, and the organizers decided that city hall would be fine. If you felt strongly about where it should/could be held, why did you not go to the organizing meetings? Don’t complain about the work you did not do.
Also, there was concern that the legislature would make it seem like a provincial protest, rather than a national one.
There’s a statue of John A. Macdonald in the Square, so we went with that given the limitations we had.