More than 15 “Hands Off The Greenbelt” and “Stop Bill 23” rallies across the province
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – Over the past few weeks, the provincial government announced Bill 23 (“More Homes Built Faster Act”), the rollback of forward-thinking municipal plans in Halton and Hamilton, and the removal of 7,400 acres of protected land from the Greenbelt to build sprawl.
Public opposition to these attacks on Ontario’s environment is surging. Within a few days of these announcements, activists around the province began organizing rallies – primarily at MPP constituency offices – to underline the importance of protecting Ontario’s wetlands, forests and farmland.
Environmental Defence will hold a rally outside of Premier Ford’s constituency office on Friday November 18, to loudly voice opposition to Bill 23 and the removal of land from the Greenbelt. Other rallies in the province will take place in the days before and following this action, with a full list below.
WHAT: More than 15 “Hands Off The Greenbelt” and “Stop Bill 23” rallies all across the province, including Premier Ford’s constituency office in Etobicoke and the Minister of the Environment’s constituency office in Port Hope. New events are being registered every day.
WHERE: A map of all events, with additional information about attending each event, is available here: https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/
WHEN: November 16-27. Exact times and dates vary by location.
Wednesday November 16
Brantford – MPP Will Bouma’s Office – 9:00 AM
Organized by: Wellington Water Watchers and the Greenbelt West Coalition. Contact: Joan Faux, 519-802-0921; Arlene Slocombe, 519-994-0270
Fergus – MPP Ted Arnott’s Office – 9:00 AM
Organized by: Wellington Water Watchers and the Greenbelt West Coalition. Contact: Arlene Slocombe, 519-994-0270
Elmira – MPP Michael Harris’ Office – 9:00 AM
Organized by: Wellington Water Watchers and the Greenbelt West Coalition. Contact: Arlene Slocombe, 519-994-0270
Thursday November 17
Sundridge – Post Office – 11:30 AM
Organized by Climate Action Muskoka. Contact: Linda Mathers, lindamathers63@gmail.com; 705-816-3901
Friday November 18
Bracebridge – Memorial Park – 11:30 AM
Organized by Climate Action Muskoka. Contact: Linda Mathers, lindamathers63@gmail.com; 705-816-3901
Georgetown – Marketplace Mall – 12:00 PM
Organized by Halton Hills Climate Action. Contact: Janet Duval, haltonhillsclimateaction@gmail.com
Huntsville – Town Hall – 11:30 AM
Organized by Climate Action Muskoka. Contact: Linda Mathers, lindamathers63@gmail.com; 705-816-3901
Milton – MPP Parma Gill’s Office – 3:30 PM
Organized by Stop Sprawl Halton. Contact: stopsprawlhalton@gmail.com
Port Hope – Minister Piccini’s Office – 11:00 AM
This event will have musicians in attendance and an original song about Bill 23 will be performed.
Musicians: Marie-Lynn Hammond; Shannon Linton; Marianne Marusic
Organized by Blue Dot Northumberland, Council of Canadians, Community Power Northumberland, Save Our Trees Port Hope and Northumberland Coalition for Social Justice. Contact: Faye McFarlane, fmcfarlane@live.ca
Toronto – Premier Doug Ford’s Constituency Office – 11:00 AM
While many environmental protests happen downtown, Environmental Defence is expecting a crowd in Etobicoke at 823 Albion Rd at 11:00 AM to say “Hands Off the Greenbelt.” Policy experts and grassroots activists will be available for interviews.
Organized by: Environmental Defence. Contact: Stephanie Kohls, skohls@environmentaldefence.ca
Saturday November 19th
Beamsville – MPP Sam Oosterhoff’s Office – 2:00 PM
Organized by Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara. Contact: Liz Benneian, bcacniagara@gmail.com
Burlington – Brant St. & North Service Rd. – 11:00 AM
Organized by Stop Sprawl Halton. Contact: stopsprawlhalton@gmail.com
Pickering – Minister Bethlenfalvy’s Office – 1:00 PM
A rally to protect the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve, a beloved site that is one of the areas of the Greenbelt being opened to development.
Organized by Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition, Stop Sprawl Durham and Environmental Action Now Ajax Pickering. Contact: Helen Brenner, hjbrenner1@yahoo.ca; Elizabeth Calvin, elizabethcalvin1@gmail.com
Friday, November 25th
Oakville – MPP Stephen Crawford’s Office – 11:30 AM
Organized by Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet. Contact: info@gasp4change.org
Sunday, November 27th
Holland Landing – Minister Mulroney’s Office – 1:00 PM
In addition to Bill 23 and the Greenbelt removals, this protest will also address the Bradford Bypass.
Organized by Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. Contact: Claire Malcolmson, rescuelakesimcoecoalition@gmail.com
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Stephanie Kohls, Environmental Defence, skohls@environmentaldefence.ca
Or the media contacts listed for each event listed above.
