Two trucks, one from oilfield construction firm Jerry Mainil Ltd., and the other from a local farmer, Terry Benning, left Weyburn on Friday morning to join the “United We Roll!” convoy of trucks to Ottawa for a two-day rally on Parliament Hill, on Feb. 19 and 20.
Benning’s truck was driven by Doug Brownridge of Arcola, while the Mainil truck was driven by Josh Mainil and Kent LaCoste, while Benning, Dale Mainil and Calvin Tracey flew to Ottawa on Monday to be with them at the rally.
In a call from Ottawaon Tuesday morning, Josh said their truck was 10th in line in the convoy and parked right in front of the Peace Tower.
“There’s lots of good energy here with everybody cheering and honking horns. MP Robert Kitchen also stopped by to shake our hands, along with other MPs,” he said, noting there was also an area cordoned off for Antifa protesters as they chanted and protested against the rally.
Parliament resumed sitting on Tuesday, and as MPs arrived for the session, said Josh, "we were lighting it up with sirens and horns, so they knew we were there."
There were speeches that began at 11 a.m. on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with the rally set to run the full two days.
Josh had text-messaged on Sunday afternoon, “An unreal amount of support the whole way. Supporters are coming out at every town with signs and flags. Only one group of Antifa outside of Winnipeg, about eight of them wearing ski masks, yelling and shaking their fists at us. Unreal support though, definitely already made the trip worth our while.”
Rally organizers had warned all those taking part that Antifa had plans to meet the convoy in Arnprior, from where part of the convoy of trucks drove in to the nation’s capital on Tuesday and today. (Antifa refers to militant “anti-fascist” left-wing activists who are at times violent in their protests.)
“We have to make a stand and let the country know, we’re good stewards of the land. We need some action, we need our pipelines built. It’s frustrating sitting here in Western Canada when oil is down as it is. We don’t feel the federal government is listening to us,” said Dale Mainil.
LaCoste pointed out the point of the convoy and rally was also to raise awareness with the rest of Canada of the struggles of the oil industry here in the West.
“They’re going to hear our horns and voices,” he said, adding they have good support from western Canadian MPs, “but the eastern MPs have to realize we’re hurting out here.”
“The carbon tax is going to take a bite of everything in Western Canada,” added Benning, pointing out that estimates of how hard the carbon tax will hit farmers put the cost at around $8 an acre.
“There are too many people out of work. They do matter out here. These young guys just want to go to work,” said Benning.
Dale Mainil said it isn’t easy for them to take two working trucks all the way to Ottawa, but “it’s all one common goal. … They’re going to know we’re there. We are going to make noise, because we’re not being heard.”
LaCoste pointed out also that “nobody in the industry is looking for a handout. We’d all prefer to be out working. Same as in agriculture. When you’re being hurt by the federal government, it’s a pretty bad situation.”
Even Alberta has been brought to their knees, added Benning. “Somebody has to step up — that’s why I’m doing it.”
