Page with ‘Stop Harper’ sign
Page with ‘Stop Harper’ sign fired from Senate
A Senate page who was fired Friday for holding a “Stop Harper” sign during the government’s throne speech says she hopes to inspire more cases of “civil disobedience.”
Brigette Marcelle, a 21-year-old graduate from the University of Ottawa, said that she only recently decided to put her job on the line and stage the silent protest.
Though she was immediately fired from the sought-after position, Marcelle said she doesn’t regret upstaging the government on its coming out day in Ottawa.
“This is the only way we’re going to see real change,” Marcelle told CTV News Channel, as she conceded that Harper’s majority government will hold parliamentary sway for the next four years.
Marcelle managed to hold her sign up for about 20 seconds, and stood steps from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She was quickly escorted out of the chamber and immediately fired.
Marcelle had served in the Senate as a page for nearly a year, but she decided to take action a few days ago because she said Harper doesn’t reflect the majority of Canadians.
“Harper’s agenda is disastrous for this country and for my generation,” Marcelle said.
She added that the government is “blowing billions of dollars” on fighter jets and corporate tax cuts, but ignoring important environmental issues like climate change.
But since Harper recently won a majority, Marcelle said that staging “creative” protests is the only way to fight back.
“I think that Harper’s agenda is so damaging that it called for something that is different,” she said. “I think we really need to take action.”
This is how it’s done in Canada, bitches. Peaceful protest of the powers that be. This was a bold move, and even if you don’t agree with what she did, at least she DID something. Canadians are not passive. They don’t complain without taking action to make changes. They respond, mobilize, make their voices heard.
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