Protesters rally against premier at Fergus ‘Fight Ford’ event

FERGUS – A group of roughly 30 people, some representing the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Ontario Green Party, gathered in front of Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky’s constituency office in downtown Fergus on May 30 for a Fight Ford protest.

The gatherings aim to raise awareness of objections to decisions by the Doug Ford government about conservation authorities, freedom of information laws, school board takeovers, health care privatization and affordable housing, among many other concerns.

Organizer Melanie Crutchley, a Wellington County business owner, attended a similar protest in Hamilton and felt there needed to be a similar presence locally to hold politicians accountable.

“Joe doesn’t show up half the time,” Crutchley said, adding the MPP toes the party line with canned responses.

Racinsky’s office declined to comment on the protest but noted the MPP “has attended over 350 community events, and had over 270 meetings with constituents and community groups” since being elected into office.

Commenting about a similar Guelph protest in April, Racinsky told the Advertiser “everyone has the right in our democracy to express themselves” and said there will always be people disagreeing with government.

Voters have made it “very clear,” he said, they want Doug Ford to lead Ontario.

Crutchley said she doesn’t want to be labelled a political troublemaker, but felt she could no longer remain silent after the government passed sweeping changes to freedom of information laws in April exempting the premier, cabinet ministers and staff from disclosing records, retroactive to 1988.

Crutchley said government officials are eroding public accountability and changing the law to keep their jobs.