The Alberta Federation of Labor (AFL) has announced a provincial day of protest on May 29. The initiative was presented during a press conference in Calgary, and the campaign itself is called Fight Back Now. According to the organizers' plan, rallies and demonstrations are to take place in as many communities in Alberta as possible on that day.
The AFL says the reason for the mobilization is dissatisfaction with the policies of Premier Danielle Smith's government. In a press release, the federation criticizes the government for focusing on “ideological” and constitutional conflicts instead of issues that directly concern the province's residents, such as the cost of living, access to healthcare, and adequate funding for public education. AFL President Gil McGowan also criticized the government's approach to referendum questions, saying they do not reflect the real needs of Albertans.
According to CityNews, during the announcement of the campaign, McGowan cited the situation in the healthcare system, the problem of affordability, the funding of private schools, and the debate surrounding Alberta's possible secession as reasons for the protests. At the same time, he stressed that the catalyst for the current campaign was the government's use of the notwithstanding clause to end the teachers' strike over Bill 2. The organizers emphasize that they are inviting not only unions to participate, but also businesses, religious communities, and anyone who shares their concerns about the future of the province.
The federation itself says that May 29 should be only the first stage of a broader campaign. The AFL also announced a citizens' summit later in the spring to plan the next steps for joint action. The organization promises to publish information about future protest locations through the Fight Back Now platform.
The Alberta government has already criticized the initiative. According to media reports, the premier's press secretary, Sam Blackett, reacted dismissively to the AFL's plans and suggested that the current campaign, like previous attempts to pressure the government, would end in failure.