Protest Staged Outside MLA’s Constituency Office in Vegreville

Protest Staged Outside MLA’s Constituency Office in Vegreville

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Vegreville resident Dane Woychuk took inspiration from the ‘Coal for Kenney’ campaign and spearheaded a protest that was held outside of United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA Jackie Armstrong- Homeniuk’s constituency office Wednesday afternoon.

Protesters Tarra Shipman and Dane Woychuk continue marching towards MLA’s constituency office in Vegreville on Dec. 18.

(Michelle Pinon/photo)

Woychuk, along with Vegreville resident Ian Stewart, Edmonton resident Tarra Shipman, and Fort Saskatchewan resident Lori Gray, her two young children and grandmother, marched from the Co-op food store parking lot to the MLA’s office shortly after 1 p.m. The office door was locked so they left hand written messages on black paper, a Christmas stocking and card, and black painted rocks made to simulate lumps of coal outside for Armstrong-Homeniuk.

As to why Woychuk wanted to get involved in the campaign, he explained that he saw the ‘Coal for Kenney’ website advertised on a couple of social media sites, Facebook and Twitter and decided to take action of his own.

Woychuk added: “I wanted to get personally involved when I realized how much these Acts (Bill 21 and 22) will affect myself and others in the community. Plus my own frustration with trying to get a meeting with MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk.”

According to a press release that was distributed to various media outlets prior to the protest, it stated that local residents had partnered up with Climate Justice Edmonton, and in support of its grassroots ‘Coal for Kenney’ campaign that was designed to help them voice their anger and come together in solidarity. People were also encouraged to “share stories about how the UCP is making their lives worse” and to organize coal deliveries to UCP MLA offices.

Ian Stewart said he was participating in the protest because he works with people who have disabilities and wanted to use his voice to act for them. Tarra Shipman, who is involved with the Alberta Hummingbird Project Facebook group, said she was advocating for people with developmental disabilities. Lori Gray said she has a lot of concerns regarding government cutbacks to health care, education, seniors pensions as well as the AISH (Assured Income for the Severley Handicapped) program, and wanted to add her presence at the protest.

Woychuk said the main purpose of the protest was to let MLA Armstrong- Homeniuk and her UCP colleagues know that he, and other protesters, were not going to “sit idly by” and allow rollbacks, cuts and austerity measures to happen. “That we will hold her and the Kenney government accountable for any lives lost due to these cuts. That we may be a small ripple in this lake of a province, but will grow in size given time.”

Woychuk said he’s being affected by these cuts on a personal level. “When they, (UCP), decided to pause the cost-of-living index increase for social assistance programs such as AISH, Income Supports, and Seniors Benefits, it affected me as an AISH recipient.” Even though the cost decrease would be $30 per month, Woychuk said that would be nearly $500 less a year, and would negatively affect him as he is already on a very tight budget. “I also have a child who attends school and the uncertainty of school budgets and funding has added a lot of unnecessary anxiety for me in possibly seeing transport fees increase, or lack of supports for my child should they need them going forward in their educational path.”

MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk said she has responded to Woychuk’s requests to have a meeting. Armstrong-Homeniuk said she had previously offered to meet with him on the last day of the session, but that it didn’t work out. She subsequently offered him a meeting in January when her office reopens, but that he wasn’t happy with that. “I went to the minister a week ago and asked her if there was any way she or her office could reach out, and they did.”

In a written statement issued by Kassandra Kitz, Press Secretary for the Ministry of Community and Social Services: “I can confirm Minister Rajan Sawhney had a private conversation with Mr. Woychuk this week. We remain committed to ensuring Albertans with disabilities continue to receive the supports they need and will carefully consider ways to strengthen the services and supports available to them”