This weekend, hundreds of truckers came out to convoy against government regulations that they say would stifle the gas and oil industries.
The convoy took place on Sunday, December 17, in Grande Prairie, located in the Canadian province of Alberta, according to CBC.
The goal of the convoy was to let government officials know that that Canadian families depend on the oil and gas industries to survive as lawmakers mull over Bill C-69. Those who oppose the bill say that if it passes, it would seriously hinder Alberta’s oil and gas industries and would disrupt several large pipeline projects.
More than 600 trucks participated in a convoy that started in downtown Grande Prairie and slowly looped to the airport, and then returned to the starting location in a 90 minute display of support for oil and gas. Truck drivers honked their horns and flashed their lights as they paraded through the town.
CONVOY!!! Grande Prairie in support of oil and gas!!!
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/VcJ6PtFohv
— Energy Citizens 🇨🇦 (@Energy_Citizens) December 16, 2018
Rob Petrone of the Grande Prairie Oilmen’s Association says that the convoy was three times larger than expected.
Event organizer Cole Murphy, who works at oilfield company 10K Rentals Ltd, says that “if [Bill C-69] does get passed, it will make it tougher for us to build the pipelines we desperately need to get off of foreign oil. We’re obviously not experts in the bill by any means but we know that sending Canadian products to Canadians is better than buying foreign oil that’s not regulated, that has no human rights.”
More than 1500 people also turned out for a rally that accompanied the convoy in support of Alberta’s energy industry.
If you care about the environment and protecting human rights, you support Canadian oil and gas workers! #CdnPoli #CanadaProud 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/pTjHgPxYJB
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) December 16, 2018