Calgarians protest federal budget bill outside Harper’s office

Waving signs and banging pots and pans, more than 40 Calgarians protested the federal government’s sweeping budget bill outside Stephen Harper’s southwest constituency office Saturday.

It was one of dozens of demonstrations held in various cities to protest Bill C-38, which contains more than 700 clauses and promises to amend or eliminate at least 60 different laws across the gamut of federal departments and agencies.

Protest organizer Jim Picken said everyone from scientists and seasonal workers to migratory birds and fish will be affected if the omnibus bill becomes reality.

“I think it will change Canadian society for the worse,” Picken said.

Bill C-38 would overhaul environmental protection and fisheries laws, streamline reviews for major natural resource projects, make it more difficult for Canadians receiving EI to refuse work, and gradually increase the eligibility age for Old Age Security to 67 from the current 65, among dozens of other changes.

Gurmit Bhachu, a Grade 6 teacher believes the prime minister needs to break the bill into smaller parts to allow for appropriate discussion. “It seems like he’s trying to stifle debate and I think a majority has gotten to his head a little bit,” Bhachu said.

Jamie Biggar, executive director of Leadnow.ca, a national independent advocacy organization, said the hope is that 13 Conservative MPs will work together to stop the budget bill.

Original Article
Source: calgary herald
Author: Annalise Klingbeil