Ford Fest protest planned in Kitchener
Posted Sep 8, 2023 05:30:33 AM.
Last Updated Sep 8, 2023 04:13:47 PM.
The smell of burgers and hot dogs will be wafting out of Bingemans on Friday evening but a less joyous occasion will be taking place just outside of the recreation centre.
Ford Fest, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s annual family barbeque, is making its way to Kitchener.
When the Premier and members of the Progressive Conservative party make their way to the event, they will likely be greeted by a group of protestors before they arrive at Bingemans.
The protest is being assembled by the Waterloo Regional Labour Council, and as president Jeff Pelich told CityNews 570 that the organization felt it was important to set up a little protest to share how citizens are feeling.
“To send a message to Doug Ford that, really, this isn’t a time to be celebrating,” Pelich remarked. “This is a time to get back to work.”
The Premier’s visit to Kitchener comes less than a week after Steve Clark resigned as the provincial Housing Minister, as a result of a scathing report stating that Clark violated ethics rules when it came to potential housing development on the protected Greenbelt.
According to Pelich, protestors on Friday will be pushing back against the selling of Greenbelt land, and that even though Clark resigned, there needs to be more accountability for what happened behind the scenes.
The council president also explained that affordable housing, public services and livable wages will be top of mind for protestors.
“It’s time that the Premier stop letting his developer friends succeed and do well, where the rest of us are struggling to make ends meet,” Pelich stated.
On Friday, the Waterloo Regional Labour Council will be giving the Premier what they call a ‘big Waterloo welcome.’
The protest is scheduled to take place on Bingemans Centre Drive from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pelich stated that the message to the Premier will be clear.
“‘Enough is enough’ is kind of the line that we’ve been hearing a lot from folks in labour, and folks in the environmental movement,” Pelich explained. “Some of the initiatives that this government has been taking are just not okay.”
Ford Fest is scheduled at Bingemans from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For details on the protest, visit the Waterloo Regional Labour Council website.
