January 26, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Demonstrators Put Liberal Leadership on Notice
Several thousand rally outside the Liberal leadership convention.
By
Patrick Metzger • Photos by Christopher Drost
232780 Demonstrators march to the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-3 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-3-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-3.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-3.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359213063,"focal_length":"110","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.004"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-3/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-3 0 0
232799 Shouting "Shame!" at delegates outside the convention. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-43 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-43-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-43.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-43.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":5.6,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359215477,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"16","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.004"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-43/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-43 0 0
232808 Pit bull Zelda literally muzzled by Ontario Liberals. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-13 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-13-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-13.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-13.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359214515,"focal_length":"125","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.005"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-13/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-13 0 0
232798 Probably sarcastic. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-40 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-40-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-40.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-40.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":5.6,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359215364,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"32","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.003125"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-40/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-40 0 0
232795 "Does anyone remember the lyrics to that Bruce Cockburn song?" 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-33 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-33-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-33-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-33-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":11,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359214667,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"21","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.003125"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-33-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-33-copy 0 0
232794 Watching Liberals walk the red carpet. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-32 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-32-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-32-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-32-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":6.3,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359213770,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"29","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.004"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-32-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-32-copy 0 0
232792 Internet meme gets real. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-26 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-26-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-26-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-26-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":6.3,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359212952,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"30","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.005"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-26-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-26-copy 0 0
232791 Are horses or casinos bigger Wynne-rs? 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-25 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-25-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-25-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-25-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":7.1,"credit":"Christopher Drost 416.433.9979","camera":"Canon EOS-1D Mark IV","created_timestamp":1359212912,"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] ","focal_length":"23","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-25-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-25-copy 0 0
232790 A very Canadian demonstration. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-23 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-23-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-23-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-23-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359215445,"focal_length":"200","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.003125"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-23-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-23-copy 0 0
232789 The problem with Bill 115 in teacher language. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-22 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-22-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-22-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-22-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359215270,"focal_length":"145","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.000625"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-22-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-22-copy 0 0
232788 She probably should have expected this when she posed like that. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-21 - Copy https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-21-Copy-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-21-Copy.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-21-Copy.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359215242,"focal_length":"150","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.002"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-21-copy/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-21-copy 0 0
232785 Protesters near the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-11 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-11-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-11.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-11.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359214412,"focal_length":"200","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.0025"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-11/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-11 0 0
232784 Punsters enjoy own joke. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-8 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-8-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-8.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-8.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":2.8,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359213539,"focal_length":"140","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.003125"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-8/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-8 0 0
232781 McGuinty non-fan salutes <em>Torontoist</em> photographer. 20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-4 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-4-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-4.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130126-LibConProt-DROSTphoto-4.jpg 1024 683 {"aperture":3.5,"camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","created_timestamp":1359213075,"focal_length":"155","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.001"} https://torontoist.com/2013/01/demonstrators-put-liberal-leadership-candidates-on-notice/slide/20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-4/ 20130126-libconprot-drostphoto-4 0 0
While inside Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre (aka Maple Leaf Gardens) Ontario Liberal delegates chanted and voted, outside demonstrators shouted out their dissatisfaction with the ruling party, protesting the governing party as they gathered to choose a new leader. An estimated 10,000–15,000 people jammed Carlton, filling the street and spilling over onto adjacent Church and Yonge.
If signs are a reasonable measure, most of the protesters represented unions angry at Bill 115 and the McGuinty government’s newly high-handed approach to collective bargaining, but the crowd covered the whole spectrum of anti-Liberal activists, from Communists to wind turbine opponents to pit bull enthusiasts. The whole affair was orderly and short-lived: the mass of protesters marched in just before 2 p.m. and by 4:30 the street was largely empty. Minutes after Kathleen Wynne was declared the Liberal’s new leader, several of the unions who took part in the march issued press releases, calling on her to make repairing the party’s relationship with teachers her first priority.