Thread by @eyeonthefly

What are students saying about Ontario’s #Bill23? On Friday December 9, @westernsogs organized a large public demonstration on #WesternU’s campus as part of our effort to spread community awareness of the Bill and what it means for the housing and climate crises. A recap 🧵

If you don’t know me, I’m the 1st Sustainability Coordinator at SOGS. I advocate on behalf of grad students’ environmental rights. I’m the Chair of an advisory committee for the City of London dedicated to environmental stewardship & climate action. I’m also working on a PhD!🐦🪟

Two weeks ago, @westernsogs endorsed a letter condemning #Bill23 and educating our membership about what is at stake in Ontario’s housing and climate crises. You can read the statement in full here:
sogs.ca/bill-23

Then, on Friday December 9, after #Bill23 received royal ascent, we organized a demonstration on campus that was open to the #ldnont public. It was a cold week and right at the start of exam season, so we weren’t sure how many people would show up…

Well, we were not alone in the cold that afternoon! We had graduate students, undergraduate students, staff, faculty, tons of people and advocacy organizations from off campus. Together we gathered at the top of University College (UC) Hill at Western.

We brought with us a bunch of signs students put together the night before, and other signs were made on the spot. Our messaging focussed on the kinds of information students are motivated by: evidence, truth and facts 🧐 (grad students are good at checking the receipts)

We (SOGS Sustainability Committee) invited representatives in London City Council and the provincial government to attend. Given broad implications for students, we also invited the USC & University administration, but they opted not to appear.

We put out a press release and invited the local media. We were grateful to have the student-run @uwogazette onsite to take pictures and interviews! 📸 in this thread were taken by David Nguyenn

Recordings of the demonstration speeches by myself, SOGS VP Advocacy @philosoyousuf, SOGS Accessibility Commissioner @justmejustash, SOGS President @dfaccs, Ward 6 @strosow and Ward 7 @CorrineRahman, MPPs @PeggySattlerNDP @kernaghant are on YouTube 👀👇
youtube.com/playlist?list=…

Our demonstration proceeded to march through campus, across the river and over to the university’s front gates, to wave our signs at passing rush-hour traffic. Our chants were accompanied by a wonderful marching band made up of community members! 🥁 #Bill23NotForMe

As the lead organizer, I want to highlight my take-home messages:
1. Many of us recognize NOW is the time for an #OntarioGeneralStrike! We must band together, stop reacting to individual crises, and instead form a unified front to hold our government accountable #EnoughIsEnough

2. We call on the @OntarioPCParty to release its secret #mandateletters immediately, per their legal obligation. The @OntarioAuditor General warns that this government is failing to conduct its business with transparency it owes to the people it serves:
auditor.on.ca/en/content/new…

3. #Bill23 must be repealed. We call on our federal representatives @pfragiskatos @KayabagaArielle to examine if Ontario’s government is contravening 🇨🇦's #UNDRIP Act by neglecting to consult Indigenous peoples about legislation impacting Treaty rights.
justice.gc.ca/eng/declaratio…

Read the statement by @ChiefsofOntario👇

4. We demand that Ontario’s PC government stop telling blatant lies, answer questions directly and provide justification for plans and decisions based in evidence and science. Universities train students to pursue the truth. We must hold government to a similar standard, or else:

5. We urge everyone to continue to share what you know and are concerned about in #Bill23 and other changes imposed by this government. We must continue to apply pressure and prepare for our next opportunity to vote for leadership we need in 3.5 years. Linktr.ee/StopBill23

Thank you to everyone who showed up for our demonstration, and to people everywhere in Ontario and First Nations who are standing up for what they believe in. We will get through this together. Students are here and ready to act for our future and for our only home 🌎

More photos...

.@justmejustash, the SOGS Accessibility Commissioner, illuminates how Ontario's housing and environmental crises are interconnected, and disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, especially people with disabilities. #HousingIsAHumanRight