Protests outside PC Convention continue for second day

The Conservative Party of Ontario is wrapping up its two-day policy convention in Niagara.

It’s an opportunity for conservatives from all over Ontario to share ideas and engage with the conservative caucus.

But they were met with hundreds of protesters who say they are unhappy with the way Doug Ford is leading this province, and want to make sure their message is heard.

They want their message heard loud and clear.

Fred Hahn, CUPE president says “folks here from across the province, who are deeply concerned with the direction and actions by our provincial government.”

As conservatives from all over Ontario made their way into the Niagara Convention Centre, they were greeted by protestors.

READ MORE: Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario holds policy conference

Laura Walton OSBCU president says “what you see here are workers, community leaders, regular folks here in Ontario coming and protest and make their voices heard, while Ford and his colleagues, hold their policy convention.”

The conservative convention is an opportunity for grassroots members to engage with the PC government and party leaders on key policy issues all while having their conservative voices heard.

But those outside say the Ford government needs to prioritize health care, education and the cost of living.

Walton says, “the message clearly is to the Ford government is-we are on to you, your corruption, your cost of living, your closures, all of these crisis that you are causing in Ontario in the last five years we are done with it.”

While many of the people at the rally were union members, there were also many people from the community who drove in because they want to have their voices heard.

READ MORE: Newsmakers: What the Ontario Liberal leader would ask Doug Ford if she had a seat at Queen’s Park

Community members who attended the protest say they have not been very satisfied with the Ford government’s cutbacks.

Cutbacks to urgent care and the 24-hour urgent care services were part of their disappointment but they have also been upset with the cutbacks to education causing class sizes to increase while providing less support in schools.

Union leaders did ask to speak with convention officials but were unsuccessful. So they say protests like this one will continue.

this is happening in the middle of a cost of living crisis where people can’t afford to put food on the table, so for every person that is here-they represent ten thousand others who can’t be here-this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Walton said, “this is happening in the middle of a cost of living crisis where people can’t afford to put food on the table, so for every person that is here-they re present ten thousand others who can’t be here-this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The two-day conference wrapped up in Niagara Falls on Saturday afternoon.