Mass Demonstration at Niagara Policy Convention of Progressive Conservatives

The mass action held outside the policy convention of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in Niagara Falls on February 22 testifies to the broad opposition to the agenda of the Ford government. Close to 5,000 people from different parts of Ontario converged on Niagara Falls to take part in the "People vs. Conservative Cuts" rally to denounce the anti-social agenda of the PC government.

The largest contingent was that of education workers who had just carried out a massive province-wide strike the day before. Large contingents of health care workers and other public sector workers were also present as were contingents of steelworkers from Hamilton and auto workers.

The rally opened with an appeal from speakers that the working people of Ontario continue to stand with the political protests of the Indigenous peoples against the illegal invasion of Wet'suwet'en territory by the RCMP. One speaker made it clear that it is a fight against injustice.

Speakers that followed, including representatives of the autism community, social workers, advocates for health care and post-secondary students, opposed the government's attacks on the most vulnerable. Among those who also spoke were Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates and presidents of the Ontario education unions, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario whose 55,000 education worker members are not on strike but have been engaging in solidarity actions with their striking colleagues.