31-05-2025
Rally in downtown Kitchener to protest controversial provincial bills
'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)
A 'Rally for People and Planet' was held in downtown Kitchener on Saturday.
Dozens of people gathered at Carl Zehr Square to hear from Aislinn Clancy, the deputy leader for the Green Party of Ontario and MPP for Kitchener Centre.
Rally for People and Planet Kitchener Carl Zehr Square Aislinn Clancy
Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy speaks at the 'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)
The event focused on two proposed provincial laws – Bill 5 and Bill 6.
Bill 6 targets homeless encampments and drug use in public spaces. If passed, police officers would have more power to arrest anyone in a public space, including a tent, who is in possession of an illegal substance. Those individuals would then face tougher penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
Advocates have argued that punitive measures often fail to address the issues causing homelessness and may, in fact, make them worse.
Bill 5, meanwhile, seeks to speed up development for certain projects, like mining, and create 'special economic zones' where provincial and municipal laws would be suspended. The Ring of Fire is one the sites identified by the province.
