Protesters rally against Hamilton’s forced urban boundary expansion

Protestors in Hamilton are putting more and more pressure on the Ford government to protect farmland and scrap his housing development plans. Demonstrators held a series of rallies this weekend to fight Ford’s Bill 23 housing legislation.

The Bill 23 housing legislation would take land out of the Greenbelt, and force the city of Hamilton to expand its urban boundary into farmland so that homes can be built.

Organizers say the government’s plans would have far-reaching effects, and a growing number of people want to speak out against them.

This is the third weekend in a row of rallies, with others held during the week, and organizers of these protests say opposition to Ford’s urban boundary plan is growing all the time.”

“We are all here today united by one cause, to protect the Greenbelt.”

READ MORE:  Activists gather to protest the Ford governments plan to expand Hamilton’s urban boundary

Hamilton’s Labour Council President Anthony Marco supports the protest, “this is a bill that affects working-class people all over the province, in Hamilton specifically it deals with a lot of people who are having trouble finding affordable housing because it has impacts on the way regulation is going to be done.”

Hamilton city councillor Craig Cassar says, “your council, your city council, doesn’t want Bill 23. I’m here representing Ancaster but there’s many around the horseshoe saying the same thing, and we’re going to find ways to fight this.”

Protestors say the government’s plans raise fundamental issues for the future.

There’s no response to the rally today from Ford’s conservative MPPs in this area. Organizers say they’re planning more of these rallies, with the number of people speaking out against the government’s plans growing all the time.