Over The Edge

Growing up in a smaller town, being privileged AF and quite sheltered, protesting was not something I was very familiar with. Moving to Hamilton, studying at McMaster, and being immersed into the world of social work has really opened my eyes (not to mention maturing and exploring my values and identity). Activism now seems normal to me. Why shouldn’t I use my education and my privilege to fight for what I believe in?

People voice their opinions and argue about their values every day, often about really dumb shit. I think I used to shy away from these discussions. There is a lot of negativity directed towards those oriented towards the left. So fuck it. If being a ‘special snowflake’ means wanting equal rights, demanding to be treated with respect, caring about the environment and other people/species, and fighting for that? Then I’m a goddamn special snowflake. I don’t take it personally. From my experience, the right wingers who attack others in this manner are full of hatred – they lack empathy, and understanding (to put it lightly). It makes me sad.

But anyway.

Over the past year or so (basically since Doug Ford was elected), there has been an eruption of protests in Ontario, and rightly so. This POS has lied, cut funding to every social service I can think of, and his only priority is his wallet. Let’s take a look at what he’s ‘accomplished’ shall we?

• Dedicated $10 million per year for horse racing
• Cut Toronto’s city council
• Rolled back the 2015 sex-ed curriculum & the Indigenous Curriculum Review
• Cancelled the cap-and-trade & green energy act
  • Resulted in the cancellation of the 100 million dollar school repair fund
• Halted the opening of safe injection sites – and cut funding for others
• Cancelled Ontario’s basic income pilot
• Made cuts to OHIP
  • Youth under 25 are no longer eligible for free prescriptions if covered by another plan
  • Ended coverage to those traveling outside of Ontario
• Cancelled funding for child care centres
• Cut funding to the Ontario Music Fund
• Cancelled the 50 Million Tree program
• Cut $1 billion from Toronto Public Health over the next decade
• He lied.
• Proposed a fee to allow companies to further endanger, endangered species
• Cut payments to flood management programs
• Cut 50% of Ontario Library service funding
• Cut all legal aid for refugee and immigration cases, and 30% of the general legal aid budget
• Cancelled the compensation for victims of crime act
• Cuts thousands of full-time teaching positions after promising that no one would lose their job under his government
• Increased class size
• Dissolved numerous health networks to create one
• Cut funding to OSAP
  • Cancelled free tuition for low-income students
  • Eliminated the six month grace period
  • Made ‘non-essential’ fees option
• Cut funding to specialized school programs
• Cancelled the Ontario Arts Council Funding
• Cut Paramedic Services
• Cancelled funding for the Ontario College of Midwives
• Loosened regulations on childcare, labour and the environment
• Doesn’t recognize gender identity and wants to remove it from the sex-ed curriculum – in other words – is a transphobic POS
• The dude hangs out with white nationalists for fucks sake
• Cancelled rent control in new buildings
• Eliminated the child and youth commissioner, the environmental commissioner, and the French language commissioner
• Cancelled a planned tax on the wealthy
• Cancelled funding for three university campuses
• Cancelled Bill 148 (labour reform)
• Hiring freeze across the public service sector
• Wants to force gas stations to display anti-carbon tax stickers on gas pumps
  • Will fine them $1000s per day if they don’t

But hey, the LCBO and Beer store have longer hours now, so that’s cool . . .

When I started that list I didn’t know it was going to get so long (and I’m certain I missed a few things). It actually scares me. Like what the actual fuck. I’ve gone full white girl. I can’t even. It’s bloody depressing.

So yeah – that’s why a general strike was called. There have been many strikes focusing on the more specific issues, such as the rollback of the sex ed curriculum. But on May 1st we stood in solidarity around the province to demonstrate our resistance to all of the above. There was a modest gathering in Hamilton, but we were there, and we were loud. Multiple media outlets showed up (catch me in the Hamilton Spectator) and passing vehicles were honking along with us.

I hadn’t committed to attending any protests up until this general strike. I won’t make excuses, but I will say that I wasn’t ready. But I committed to this one, I made my sign, and I went, despite almost chickening out and having a lot of anxiety (why tho?). I’m really happen that I went. It felt so good (despite it being fucking cold) to be surrounded by like-minded people who are all willing to fight for their values. There were some amazing speakers, chanting, and a sing-along to Hey Jude, which created an amazing connection. This event also presented itself as an opportunity to network, and get involved, and I am looking forward to participating more in the future.