Rally in downtown Kitchener to protest controversial provincial bills
A 'Rally for People and Planet' was held in downtown Kitchener on Saturday.
Dozens of people gathered at Carl Zehr Square to hear from Aislinn Clancy, the deputy leader for the Green Party of Ontario and MPP for Kitchener Centre.
Rally for People and Planet Kitchener Carl Zehr Square Aislinn Clancy
Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy speaks at the 'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)
The event focused on two proposed provincial laws – Bill 5 and Bill 6.
Bill 6 targets homeless encampments and drug use in public spaces. If passed, police officers would have more power to arrest anyone in a public space, including a tent, who is in possession of an illegal substance. Those individuals would then face tougher penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
Advocates have argued that punitive measures often fail to address the issues causing homelessness and may, in fact, make them worse.
Bill 5, meanwhile, seeks to speed up development for certain projects, like mining, and create 'special economic zones' where provincial and municipal laws would be suspended. The Ring of Fire is one the sites identified by the province.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
12 minutes ago
- CTV News
Gorilla Zwalani leaves Granby Zoo for breeding program in Toronto
Zwalani had called Granby home for more than 20 years, but is headed to Toronto for a breeding program (photo: Alex Sauro / Noovo Info) Granby Zoo has said goodbye to Zwalani, a 25-year-old alpha male gorilla who has been transferred to the Toronto Zoo as part of a breeding initiative. Zwalani had called Granby home for more than 20 years. While the zoo team is sad to see him go, the staff sees it as a crucial step for the conservation of the endangered species. 'This is a critically endangered species, so accredited zoos like Granby Zoo really play a vital role in saving these species,' Julie Hébert, a content specialist and biologist at the zoo, told Noovo Info. Earlier this week, Zwalani was introduced to a group of three female gorillas at the Toronto Zoo. Just as in the wild, the exit of an alpha male like Zwalani leaves a leadership void. That means the three remaining male gorillas at Granby Zoo may experience rising tension in the coming weeks as they sort out their social hierarchy—ideally with minimal human interference. Habitat degradation a major hurdle While breeding programs in zoos are important, the ultimate goal of reintroducing animals into the wild is far more complex. Due to habitat destruction caused by human activity, the population of western lowland gorillas has dropped by 60 per cent over the past 25 years. At Granby Zoo, the focus is on offering a safe and enriching environment for male gorillas—a kind of modern-day 'Noah's Ark' aimed at improving future breeding efforts. But rewilding remains a long-term challenge, said Hébert. 'When it comes to gorillas, we're going to have to work very hard to restore their natural habitats,' she explained. 'Before we can think about reintroducing animals, we have to make sure they have the environment to do so.'
CTV News
12 minutes ago
- CTV News
Nova Scotia to celebrate Acadian Heritage Month in August
The welcome centre at the historic Acadian village in Lower West Pubnico, N.S., is pictured. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia) August will mark Nova Scotia's second annual Acadian Heritage Month. The Government of Nova Scotia says it will honour more than four centuries of Acadian history, culture and tradition with events across the province, including concerts, culinary experiences and community gatherings. 'Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse is delighted by the launch of the second edition of Acadian Heritage Month in Nova Scotia,' said Denise Comeau Desautels, president of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, in a news release from the province. 'This year's theme – Honouring Acadian Heritage, Shaping the Future – is an invitation to be proud of our ancestors who paved the way for the Acadie we know today and to be confident in its future.' In addition, National Acadian Day will be observed in Nova Scotia on Aug. 15. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
12 minutes ago
- CBC
Woman injured after outdoor roof collapses at North York residential building
It was a rough start to the day for some residents in North York Thursday after part of their apartment building's roof collapsed in front of its main entrance, sending one woman to hospital with minor injuries. It happened near Jane Street and Wilson Avenue just before 2 a.m., said Robert Hewson, division commander for Toronto Fire Services. "It looks to me like a drop part of the ceiling, a facade above the structural area of the building, did collapse. We would describe that as a pancake collapse, falling down flat," he said. The woman and another man were in a car near the front entrance of the building when the facade collapsed, Hewson said. They weren't trapped by the rubble, but the woman was injured and taken to hospital by paramedics, he said. A spokesperson for Toronto Paramedics said the woman suffered minor injuries. Resident Sheena Critipaul said she was woken up by the incident when an alarm went off. "The person over the announcement said not to use the front door of the building," she said. "It startled me." What caused the collapse is unclear, Hewson said, but the scene and repairs are now the responsibility of the property owner Greenwin. In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenwin said safety is the company's top priority, and management is overseeing the situation.
