LARS HAGBERG via Getty Images A man wears a "Make Canada Great Again" hat during the Convoy for Canada protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2019.

You won't see me calling this protest by its supposed name, "United We Roll," because too many participants are wearing a uniform that has been linked to hateful and un-Albertan attitudes. The organizers of the original convoy, aimed at raising pipeline concerns, quit their efforts when these Yellow Vests co-opted their movement, infusing it with negative attitudes on any number of "we-are-the-losers" issues, including discontent with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and immigration. Regardless of political viewpoint, many of us Albertans don't want to be associated with such hyper-reactionary views. The ironic thing is that despite a history of public opposition to excessive government intervention in the province, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has staked her political future on fighting for a pipeline. The federal government has even stepped in to buy the damn thing, probably overpaying. Edmonton-Millwoods MP and Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi has all cylinders firing to conduct better consultations with Indigenous peoples. And, in the meantime, a bunch of people roll into Ottawa and decide they speak for all the province. No! We Albertans are not all Yellow Vests!

LARS HAGBERG via Getty Images A man waves a Canadian flag during the Convoy for Canada protest in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2019.

Some of us see the facts — that the Alberta economy is doing better, for a start. Investment in Canadian oil production has rebounded. We know immigrants aren't taking Alberta jobs, and many Albertans support immigration (although opinions both pro and con are strong). We care for our neighbours and the land, and have a sense of the public good. This leads some to progressive politics — heck, we elected an NDP government, and it wasn't just because many voters were sick of the self-appointed monarchs of the province ruling for over four decades. We also love our mountains, flowing rivers, open prairies and wild forests, and know that pine beetles and climate change threaten them all. We value our communities and want good work for families. But an out-of-control oil-based economy has to change — and it is! When the Yellow Vest convoy makes its claims, it doesn't represent a number of Albertans and other Westerners. If these convoy truckers support pipelines, why do they have issues with quelling immigration and the United Nations' Global Compact on Migration? And what is their issue with carbon taxes, especially when the Alberta government continues to increase subsidies for outdated fossil fuels? The federal government hides the true cost of these subsidies from the public. These fossilized subsidies exceed any subsidies for renewables or a transition to other economic bases.