Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Protest over Bighorn proposal happening Monday

Jan 4, 2019 | 10:25 AM

Rally Canada says they are getting involved after hearing from hundreds of west central Alberta residents who say they have not been part of the consultation process for the Bighorn provincial park proposal.

The group, which has led pro-pipeline events across the province in recent weeks, is now hosting a protest on Monday, January 7 at the Drayton Valley Omniplex prior to the start of a public information presentation on the Bighorn proposal.

The protest is over the lack of “real, on the ground consultation” with area residents and others that live and work in affected areas.

“With all the misinformation, both from environmental activists and those opposed to the Bighorn proposal, the people that actual live, work and recreate in the area are left looking for clear, straight information and a way of expressing their concerns,” Thomas Hinderks with Rally Canada says in a release. “This is not acceptable by any standard.”

Monday’s event will feature speakers from several of the stakeholders that have not been consulted, Hinderks says, including recreational users, trappers, loggers, farmers, oil and gas companies, and residents of the affected areas.

Rally Canada believes the consultation process is flawed across the board, saying internet surveys are no substitute for on the ground public consultation. The group says questions and concerns are not being addressed and that the process must be stopped and restarted with clear, easily available information.

They say that based on information received, there is not the local support for the Bighorn Proposal to go ahead.

Monday’s protest at the Omniplex (5737-45 Avenue) starts at 5 p.m.