Police called to two rallies in Richmond Hill demonstrating against different candidates running in the October election

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 11, 2022
Sheila Wang

On Saturday afternoon York Regional Police responded to a chaotic scene at a major Richmond Hill intersection where two groups of protesters demonstrated against different council members running in the upcoming municipal election.

The police say that they received a call about the traffic being blocked at the intersection of Yonge Street and North Lake Road on Saturday afternoon.

Around 1 p.m. two groups of people showed up with signs and posters at the same intersection, but for very different purposes.

One of the demonstrations named “No More P/B/M RALLY” was held by A Better Richmond Hill, a registered third-party advertiser, which was seeking to oust Ward 2 Councillor Tom Muench, Regional Councillor Carmine Perrelli and Ward 1 Councillor Greg Beros.

The other rally -- a Rolling Demonstration -- was organized in support of local Richmond Hill farmers who sought to protest against soaring stormwater fees and target Mayor David West, Regional Councillor Joe DiPaola, Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan, Ward 5 Councillor Karen Cilevitz and Ward 4 Councillor Raka Sheppard.

All Richmond Hill incumbents are seeking re-election. West and Perrelli are currently vying for the mayoral seat in the upcoming election.

Police told the Liberal that the YRP were previously made aware of one of the rallies, but both groups of people had the right to protest.

John Li, who was the organizer of the ABRH rally, has informed York Regional Police about their planned rally. Their second rally is scheduled to take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Yonge and 16th on Oct. 15.

Two police officers were present at the rallies. They were concerned about the pedestrian and vehicle safety in the area, police said.

Starting at 12:30 p.m., trucks and hay wagons were seen rolling up and down Yonge Street between Old Colony and Worthington, carrying large signs that read “10,000% increase in 2022 stormwater tax will bankrupt Richmond Hill farmers. It’s unacceptable!!”

Dozens of people gathered at the Yonge and North Lake intersection, holding up signs while shouting “support the farmers” through loud speakers.

“We’re raising awareness of the stormwater management fee and how they’ve been unfair to farmers, and trying to let council know, specifically the members that didn’t vote for us on the motion in council last time, which was Mayor David West, Karen Cilevitz, Godwin Chan, Joe DiPaola and Raika Sheppard,” said local farmer Paul Doner.

Meanwhile, the other group of protesters resorted to quiet demonstration while staking a line of posters -- which read “vote out Perrelli, Beros, and Muench” -- in a public lawn in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart.

“We’re here trying to get some fresh people in council because we find the council very dysfunctional,” said Dave Collings, a resident who participated in the “No More P/B/M RALLY.”

He added that “it is important to get Perrelli and Beros out of office. They are too corrupt and do nothing to help the people.”

As the farmers’ demonstration took place at the same location, Collings said the farmers did have a good point and everyone does support the farmers.

David Frattaroli, the organizer of the farmers' rally, said "it was time that the farmers stood up for themselves and spoke for themselves."

As a custom home builder, Frattaroli said he was very sympathetic with the farmers and found the hike on the stormwater charges outrageous.

"We are right here on the precipice of Thanksgiving weekend where we celebrate  the bounty of the harvest. The harvest that's brought to us by the farmers and all they are getting is a swift kick in the breadbasket. Absolutely unacceptable."

The increase on the service charge is a result of a new rate structure introduced by the City of Richmond Hill in 2022. Richmond Hill council approved it unanimously as part of the 2022 draft operating budget on Dec. 8, 2021.

A demonstrator of "No More P/B/M RALLY,” Anthony Arrizza spoke about the chaos in the council chambers over the past four years, saying "Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of the antics."