Hundreds of people rallied in the forecourt of Hamilton City Hall on Sunday afternoon against a provincial law that aims to take 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt.
Bill 23 – the Build More Homes Faster Act – allows development on previously protected land, with the stated objective of building more homes in the province.
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Burlington Mayor Marian Mead-Ward disagrees with the bill.
“It is actually a subsidy to developers and investors and there is nothing in the Bill to guarantee that first time home buyers will get that savings; They won’t,” she said.
She says she believes the rallies can bring about change and may inspire Ontario Premier Doug Ford to change his mind.
“This government has shown that if we make a good case and raise our voices that they will reconsider. I’m an optimist and I hope they see that this isn’t going to get us more affordable housing and more supply.”
Mead-Ward was one of the politicians who were on hand for the Hands Off Greenbelt rally hoping to get Ford’s attention.
Hamilton Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Kroesch spoke to the crowd along with fellow Councilors Maureen Wilson, Alex Wilson, Craig Kaiser, Tammy Hwang, John-Paul Danko, Ninder Nunn and Mark Tedsen.
“I have a message for Doug Ford – if he wants to come here and take a chunk of the greenbelt … this ‘creature of the province’ is going to bite back,” Kroesch said.
Mayor Andrea Horvath was not present during the rally.
Matthew Green, the NDP MP for Hamilton Centre, was there and commented on the size of the crowd.
“I think what you’re seeing is a growing discontent among Ontarians who feel they’ve been lied to, who feel they’ve been sold out to corporate developers and Doug Ford’s donors, and their Pass is enough,” Green said.
There are some media reports that suggest that progressive donors benefit most from the opening of the Greenbelt, but those claims have yet to be confirmed.
Sunday’s rally was the largest of its kind ever as groups began gathering at City Hall to protest Bill 23. It was one of dozens held across the province over the weekend.
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