Protesting @ Liberal Rally

[Blue]

Daily News - BC premier rallies city supporters

I was not surprised to see protesters at the Coast Bastion last night as Gordon Campbell was speaking to a crowd of Liberal supporters for Jeet Manhas. What did strike me as strange was that the crowd of ambulance attendants were parked illegally in a couple spots around the Coast and particularly right in front.

They had a few ambulances with them, parked up on the curb with lights flashing and at times sirens blaring. This seems like a total misuse of publicly funded vehicles which are supposed to be for emergencies. Should those vehicles be allowed to be used for protests? Would I be allowed to use them to protest the NDP?

I had no problem with the protesters, they seemed to be polite enough and didn't block the entrance into the Coast, but they were blocking any drop offs at the front door, and for a couple of minutes were blocking Bastion Street. I do have a problem with them using emergency vehicles to get their point across. Is this common place?

[Tenspot]

Definitely wrong to use them in a protest. Those doing so should be punished.
As far as Manhas is concerned I remember that he was probably one of the most responsible for the PNC/ Millenium/Sy-a-Lana fiasco, and he and Cantelon should be denied of any political position.

[James Younger]

If all the unionized workers that felt they have been harmed by the last eight years of Fiberal policy had been there the downtown would have been shut down. The ambulance workers are protesting for all the people of B.C. and the privatisation of there jobs.

[Blue]

If all the unionized workers that felt they have been harmed by the last eight years of Fiberal policy had been there the downtown would have been shut down. The ambulance workers are protesting for all the people of B.C. and the privatisation of there jobs.

SO NOT TRUE! They were not protesting for ALL of the people of BC, only those who support their cause. Many of us do think the Liberals have done a better job than the NDP. That is why the polls have the Liberals ahead by double digits.

What I object to is:
1. Illegal parking
2. Use of publicly funded emergency vehicles
3. Blocking of the door (security solved this problem asap)
4. Yelling at individuals entering the hotel (some where regular hotel guests/tourists)
5. Sirens blaring for no reason & no EMERGENCY! (lights on too). Noise violation maybe?

[fitz]

Yup, somebody really made a bad decision on that one.

[Smokey©]

The use of the ambulances gave me the impression that those who brought the ambulances were on duty and part of their job is NOT protesting.

If they want to protest do it like others and go in your off work clothes and don't take the company vehicle.

Everyone of us has the right to protest. Maybe I can borrow a police car or fire truck the next time I wish to protest.

[titan5]

The use of the ambulances gave me the impression that those who brought the ambulances were on duty and part of their job is NOT protesting.

If they want to protest do it like others and go in your off work clothes and don't take the company vehicle.

Everyone of us has the right to protest. Maybe I can borrow a police car or fire truck the next time I wish to protest.

I agree. I do not like to see public employees show up in uniform or while on the clock to protest. I am not impressed with my tax dollars contributing to this cause. Let them do it on their own time.

At least the local firefighters supported Diane Brennan on their own time.

I think their actions may result in the BC Ambulance Service now requiring to register as Campaign/Election Organizer. They are an organization that is publicly campaigning against a paticular candidate or candidates.

[Blue]

Good point titan5, I never thought of that aspect. But I guess if they are campaigning against the Liberals, that means they support the NDP?...as most if not all unions do.

This was a bad way of getting your message across, seems a bit counter-productive and somewhat selfish to use public time/vehicles to get others on side with your cause. BAD planning!

[Geoff]

Using ambulances to protest. A bad move. That shouldn't be allowed. Their time and vehicles could have been used for way more useful purposes. Their jobs.

[woodgroove]

is Jeet Manhas seriosuly running in the provincial election? I thought it was a rumor but he has NO chance of winnning