KITCHENER JOINS PROVINCE-WIDE CODE RED PROTESTS

The Ontario Health Coalition hosted Code Red, a series of protests called to make a visible show of public opposition to the privatization of healthcare. The Kitchener protest ran on Oct. 4 on the public sidewalk near the new CTV offices on Sportsworld Dr. Ontario Health Coalition’s primary goal is to protect and improve the public healthcare system and have a Kitchener-Waterloo faction.  

“Many people in Ontario aren’t aware of what’s happening before the government is really attempting to dismantle our public health care system,” Jim Stewart, chair of the Waterloo Health Coalition, said.  

According to a report by Health Quality Ontario, total public spending on healthcare was $4,125 per person in 2016 and has been steadily declining over the years. This is the lowest among all provinces, and lower than the Canadian average by $4,487 per person.   

“The people of Ontario do not want a US-style healthcare system that’s going to cost them thousands of dollars out of pocket, because this is what’s actually happening right now,” Stewart said.   

In 2023, on average, insured patients were billed $1,177 for out of province services. The Ontario Hospital Association said that hospitals in 2024 ended last year in a $360 million deficit. In 2025, hospitals need an additional $1 billion in funding to keep pace with population growth and inflation.   

“We are embarking on a series of petitions, not just to the federal government, but to the provincial government to tell them that this [privatization] can’t occur. We’re going to have a day of action very soon to try to get members of Provincial Parliament to pay attention to this issue,” Stewart said.  

On Oct. 29, the Waterloo Health Coalition will host a legislature watch event for the Legislature Galleries. Their goal is to advocate against a two-tier Medicare program and stop patients being charged thousands of dollars out of pocket for surgeries and diagnostic tests.  

“If we want to have a strong society, we need to build a foundation of educated, smart young people through our education system, and we need healthy people through our public health care system,” Stewart said.   

Stewart wanted to increase public awareness towards the slow privatization of many healthcare services. Ontario had more than 1,100 emergency department closures in 2024. On the other side of the spectrum, private clinics are being funded at a higher rate than that of inflation.   

“The privatization plans are moving ahead, and so we wanted to make sure that people can pay attention and think and investigate and read for themselves,” Lorna Aberdeen, a Waterloo Health Coalition member, said.   

Dozens of participants congregated with signs of support towards a public healthcare system. Protesters had signs that read “honk if you oppose privatization” which received many honks in support.  Aislinn Clancy, MPP of Kitchener Centre, was also in attendance and was one of the speakers.   

“My hope is that we return to what we had. I would like to see the privatization stop, or at the very minimum, that we don’t put our public funds into it,” Aberdeen said.

#AdrianQuijano #AislinnClancy #codeRed #deficit #HealthQualityOntario #JimStewart #legislatureGalleries #LornaAberdeen #Medicare #OntarioHealthCoalition #ontarioHospitalAssociation #PublicHealth #WaterlooHealthCoalition

Proportional Representation Rally, Waterloo Town Square, 1:30pm on Sunday 14 September 2025

• What: Proportional Representation Rally
• When: 1:30pm on Sunday 14 September 2025
• Where: Waterloo Public Square
• Location: 75 King Street South Map
• Online: https://www.instagram.com/wr4prnow/
• Contact: Waterloo Region 4 PR [email protected]

On Sunday September 14, there will be a non-partisan rally planned by local organizers at Waterloo Town Square (Uptown Waterloo) to show support for Proportional Representation. The rally theme is Better Late Than Never.

The rally begins at 1:30 with time to gather, and make posters to show support for PR.

Speeches at 2:00 PM will be from:

• Aislinn Clancy (MPP for Kitchener-Centre and Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
• Mike Morrice (former MP for Kitchener-Centre)
• Mike Schreiner (MPP for Guelph and leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
• Fair Vote Canada

and others.

Now is the time to speak up! Although Justin Trudeau broke his often-repeated promise to Canadians that the 2015 election would be the last under the first-past-the-post system, there is still strong support for the idea – even among those in power. After stepping down as Liberal leader, Trudeau shared that his one regret leading up to the 2025 election was not being able to change the way we elect our governments in this country  1 . Mark Carney has also spoken positively about electoral reform and has shared openness to addressing “those more structural issues in our democracy” 2 .

We are rallying to show that Canadians from across the political spectrum have not forgotten this broken promise, and that now is the time to act. More than ever, we need a strong democracy, with elected officials who reflect the will of the people, and where every citizen’s vote counts equally. We hope that you will join us!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, anytime.

Thank you,

WR4PRNow Organizers

• Heline Chow
• Lisa Massaro
• Stephanie Janzen-Martin

[email protected]

 1  — Trudeau says abandoning electoral reform is his biggest regret.
 2  — Mark Carney speaks positively about working on electoral reform.

—
Waterloo Region for Proportional Representation

#AislinnClancy #FairVoteCanada #FairVoteCanadaWaterlooRegionChapter #FairVoteWRC #HelineChow #LisaMassaro #MikeMorrice #MikeSchreiner #ProportionalRepresentation #StephanieJanzenMartin #WaterlooRegion

GUELPH, WR JOIN RALLIES ACROSS ONTARIO AGAINST BILL 5

This article was published in print on June 5, with information up to June 4. On June 5, Bill 5 was passed.

The Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, or Bill 5, is now moving through Queen’s Park before the legislature’s summer break on June 5 and may be signed as a law.  

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, the Guelph Climate Action Network held a rally at the covered bridge in York Road Park, Guelph, where about 200 people opposed the Ford governments controversial Bill 5. The protesters came with poster, props, signs and were chanting “stop Bill 5.” 

The Ford government stated it will expedite the completion of large infrastructure and resource extraction projects by cutting down on delays and removing redundancies in the approval process while critics claim the controversial bill will undermine democratic rights and create environmental damage. 

The major aspect of Bill 5 is creating ‘special economic zones’ and would introduce changes to the Electricity Act 1998, the Endangered Species Act 2007, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Mining Act, the Ontario Energy Board Act 1998, the Ontario Heritage Act, the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, the Special Economic Zones Act and the Species Conservation Act. 

“Bill 5 is going to be the Greenbelt Scandal all over again. The last time Doug Ford tried this, the people of Ontario stopped him. Bill 5 and Bill 17 are the same thing—exactly the same thing. He’s trying to do it again,” Leanne Caron, Guelph city councillor, said. 

“He said the special economic zones would be something he’d expect to come out of countries like Russia, China, Saudi Arabia or other developing countries. No rules, no laws, no democratic oversight. We are not going to take it in Ontario,”  Mike Schreiner, MPP for the Guelph Green Party, said.  

Aislinn Clancy, Green Party MPP from Kitchener-Centre, said the provincial government lost public trust with Bill 23. The proposed Bill 5, she said, would give cabinet ministers absolute power without means to hold them accountable.  

“[…It] also makes them really vulnerable to a conflict of interest, because they can choose which corporations can take advantage of these special economic zones,” Clancy said. 

Mike Marcolongo associate director with Environmental Defence, said Bill 5 is a threat to democracy. It provides the ministers with unprecedented power. 

“The challenge with Bill 5 is that the Ford government is operating as if the economy is disconnected from nature, from the environment, there’s no limits, according to this government. The environment is not red tape. Indigenous consultation is not red tape,”  he said. 

“The legislation that’s in place are the safeguards for clean water or healthy labour practices or healthy community,” Marcolongo said. 

The rally was organised by Wellington Water Watchers, Seniors for Climate Action Now, Guelph Indigenous Community Council, OPIRG Guelph, eMERGE Guelph, Nature Guelph, the Dublin Street United Church and the Guelph Climate Action network.

#AislinnClancy #bill5 #DougFord #eMERGEGuelph #Guelph #guelphClimateActionNetwork #GuelphIndigenousCommunityCouncil #LeanneCaron #localActivism #MikeMarcolongo #NatureGuelph #OPIRGGuelph #ProgressiveConservatives #ProtectOntarioByUnleashingOurEconomyAct #provincialGovernment #rallies #SafinaJennah #SeniorsForClimateActionNow #SherylMadakkai #theDublinStreetUnitedChurch #waterlooRegion #WellingtonWaterWatchers

Earth Day Celebration — Special Screening of Beyond Crisis at KPL, Tuesday 22 April 2025 at 5:30pm

What: Film Screening: Beyond Crisis
When: 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday 22 April 2025
Where: Kitchener Public Library, Main Branch, Auditorium
Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Register:Eventbrite Tickets

In honour of this year’s Earth Day, Kai Reimer-Watts has arranged a special screening of his 2018 documentary Beyond Crisis. You and your friends are warmly invited to this rare, free public screening of a powerful Canadian documentary on climate! Please register in advance so we can keep track of numbers, and share widely.

The event hosted by our local MPP Aislinn Clancy, and held in the film theatre at Kitchener Public Library (Main Branch, 85 Queen Street North). The one-hour documentary will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker (Kai) and MPP Aislinn Clancy. There will also be light food and refreshments. It is a non-partisan event for the broader community, to draw attention to climate change at this crucial time here in Canada, and while we are in a federal election.

Also, if you haven’t yet, please check out the Vote for Climate campaign led by the Waterloo Region Climate Collaborative! Non-partisan lawn and window signs are still available this election.

About the film

Beyond Crisis was a three-year filmmaking adventure led by Canadian climate activists, seeking to capture growing movements for change here in Canada and around the world advocating for bold climate action and a just response to the climate crisis. It launched at Princess Twin Cinema in Waterloo in 2018, and has since been screened in festivals, theatres, classrooms and community venues around the world, as a galvanizing story of our current ‘climate moment’ and the many possibilities we have for collective response. While it remains honest about the gravity of climate change, it is ultimately an uplifting and inspiring film about people, and the power of people to transform our realities and together forge brighter futures. It is highly artistic, creative and meditative in sections, and packed with insights from over 50 changemakers – many of whom are Canadian.

The film is only one hour long, split into five connected chapters: The Language of Change; A Dangerous Addiction; Feelings of Change; A Brighter Future; and Building a Movement. Each chapter has its own areas of focus, and together, they tell the story of many thousands of people all over the world working to change our current climate reality for the better. The film was designed in this way to keep chapters short, and to better stimulate ongoing audience engagement and community dialogue after each screening. Kai has received many positive responses by viewers on the film, its emotional/intellectual impact, and unique structure. You can check out the trailer on YouTube to see if it resonates with you.

Thank you for your ongoing support for Divest Waterloo and for your part in our collective action to raise awareness and engage our community on issues related to climate change, our pursuit of a low carbon economy, and our movement towards a just and sustainable future.

#AislinnClancy #DivestWaterloo #KaiReimerWatts #WaterlooRegion #WaterlooRegionClimateCollaborative

Bonus Episode: Ariel Chats With Aislinn Clancy, Green Party of Ontario Incumbent

In this bonus episode, Ariel talks with Aislinn Clancy, Green Party of Ontario candidate and incumbent MPP for Kitchener Centre in the upcoming snap Ontario Election. This isn’t an endorsement, but a discussion that hopes to prod solarpunk talking points into the realm of politics. Aislinn and I talk about Green Party of Ontario goals for clean energy, supporting local workers, and how to channel your passion for social justice issues that you care about into empowering activism.

https://youtu.be/Bux_AEUlyoM

#solarpunk #SolarpunkPresentsPodcast #podcast #podcasting #AislinnClancy #GreenPartyofOntario #GreenPartyofCanada #MPP #KitchenerCentre #Canadianpolitics #KitchenerCentrePolitics #ProvincialElection #DirectDemocracy #Democracy #grassrootsOrganization #PoliticalOrganization #housingCrisis #workersRights @KitCenGreens #GreenParty #GreenPolitics