Dear Editor
On Thursday, Aug. 4, I had a business appointment in North Battleford. On the way home at about 5 o’clock, I came up on a column of cars and trucks going very slowly. There was a bunch of people walking on the highway blocking anyone from passing. So down the hill we went at the speed of what a First Nation person could walk. Apparently, they were protesting the Husky Energy oil spill in the river. We had two police cars, side by side, in the front of the walkers, two police cars, side by side, behind the walkers and in front of the traffic, two police cars barricading the people coming from the east on Highway 16. When I finally got on the bridge, I looked back and the traffic from North Battleford was backed up beyond the overpass. The Highway 16 traffic was backed up all the way up the hill as far as you could see. I was almost an hour getting across the bridge. The time really doesn’t mean anything to me as I am crippled up, unemployable and retired. I could not help but think about the truckers who have to be on time to make a living. What about the people who were just trying to get home after a day of work to make supper? Then, another thought … what if someone needed an ambulance?
This whole episode was totally irresponsible on the part of the protesters. The people at City Hall who granted the permit were short-sighted about the consequences. I don’t want anyone denied the right to protest but who in that traffic jam had anything to do with the oil spill? Husky office is in Lloydminster, why not go and protest there and see how you make out. Leave the rest of us alone.
Victor Hult
Waseca
