Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition
News Release February 5, 1999
Re: Public Meeting February 4th
Over 500 capital region residents attended a public meeting in Esquimalt last night to show their support for the Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition’s fight against the CRD’s so called Clean Air Bylaw.
People from all walks of life packed the Esquimalt Legion to listen to speeches, express their opinions and pass the hat in an effort to force the CRD (Capital Regional District) to listen to their concerns.
From the meeting:
"This week I have tried to reach CRD Board Chair Geoff Young several times to ask for a cooling off period, look for a common sense solution, my calls have not been returned. We don’t need to hear anymore from Dr. Stanwick or Dianne Stevenson …we can’t blame them for trying to protect their jobs … but we can blame the politicians who voted in this absurd law and since then, have had their heads in the sand. Let’s let them know."
Brian Mayzes, Chair, Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition. Click here for full text of Brian Mayzes's opening remarks
"If the Politicians at the CRD are truly concerned about our health … give us back our smiles, get out of our lives and do what you are supposed to do … represent the people who elected you not big brother us to our graves."
Stewart Logan, Director, Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition. Click here for full text of Stewart Logan's opening remarks
Several people expressed their opinions from the floor with the common thread being that they were sick and tired of government intervention in their lives, taking away their freedom of choice.
After the meeting:
"We had at least 500 people here with little or no advertising, people with real stories, stories about personal hardship, stress and pain. A representative of Victoria charities who told the crowd that this law will finish them. A veteran who said he was willing to fight again to protect our freedom. An immigrant who found himself in a new dictatorship. I could go on and on. Who wasn’t at this meeting were the gutless politicians who voted in this law and much of the main stream media. We passed the hat and raised $5,000. We will continue the fight."
Brian Mayzes, Chair, Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition.
Contact: Brian Mayzes 386 2152