EDMONTON (CityNews) — Chalk probably has you thinking of summertime and kids.
But using sidewalk chalk is what many people have been turning to in light of not being able to gather in person and that means a recent sign at Education Minister Adriana LaGrange’s office is raising some eyebrows.
Check out this sign posted outside the Education Minister’s office: pic.twitter.com/bY6fhwirjJ
— Stephen Merredew (@smerredew) April 27, 2021
“Of course people are having their voices heard, and sidewalk chalk has always been a way to do it,” said Stephen Merredew, who uploaded a picture of the sign that cautioned against sidewalk chalk, citing the criminal code and mischief.
A spokesperson for the minister telling CityNews: “Neither minister LaGrange or her office staff are responsible for putting any signs up regarding chalk.”
Something Merredew is inclined to believe.
“I can understand that. Why they would want to minimize traffic in front for the other tenants of the building? But to ultimately be inclined to limit the expression of people in what’s usually a fairly clean and wholesome and colourful way, is disturbing to say the least.”
“The irony, if you like, in this particular case, is that what might not have gotten that much attention has actually gotten increased attention because of threats to call the police or prosecute people for drawing in chalk,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams.
Williams says many of the constituency protests she’s seen stem from Albertans not feeling heard by the government.
“Unfortunately inflicted their own problems with these roll-outs because they haven’t done the kind of consultations that could have generated the kind of buy-in and confidence that people need, and this can extend to parks policy, it can extend to coal mining,” she said.
LaGrange’s Red Deer office has seen anger beyond chalk.
Three weeks ago the minister tweeted about a rock being thrown through the window, saying she encourages peaceful protest and debate, but violence and vandalism are completely unacceptable.
Earlier today a large rock was thrown through my constituency office window.
While I have always encouraged peaceful protest and debate on issues that matter to Albertans, violence and vandalism is completely unacceptable. #ableg pic.twitter.com/wRQRauvAER
— Adriana LaGrange (@AdrianaLaGrange) April 7, 2021
Wiliams says political anger is amplified by the economic and health realities of the pandemic.
“That perception that the government isn’t listening, that’s the kind of thing that can be damaging on a longer-term basis, that is problematic, but is a very difficult thing to come back from,” she said.
For Merredew, who shared the image, he still wants concerns about the curriculum review addressed
“And, they should say ‘since I can’t chalk outside your office I want you to call me back, write me back about my concerns.'”
