Niagara West MPP’s New Year’s Levee to be targeted by protestors

Niagara | Community | Politics |

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Published January 12, 2023 at 11:01 am

Protestors will be out front for the fifth consecutive year when Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff's New Year's Levee is held at Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Fonthill.

Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff can expect some extra company when he holds his annual New Year’s Levee this weekend in Pelham’s Fonthill neighbourhood.

Protestors will be out front for the fifth consecutive year when Oosterhoff’s get-together is held at Royal Canadian Legion Branch (141 Highway 20 East) on January 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

The protest will be organized by the Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara (BCAC), an umbrella organization of 22 separate smaller citizen, environment and nature preservation groups.

This year, the protest will target the Ford government’s recent Greenbelt land removals, forced municipal boundary expansions and the new “strong mayors” legislation.

Last month, Premier Doug Ford announced plans to remove over 7,000 acres from the Greenbelt, in order to build more housing.

“More affordable housing is definitely needed,” says Liz Benneian, chair of BCAC.

“Unfortunately, developing on Greenbelt land and conservation lands will not provide it. Many municipalities have plans for accommodating future growth within municipal boundaries. What’s needed is a smart urban planning and for the Provincial and Federal levels of government to get back into the business of building truly affordable housing.”

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