A convoy gathers outside MLA Tracy Allard's office to protest recent cuts to health care and education (Photo Credit: EverythingGP staff)

By Shane Clausing

ucp cuts

Convoy gathers to voice displeasure over recent UCP cuts

Apr 3, 2020 | 4:01 PM

A convoy of protesters began at City Hall Friday afternoon to drive around Grande Prairie and protest recent cuts to health care and education made by the UCP that were implemented on April 1, 2020.

The protest drew about 20-30 people, who drove around the city, honking their horns and making the public aware that they aren’t happy with the recent cuts.

The protest specifically drove by the offices of GP-Wapiti MLA Travis Toews and Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard, where the convoy completed two laps around the buildings.

Breanne Hudson is a family doctor in Grande Prairie and said it’s important for people to make their voices heard, especially during this unprecedented time.

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“There’s a lot of physicians speaking out against the health care cuts that were going to be implemented even before COVID-19. These changes, for the most part have been, implemented and this is a time where our province needs us the most, this is not the time to cut our pay.”

As of April 1, an agreement between the province and the Alberta Medical Association was cancelled. In an open letter sent out earlier the week, the association said that will mean the province can raise or lower billing fees without consultation. With that, doctors say in those changes will have a detrimental effect on patients and health care as the COVID-19 pandemic grows.

Protests like this took place across Alberta, mainly organized by physicians in a Facebook group who are displeased with the changes.

Protesters were also against education cuts. Back on Saturday, the provincial government slashed funding for substitute teachers, educational assistants and those deemed to be “not utilized” while in-class sessions were cancelled.

Approximately $182 million had been re-directed by the government from the education budget to its COVID-19 response.

“Our children are our future. For me, this is really a replay of the Klein era, and if you de-invest in education, you de-invest in your future,” said Hudson.

Hudson also added that as a healthcare worker, she is concerned about the North Zone during COVID-19 and the government’s response.

“There are a lot of predictions coming out in terms of how many deaths that we could experience in the North Zone and I don’t want to quote hard numbers here, but this could be very bad in our city and in our zone and we are unsure if we’re going to have the capacity to deal with it,” explained Hudson.

“We are working after hours and we’re not being paid those hours that we are working to try and plan for our community’s health. This is a time we need to focus on pandemic planning, not the time for us to be taking a 25-30 percent pay cut.”