Guelph’s Greenbelt Rally

Remarks by Phil Allt

Thanks, MPP Mike Schreiner, Tanja Gevaert, Arlene Slocombe for sharing the stage with me. Togetherness drives community and progress. Miigwech, I would like to acknowledge we are gathering at a meeting place of time immemorial for our Indigenous brothers and sisters. This is a place of peace, gathering, and prosperity.

Look around you; this is a community working to make a difference.

I’m going to say something that sounds heretical – Thank you, Doug Ford. 

Thank you for warning us about Pierre Poliviere and for letting us know that promises from you are not promises. Your promises are words meant to seduce people to political slumber.  

Premier Ford, I ask of you one thing – for Christmas would you please repeal Bills 109, 23, and 39? Just as you repealed the repugnant Bill 28 short weeks ago. Would you please admit that the massive property tax increases people can expect shortly are your fault? Consequently, this inflates housing costs for citizens.

All things considered, Mr. Ford, I want to thank you; you expected us to be complacent, to be blinded by pretty words about mythological cheaper housing, about adding to the Greenbelt while actually taking away from it. I want to thank you for uniting people in support of a greener future and Guelph’s Greenbelt.

Ontarians said No Way

Premier Ford, you expect us to be divided while you rule with the notwithstanding clause. And cabinet ministers, particularly Minister Lecce, dumped on unions negotiating for low-paid workers. You try to tell Ontario that free collective bargaining is a thing of the past. Ontarians said no way. We heard from you that strong mayors are better than democracy.

Let me state this: strong premiers – strong men – do not matter more than democracy. And affordable housing is not going to be built as Guelph’s Greenbelt is gutted.

Each year, my lovely wife Elizabeth asks what I wish for Christmas. Each year I ask for world peace – what other gift could I want? 

This year, I want to change it up a bit and I know my letter is already answered. 

I ask for people to unite in upset and anger.
I ask the public to be motivated by political change and democracy.
It might take voting; working for a candidate clearly committed to housing, and better health care, for the Greenbelt. It might tempt some of you to engage in peaceful civil disobedience, protests, and tirelessly calling upon your MPPs to resist the tearing down of the democracy we cherish.

Folks we don’t need strong mayors as Bill 39 states. Democracy serves us well. Bill 39 with its provision where a Mayor only needs 1/3 minority vote to implement provincial priorities is an insult to the parliamentary tradition. It is also deliberately vague. What is a provincial priority? Is it to gut health care, or is it to give lands to developers? The land promised to our grandkids as their environmental heritage, or is it highway 413?

Private interests cannot come at expense of public needs and assets, whether it’s Guelph’s Greenbelt, labour rights, health care, or education. 

We are united

I don’t care if you are Green as is Mike Schreiner, NDP as am I, Liberal, or Conservative. People see through the anti-union laws of this government, the false anti-poverty housing promises of this government, and the dangerous use of the “notwithstanding” clause in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

As a community, we oppose the concept of strong mayors which is in direct opposition to democracy. The NotWithStanding Clause is not to be used to gut free collective bargaining or to get the government out of its financial obligations imposed by the courts and contracts.

I know people believe democracy works and that democracy matters to you and to me. 

Guelph can rely upon MPP, Mike Schriener, to stand up for democracy. Mike and I are from different political affiliations but we are united in love for democracy. 

Let’s get out and work between elections for the community, for the environment, for truly affordable housing, for decent wages, and ensure Guelph’s Greenbelt is not gutted, and for UN Affordable housing.
Let’s use Bill 23, Bill 109, and Bill 39 – the strong mayors’ legislation to join in positive action for our kids and grandkids. 

Namaste, Wa alaykumu s-salam, Shalom, Miigwech, a very Merry Christmas.

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You might like to read my post about Affordable Housing here