Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – As Ontario grapples with emergency room closures, a critical shortage of nurses, family doctors, and other health professionals, the provincial government is planning to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars on two controversial highway projects that would cut through the Greenbelt — Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.
In response, outraged Ontarians are taking a stand, demanding that Premier Ford cancel these unnecessary and harmful highways. Instead, they are calling for these funds to be redirected to address Ontario’s healthcare crisis, which has reached a breaking point.
In addition to in-person rallies, a number of community groups will be launching and sharing open letters for residents to sign and send to their local MPP demanding they prioritize healthcare over highways.
Event Details
WHAT: The Public Healthcare Not Greenbelt Highways weekend will feature in-person rallies and targeted digital actions across southern Ontario from Barrie to Fort Erie.
WHO: The Public Healthcare Not Greenbelt Highways movement is a coalition of healthcare professionals and advocates, environmental and community groups and concerned citizens fighting for a better Ontario.
WHEN: September 14 – 15, 2024. Dates and times vary by location.
WHERE: Communities across southern Ontario. Rally locations and local contact information available below.
Rallies
Barrie
Sunday, September, 15 at 1 pm
15 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie, ON
The Simcoe County Health Coalition and the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition will be hosting a reflective walk to process the tragic losses that could happen and already have happened because of the underfunding of healthcare in Simcoe County and the construction of the Bradford Bypass through the Holland Marsh.
Burlington
Sunday, September 15 from 2-4 pm
City Hall, 426 Brant Street, Burlington, ON
Stop Sprawl Halton will be rallying in Burlington to demand Public Healthcare not Greenbelt Highways!
Fort Erie
Sunday, September 15 at 12 pm
230 Bertie Street, Fort Erie, ON
We will have a parade of vehicles or marchers starting at Douglas Memorial and ending at Douglas Park with a rally. Bring signs or flags. For those with disabilities please meet us at the park along Aberdeen St.
Hamilton
Saturday, September 14 at 10 am
Eastgate Square Mall, 75 Centennial Pkwy N, Hamilton, ON
Hamilton350 and Elders for Climate Sanity are planning a rally in Stoney Creek. They will also have Healthcare Not Highways materials available at their booth at the EcoHub at the Hamilton Supercrawl (in front of the Cathedral on James St N).
Mississauga
Sunday, September 15 from 1-2:30 pm
Port Credit Lighthouse, 105 Lakeshore Rd W, Mississauga, ON
Starting at the Port Credit Lighthouse to rally for Ontario Healthcare and Ontario Farmland then walking to Rudy Cuzzeto’s office! We’ll have Indigenous Elders and experts speaking, plus an eco disco dance. Dr. Mili Roy of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment will be in attendance.
Newmarket
Saturday, September 14th, 1 – 3 pm
MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy’s Office, 16635 Yonge St., Newmarket, ON
Join the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario – York Region for a rally demanding the cancellation of the Bradford Bypass and increased funding for public health care. Climate Action Newmarket Aurora will also have information and an open letter available at the Farmer’s Market (Riverwalk Commons, Saturday, September 14, from 8 am – 1 pm).
Toronto
Saturday, September 14 from 11 am – 12 pm
MPP Robin Martin’s Office, 2882 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON
Environmental Defence and the Greater Toronto Health Coalition are collaborating on a rally outside MPP Robin Martin’s office.
Local digital actions
Brampton
Public Healthcare Not Greenbelt Highways will be taking over Peel Climate Council’s social media for the weekend.
Bruce and Grey Counties
Grassroots organizers have penned an open letter to MPPs Lisa Thompson and Rick Byers calling on them to cancel unnecessary highway projects.
Cornwall/Stormont Dundas and Glengarry
Letter writing campaign calling on MPP Nolan Quinn to fund local healthcare.
Durham Region
Stop Sprawl Durham to launch a new digital petition calling on the cancellation of Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass in order to fund healthcare and other provincial needs.
Minden
Organizers in Minden are encouraging local residents to sign an open letter to MPP Laurie Scott urging her to direct money towards local, public healthcare rather than expensive and destructive highways through the Greenbelt.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
ABOUT CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (cape.ca): CAPE collaborates with other organizations, nationally and internationally, to work effectively and build power together. We support physicians to be advocates for healthier environments and ecosystems.
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For more information, please contact:
Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
media@environmentaldefence.ca
