In a burst of exhaust and flurry of pebbles, the United We Roll convoy arrived in Greater Sudbury Monday afternoon to a crowd more than 50 strong.
The convoy — 80 to 90 vehicles strong and more than five kilometres long — is led by co-founder Glen Carritt and his autographed OP Fire and Safety Company fire truck. The convoy rolled into Sudbury at about 1 p.m. on Feb. 18, slipping off the Highway 17 bypass to fuel up at the Petro Pass on Regent Street.
After arriving, Carritt climbed atop the roof of his truck and greeted the crowd from some 12 feet in the air.
“We’re a great nation and we’re going to take it back,” said Carritt, surrounded by a crowd who share his opposition to Bill C69, Bill C48 and the Carbon Tax. “Our government has to realize that there has been a huge disconnect between east and west, and the rest of the country wants our energy sector to get back in order,” said Carritt.
“It’s very vital for all of Canada, not just western Canada…and that’s why we’re United We Roll.”
Carritt is the owner of OP Fire and Safety Company, a medical safety service company in the oil industry operating out of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Carritt said his prices have gone down 100 per cent in response to the decline in the oil industry, leaving him desperate to get his “product out to tide.”
Echoing his sentiment was oil and coal business owner, Ken Mehler, who fears that “if they don’t get the pipelines going really quick, the last people in Saskatchewan and Alberta will turn the lights off.” Mehler said the tension has caused many in the west to revisit the ‘Buffalo’ Project of 1903, aimed at amalgamating Alberta and Saskatchewan to form the province of Buffalo, a move which could be the final step before formal separation from Canada, he added.
“If it does come, it will make Quebec look like they weren’t even involved in it,” said Mehler. “That’s the reason a lot of us are here because we can’t stop it with the Liberals in because they’re killing the west.”
Upon reaching the nation's capital, the United We Roll convoy will park its rigs on the front steps of parliament and host a number of speeches by farmers, Veterans, Yellow Vest protesters, Métis, Fort McMurray Strong oil patch representatives, and anyone else who would want their voice heard. Find out more about the United We Roll Convoy and track their progress by visiting their website.
