Today, yet again, hundreds of people protested the illegal taxes known as eco-fees which the Ontario Government plans to re-impose on the citizens in October 2010. (Photos from the July demonstration can be found here and here.)
The protest was organized by two local citizens: Shirley Mosley and Debbie Jodoin. They are the ones who took out the permits, the ones who promoted the demonstration by phoning call-in radio shows (especially Lowell Green’s Island of Sanity on CFRA).
These ladies (and I do mean ‘ladies’ as a term of high respect: women who are leaders) are private citizens. These protests are not your standard ‘load up all the union-members who want to keep their jobs, give them these pre-printed protest signs and make sure they look enthusiastic, or it’s off to the unemployment line for them next week’ kind of protests.
No.
These citizen activists have taken it upon themselves to do something against the lies and ever-increasing taxation levels emanating from the Liberal Government of Ontario, its Premier, Dalton McGuinty (or was that McGuilty?) and its Communications minister, Bob Chiarelli.
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. So, please, turn your word-counter off, because here come some pictures from the demonstration!
Debbie Jodoin:
Shirley Mosley:
And, they had quite a lineup of speakers!
I’ll go in sequential order (though, Debbie and Shireley also spoke in-between the other speakers):
OK – I’ll admit it: I was late and did not catch the name of this speaker from the Canadian Taxpayers’ Association. Is someone would, please, comment with his name, I’ll update this and, hopefully, do a bit of face-saving…. My apologies!
Here he is later, talking to the crowd:
Janet Jackson Beth Graham, the Conservative candidate who challenged Bob Chiarelli in the by-election that brought Bob back into a McGuinty Cabinet:
Lisa McLeod, the Ontario Conservative MPP for the Nepean-Carleton and someone who’s making me think that my initial assessment of her was too hasty – the more I see, the more I like her:
Rob Snow, the popular CFRA radio show-host and a bit of a local celebrity (he was at the first demonstration, too):
There was nothing subtle about Mr. Rob Snow: he is a most awesome rabble-rouser! And, he is an excellent speaker! To the point! He said – among other things – ‘We can’t do much worse than these Liberals!’
Well said.
Mr. Snow also brought greetings and words of support from the legenday broadcaster, Lowell Green, who would have come had he not been on holidays out of town. And, he also brought greetings from Nick Vandergragt, who is also a CFRA radio host and is currently filling in for Lowell Green. Mr. Snow told us that Mr. Vandergragt would have lved to attend the show, but could not: today was his wife’s birthday, and, had he abandoned her to go to the protest, she threatened to vote Liberal in the next election…. I think we all understand and appreciate Mr. Vandergragt’s sacrifice!
Last – but not least – was another CFRA legend and financial guru, Mr. John Button:
With his expertise in finance and economics, Mr. Button explained the effect this unreasonable (and in my never-humble-opinion illegal) taxation is having on the economy and the real human price which is being paid for it, especially by Ontario seniors. Regarding the Ontario Liberals, Mr. Button gave us advice above gold: ‘Reduce taxes!’ and ‘Throw the bums out!’
Well said!
More pictures to follow in part 2.
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