Thousands march downtown against UCP policies

Thousands of Albertans took to the streets Friday across the province to denounce Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party government's policies, with a major rally downtown.

The Alberta Federation of Labour organized 21 rallies across 16 communities. AFL president Gil McGowan told crowds: "We don't have to support separatism, no we don't support a referendum, no we don't support privatizing healthcare, going after workers rights, thumbing our nose at the constitution and the courts. That's what we're getting from our government and their supporters, but these Albertans have a different vision."

Protester Larry Wright said he was "really disappointed in the direction our government has taken on so many issues, so much of her policies seem to be a playbook from Trump." Another protester, Mable Chan-Simons, questioned the referendum itself: "We didn't ask for the referendum. So is that democracy when they do something the people didn't ask for?"

The UCP dismissed the rallies as political theatre, with a party spokesperson calling it a "stunt" by McGowan, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Alberta NDP leadership. The statement noted McGowan had attempted a general strike that failed and pursued recall campaigns against UCP MLAs that were unsuccessful.

McGowan countered: "To me, this does not look like a failure. This looks like Albertans rising up, pushing back and saying that Danielle Smith and the separatists do not speak for all of us."

Several NDP MLAs participated, with MLA Janis Irwin criticizing the referendum spending: "Governing is about choices and this is a UCP government that is choosing to go ahead with a referendum in the fall, spending hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars. That money could be invested in education, today."

The rallies reflect deep divisions in Alberta as the province heads toward a fall referendum on separation.