THUNDER BAY – Is it the start of a maple leaf spring? Likely visitors to Montreal for the Formula One Grand Prix may have thought so. Students in Quebec have taken to the streets in protest over hikes to tuition. What has not been raised anywhere is that it is likely that the parents of those students appear to be in support of their now months long efforts. No where in the press are there comments from parents imploring their young adults to get back to class.
Across Canada there are now seventy rallies planned protesting against the federal Conservative government’s omni-bus bill currently making its way through parliament. “We know that many Conservative MPs have real concerns about the bill. Now they face a choice: will they sit silently and allow this reckless bill to pass, or will they stand up to Prime Minister Harper and defend our democracy?” asks Leadnow.ca Executive Director Jamie Biggar.
Leadnow.ca has now confirmed 70+ rallies will take place on Wednesday, June 13th at 5:30pm local time, at Conservative MPs offices and support locations across Canada. The group reports, “There will be a rally at 140 Syndicate Avenue North – the corner of Syndicate Ave North and Miles Street. This location is right in front of the construction of the new courthouse, a building that stands for justice in the future – while C-38 assures injustice in the future”.
“We are calling for 13 ‘Hero’ Conservative MPs to stop the Budget Bill, split it apart and start over, by denying Prime Minister Harper the majority of votes he needs to pass it. At each event participants will hold a sign calling for Conservative MPs to ‘Be a Hero, and Stop the Budget Bill’.”
This is the second national day of action to oppose the Budget Bill, Bill C-38. On Saturday, June 2nd, Canadians organized dozens of rallies, including one in Thunder Bay, that drew over 3,000 participants from coast to coast. The events are uniting Canadians who are concerned that Bill C-38 contains a sweeping agenda that makes changes to over 70 laws and contains many surprises not campaigned on in the last election. The Bill has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, including from former Conservative cabinet ministers and members of Prime Minister Harper’s own caucus.
Leadnow states, “We have no Conservative MPs in Thunder Bay, but on Wednesday we will raise our voices against Bill C-38’s attack on the environment and erosion of democracy”.