Protesters are set to gather outside Brampton City Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m., aiming their message at the city's four Progressive Conservative MPPs after they voted against a bill that would have delivered a tax break on food.
The demonstration is the latest event in an ongoing campaign against Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario PC Party, according to a report from Ontario Chronicle. Similar rallies were held in Brampton in March and April.
At issue is Bill 113, legislation put forward by the NDP and supported by the Liberals and Greens that would have reduced a portion of the harmonized sales tax on certain food items and non-alcoholic drinks. All four of Brampton's PC MPPs — Brampton-Centre's Charmaine Williams, Brampton-West's Amarjot Sandhu, Brampton-North's Graham McGregor and Brampton-East's Hardeep Singh Grewal — voted against the bill alongside the rest of the PC caucus.
The vote drew a sharp reaction from Opposition Leader Marit Stiles, who described the PC caucus's decision as "shameful," according to the Ontario Chronicle report.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy defended the government's record, saying the province has already taken steps to make life more affordable, including cutting personal income tax for lower income brackets.
Brampton's MPPs are not the only targets of the organizers, known as "Fight Ford" activists. Roughly 60 demonstrations are planned across Ontario this Saturday, all part of the same coordinated campaign.
Beyond the food tax vote, the protests highlight a long list of grievances with the Ford government, Ontario Chronicle reported. Those include the elimination of rent control for new unit developments since 2018 and recent changes to OSAP that shift student financing toward loans rather than grants.
Protesters have also pointed to a province-wide ban on automated speed enforcement cameras, which they argue undermines road safety, as well as what they describe as underfunding of Ontario's healthcare system.
The list of concerns extends to the controversial redevelopment of Ontario Place, the Greenbelt scandal that has dogged the government, and provincial plans to amalgamate municipalities in Niagara Region.
Saturday's rally at Brampton City Hall is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. No road closures or special arrangements were announced in connection with the event.
Residents who want to hear directly from their local MPPs on the Bill 113 vote can contact their constituency offices, though no MPP from Brampton had issued a public response to the planned protest as of publication.
