‘Draw the Line’ rallies in Vancouver, Toronto challenge elements of Carney’s agenda

Protesters rallied outside the Vancouver Public Library Saturday afternoon, including a coalition of progressive civil society groups organizing against elements of the new Liberal government’s agenda.

Participants’ concerns ranged across Prime Minister Mark Carney’s support for new fossil fuel projects, expected public service cuts, as well as other issues like Indigenous rights, anti-war activism, and more.

“We refuse to stand by while the government and Canada’s richest corporations hoard wealth, gut our public services, fuel climate collapse, attack migrants, exploit Indigenous lands, and prop up a genocide in Palestine,” the organizers of the protest said online.

“They think that if they can overwhelm and divide us, we won’t fight back. But climate justice, migrant justice, economic justice, Indigenous rights, and anti-war movements are uniting to prove them wrong.”

A similar event was also held in Toronto’s Sankofa Square. Ahead of a planned march to Queens Park, Toronto’s protest featured speeches from environmentalist David Suzuki, Chrissy Isaacs, a member of Grassy Narrows First Nation, and others.

A press release from the event organizers says it takes opposition to the government’s actions regarding Bill C-2, related to immigration, and Bill C-5, related to major project legislation.

The protest is occurring ahead of the federal government’s tabling of the budget on Nov.4.

Similar climate protests were planned in other cities around Canada, including Ottawa and Montreal.