Sarnia joins province-wide protests targeting Ford government

Local demonstrators gathered outside MPP Bob Bailey’s office to protest systemic issues in healthcare and education as part of a coordinated 38-city movement across Ontario.

Residents gathered outside MPP Bob Bailey’s office Saturday afternoon, joining dozens of communities across Ontario in a coordinated day of protest against Premier Doug Ford and his government.

The Sarnia demonstration took place at 805 Christina St. N., drawing residents who stood with signs and shared concerns about healthcare, education, housing, and transparency. According to organizer Rachel Devine, the local turnout was part of a much larger movement.

“On March 28th, 38 cities around Ontario held protests to stand against Ford and his policies,” Devine said.

While many demonstrations occurred in larger urban centres, Devine said it was critical that Sarnia was included.

“Large city or small town, we are all being hurt by the policies of Doug Ford and the Ontario PC Party,” she said.

For Devine, bringing the protest to Sarnia was about more than visibility. It was about creating space for voices that often feel overlooked in a traditionally conservative riding.

“A protest can give a sense of agency and community to those whose dissenting voices go unheard in this very conservative riding,” she said. “It is important for our neighbours to see that we are regular people who want many of the same things they do.”

Participants gathered peacefully, with organizers emphasizing a family-friendly atmosphere. The goal, Devine said, was not confrontation, but awareness and engagement.

“I think people came out today because they are heartbroken and angry,” she said. “They feel like the province they love and the institutions they depend on are being destroyed, for no gain other than to make the rich, like Ford, richer.”

Devine pointed to a wide range of concerns driving turnout, from public healthcare and education to housing affordability and environmental protections.

“Whether they care about public healthcare, public education, healthcare privatization, the environment, autism services, transparency and accountability, OSAP, government overreach, social services, affordable housing, renter protections, removal of democratic safeguards, the deficit — they need a way to make their feelings known to this government,” she said.

Healthcare emerged as one of the most urgent issues raised during the protest, with Devine expressing strong concerns about the direction of the system.

“Universal public healthcare is a cornerstone of the Canadian and Ontarian identity, and Ford is systematically working to dismantle that institution,” she said.

He argued that ongoing pressures within the system are not accidental, but part of a broader shift designed to normalize privatization as confidence in public systems is eroded.

“Through sustained underfunding of the current public system and the overfunding of private for-profit clinics, Ford is quickly moving us towards his end goal of a pay-to-play healthcare system where wealth equals health,” Devine said.

She also pointed to ongoing access issues, including the shortage of family doctors and increasing strain on hospitals.

“Many Ontarians are still without a family doctor,” she said. “Hospitals are relying on private bank loans and lines of credit to stay afloat.”

Devine noted that Ontario has missed federal deadlines to fund nurse practitioners and highlighted that private clinics often charge OHIP significantly more per procedure than public hospitals.

Education was another major concern highlighted by organizers.

“Doug Ford does not care about our children, our teachers, our education staff or our young people,” Devine said. “He has cut school budgets, increased class sizes, ignored increased violence in schools and taken control of school boards.”

She added that the province has installed supervisors with little education experience into boards, undermining democratically elected trustees.

“He has cut OSAP and undermined post-secondary education. Ford is showing that he does not care about our future,” Devine said.

While the protest targeted provincial leadership, it also placed a spotlight on local representation.

“I would love to see Bob Bailey reach out to the community for input and feedback, instead of living in the echo chamber of the Ontario PC party,” Devine said. “Ford’s policies are hurting Sarnians, and Bob Bailey is not standing up for those he represents.”

Devine said the demonstration centres on protecting public services and holding elected officials accountable to the people they represent.

“We want quality public healthcare and education, transparency and accountability from our elected officials, and to feel like our elected officials have Ontario and Ontarians’ best interest at heart,” she said.

Saturday’s demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with residents gathering outside the office to make their concerns visible and participate in the broader provincial action.

Organizers say this will not be a one-time event. Additional demonstrations are being planned through the Fight Ford Protest Sarnia group, with details expected to be shared through local channels in the coming weeks.