Common Sense Calgary’s petition to bring back fireworks on Canada Day received almost 10,000 signatures as of Wednesday. .“Despite launching less than 48 hours ago, on a holiday weekend, more than 5,000 Calgarians have already added their signature,” said Common Sense Calgary in a Tuesday statement. .“Calgarians really are sick of this kind of nonsense at city hall!”.The City of Calgary cancelled its firework display to mark and celebrate Canada Day on Thursday. .READ MORE: MORGAN: Woke city of Calgary ends Canada Day fireworks as part of truth and reconciliation.The fireworks were recognized as a fun, cost-effective family event where people could gather in a park and ring in another year of Canada existing as a country. .The City of Calgary said it's ending the fireworks display due to “cultural sensitivities related to ongoing efforts at truth and reconciliation with Canada’s First Nations.” It noted July 1 marks the anniversary of Canada's Chinese Immigration Act. .The statement acknowledged Calgary Coun. Kourtney Penner was fine with this move. .Penner defended the city scrapping fireworks on Canada Day. .READ MORE: Calgary councillor causes storm of controversy with tweets about cancellation of Canada Day fireworks.“A day that marks 100 years of the Chinese Immigration Act and calls from the indigenous community to note Canada Day historically is for and by white people and indigenous people weren’t acknowledged as Canadians for years, does warrant a look at how we celebrate,” she said. .She said Calgary city council did not make the decision, and if it were to reverse it, it would discredit the voices who asked for a different kind of celebration. She added reversing this decision would be “upholding colonialism and racism.”.Common Sense Calgary accused Penner of “passing the buck and calling you a racist while she’s at it.” It said this was disgusting behaviour from an elected representative. .The statement asked if the decision was made by the higher-ups at the city who think Calgarians are racists for celebrating Canada Day with their families and knew they could not get away with it without saying that out loud. It joked about Penner going and admitting it in public. .The more important question Common Sense Calgary has is whether any of Penner's fellow councillors agree with her the vast majority of Calgarians are racist for liking fireworks. .If other councillors agree with her and the fireworks cancellation was a decision made by city staff, the petition said there is a simple fix. The mayor and city council could get together, hold an urgent meeting, and reverse the decision. .If they disagree and are happy with staff’s decision to go ahead with this cancellation, it said people have an answer. .Common Sense Calgary concluded by saying it will “continue to represent common sense Calgarians who just want to enjoy time with their families on Canada Day.”.“I can’t quite believe I have to say this, but it’s not racist to want to celebrate Canada Day with fireworks — or to celebrate Canada Day at all,” it said.
