February 2 Lamont Leader

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Vol. 17, No. 10, Wednesday, February 2, 2022 www.LamontLeader.com

Locals join trucker support

BY JANA SEMENIUK Lamont county residents answered the call to join truck drivers and concerned citizens from across the province in solidarity during a rally outside the Edmonton Legislature Jan. 29, hoping to end COVID19 mandates. The rally was inspired by a larger one that began in Ottawa this past week after vaccines for truck drivers was mandated Jan. 15. Truck drivers from nearly every province, in addition to drivers from the U.S., showed up in Ottawa to protest the mandate. Meanwhile, thousands reportedly met in Acheson Saturday morning and slowly made their way to the Legislature together, honking their horns and waving flags. “There were literally thousands of people there,” said Bruderhiem resident Amanda West. “There were tractors and tons of people had flags on their vehicles. It was overwhelming.” West and her family, husband Ryan and three children ages 11, eight and four, went together to lend their support. “One little girl was pulling a wagon with a sign that read, ‘I want to see the smiles of others’,” she said. “No one was wearing masks which made my kids ask a lot of questions. Once they knew why we were there they felt proud and supportive. We were reading all the signs and talked about what they meant. They don’t talk about freedom in schools or freedom of choice, all they talk about is how to be safe from Covid.”

West said her views on the vaccine and masking mandates are simple. “No one should have to be vaccinated to keep their jobs. It’s not what Canada is about,” she said. “I think something needs to be done. Nothing will change if we don’t stand up for our rights.” Meanwhile, another Lamont County resident fighting for the rights of others is Action4Canada Lamont Chapter leader Natasha Rumohr. Rumohr gave a speech addressing the massive crowd in front of the Legislature Saturday. “I’m just a single momma,” she said. “I don’t want my children to have a life where they are bound with masks and vaccine (mandates), and they can’t walk free in this nation.” Rumohr, who recently moved to Lamont County and began the Lamont Chapter of Action4Canada, explained her motivations in wanting to connect with people throughout the pandemic. “We want people to understand that you are not alone. The media doesn't show what's actually happening. We are coming together. We're communities. People get discouraged on their own. But when you are with an army, you’re discouragement is where you get your power,” she said. “God was with me and without him I can do nothing.” According to its website, Action4Canada is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to lobbying all levels of government to protect the Canadian heritage, Canadian values, the rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of expression.

Lamont county resident, and Action4Canada Lamont chapter leader Natasha Rumohr, speaks to a massive crowd in front of the legislature in Edmonton on Jan. 29 during a truck rally in support of ending all COVID-19 mandates. The rally followed a larger one that took place in Ottawa the same day. Photo: Ivana Liberty

MLA and MP from area support trucker’s convoy

BY JOHN MATHER Both the local provincial and federal representatives are standing alongside the trucker convoy that has descended on Ottawa in the past week. Fort Saskatchewan MLA Jackie Armstrong Homeniuk posted online that being the daughter of a trucker, she knew how hard the truckers work to Thousands of people gather during a truck rally at the bring essential goods to legislature in Edmonton Jan. 29 protesting COVID-19 market. mandates. Photo: Natasha Rumohr “They bring every-

thing from food and medical supplies to gasoline,”she said. “Truckers from across Canada are making their voices heard about how the Federal government’s mandatory requirements for cross border truckers will impact our supply chains, industries and livelihoods.” Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs offered up a series of posts in recent days supporting the convoy. “The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, and is urging the federal government to drop the vaccine mandate of truckers in Canada,” she

posted. “CFIB says the policy is creating supply shortages and driving up shipping costs. It’s making everything from fuel to building materials more expensive, and means higher prices and fewer products on the shelves for you.” She further condemned statements by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling members of the convoy a “fringe minority,” with “unacceptable views.” “It should alarm everyone that he considers himself the arbiter of what Canadians can and can’t say, and can and can’t think,” Stubbs stated. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11


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