Protesters swarm cars outside dinner event hosted by Sask. Premier Brad Wall

Hundreds of people from more than a dozen organizationsrallied outside the Premier's Dinner venue in Saskatoon Thursday night, where Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall gave akeynote address.

Protesters outsidetheevent showed their opposition to cuts outlined in the 2017-2018 provincial budget. Theybegan converging on Ruth Street, around Prairieland Park, before 5 p.m. CST.

The Premier's Dinner an event hosted by the ruling Saskatchewan Party was taking place at the park's Hall A.

• Brad Wall's popularity drops in wake of unpopular budget

Drivers on nearby Ruth Street found their cars blanketedby sign-waving protesters and organizers speaking through megaphones.

Some protesters even climbed atop some of the cars, causing tensions to rise.

NOTE: The following video has been altered to remove to offensive language.

Saskatchewan budget protesters swarm cars outside Premier's Dinner venue in Saskatoon

8 years ago

Duration 1:06

Things got testy during a protest of the contentious Saskatchewan budget on Thursday night in Saskatoon.

One shouted at a driver, "Are you a liar like Brad Wall?"

STC cut slammed

"We think the cuts are unfair and they were done without consultation and we're not willing to accept them," said Cindy Hanson, a spokespersonfor Stop the Cuts, the coalition representing the 12 organizations behind the rally.

Hanson cited the government's decision to wind down theSaskatchewan Transportation Company as a particularly hard-hitting cut.

• STC closure to affect many Sask. residents

"Saskatchewan has one ofthe highestrural populations in Canada. The cuts to STC willhit rural populations," she said.

To point outwhat they saw as a contrast between themselves and those attending tonight's dinner where plates fetch a price of $250 protesters feasted on hot dogs.

"Saskatchewan is one of the only provinces that has anything like cash for access," said Hanson. "We feel that's unfair when he's putting cuts on the people of Saskatchewan."

Cash-for-access events are when the public must payto attend. Similar fundraising events held by the federal Liberals havebeen the source of recentethical concern.

Premier: 'We know people are upset'

Wall spoke to reporters shortly after his speech later Thursday night.

While he said he did not have a message for the protestors, he went on to defend their right to express themselves.

"We live in a kind of a society where people I think are not just free but encouraged to express what they believe," said Wall."Weknow people are upset andobviouslythey're going toexpressthatdissentas they didtodayand they should bewelcomedandencouragedto do so.

"I knew before the budget was introduced that this was not going to be a popular budget and we made these difficult decisions because we strongly believe they'rein the best interests of the province and the long-term interests of Saskatchewan."

Wall's wife,Tami,had to make her way through the protesters.

"She's been in politics for a long time," said Wall. "It's part of politics, and it should be."

Some of the other groups involved with the protest included local community groups, Idle No More Saskatoon,IskwewukE-wichiwitochik,SaskForward, Save STC and various unions.