TEMISKAMING SHORES — From Timmins to Temiskaming Shores, to Ottawa and across the GTA, protestors made their voices heard last Saturday in response to the Doug Ford government’s policies.
A New Liskeard rally was part of the province-wide protest held on April 25 outside the Canada Post Office on Whitewood Avenue.
The protests were aimed at letting Ontario’s Premier and his party know that Ontarians are not in favour of controversial measures like the changes to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the Greenbelt scandal, the cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the privatization of health care and the changes happening in education.
People driving past the rally honked their horns in support of the demonstrators, who numbered about 30 people holding protest signs between 1-3 p.m.
“These rallies are being held primarily in Ford-held ridings, but this is my riding and I felt it was important to be here,” said Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof.
“I commend the organizers for holding this event. The fact the protestors are here and showing support is why I am here,” said Vanthof.
“They are particularly upset about the Freedom of Information Act changes. A government gets elected and they put their agenda forward. I am not in favour of many of the Conservatives policies. This is not a policy change. There is a saying, ‘Sunshine is the best disinfectant,’ well this was a very dark day when they passed that budget with the Freedom of Information changes hidden inside.”
CONCERNED CITIZENS
He said the private sector rules quite a bit of the Ford health care agenda and what the government fails to understand is the private sector doesn’t work in a rural setting.
“I believe health care should be delivered publicly. The Ford government is funding private clinics in certain areas. We depend on our healthcare, especially here in Temiskaming Shores.”
Meghan Hewton attended the New Liskeard rally reiterating that people were unhappy with Ford’s actions, which she labelled undemocratic.
“I am really happy to see so many people showing up. We are super happy with the turnout. I am a concerned citizen of Temiskaming Shores and a concerned citizen of Ontario and I have watched since 2018 when the Ford government was elected and I have become increasingly concerned by the obvious corruption that we are seeing with hiding phone records. If you have nothing to hide why are you changing the law to hide things?”
Erin Little is a Temiskaming Shores resident who is concerned about the underfunding of health care and education under the Ford government.
“All the corruption, the Greenbelt, the private jet, the Science Centre, Ontario Parks allowing more drinking. There are so many things, it is hard to remember them. I would like to see proportional representation with 43 per cent of the vote in the next election and we need more people to show up to vote. Voter turnout was abysmal in the last election.”
The Ford government continues to defend those decisions, arguing that changes to FOI laws will protect privacy and align with practices done in neighbouring provinces. Government officials have also argued that cuts to OSAP grants are necessary to ensure sustainability in the post-secondary sector.
The protests will continue once a month for the foreseeable future across the province, noted the organizers.
