Anti-budget protesters take action at Topsail Road McDonald's

Eight people spent Saturday morning trying to block customer access to the McDonald's restaurant on Topsail Road in St. John's, in attempt to send an anti-budget message to provincial Finance Minister Cathy Bennett, who they say owns the business.

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Tom Beckett, who organized the action, said while he understands trying to deter customers from going to a business may seem unethical, he says 'desperate measures' are needed to try and get people's attention.

"The regular kinds of protest such as letters, telephone calls, talking to MHAs etc., don't seem to be heard," Beckett told CBC's Weekend AM from the protest site.

"So something a little bit more non-traditional has to be taken in order to get the attention of the premier and the minister of finance — and this is non-traditional."

Calling for changes to 'unfair' budget

The small group of protestors spent the morning walking back and forth in front of the entrance to the McDonald's location, in an attempt to deter vehicles from going in, which Beckett said was working in some cases.

"I'd say we've diverted a number of people up to Burger King," he said. "There's only really been one or two irate people who really have to get their McCafé."

Beckett said the protestors planned to stay in the parking lot until 1 p.m., sending a message to Cathy Bennett that the recent provincial budget is unfair to low-income earners and small businesses.

He said they want to see higher-earners pay a fairer share of taxes than the latest budget requires them to.

"She's trying to pick my pocket, she's trying to pick the pocket of a lot of people who are struggling to get through these days," Beckett said.

"And for some reason, she's decided that her buddies, whose income is above $90,000, don't really have to pay their share. I don't mind paying more on income tax, what I get really upset about is people who are on low incomes, minimum wage, they can't survive on it."