Tremendous crowd at "Stop the Cuts" rally at Conservative Convention
Nearly 1,000 citizens from centres all across Alberta showed up in Red Deer at the Conservative Convention to protest drastic cuts to health care, education, and social services.
"We have as many citizens outside here, as they do inside," said David Eggen from Friends of Medicare, one of the organizers of the largest rallies Red Deer has seen in recent times.
United Nurses of Alberta was well represented with a large contingent of nurses from Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and places in between.
UNA President Heather Smith told the crowd government is going "the wrong way" in public services that citizens depend on.
"We are here about the Conservative Party's agenda and the lack of leadership – the wrong leadership – they have shown in terms of health care, mental health care, seniors' care and the health care workforce in this province," she said, "all of which are being steered down the wrong road, the wrong way."
A speaker representing people with developmental disabilities said their voluntary sector is dealing with 4-5% funding cuts this year and have been told to expect cuts of 10-15% next year.
"Save our services. Cuts hurt people," the large developmental disabilities contingent at the rally chanted. |
