%20(4).png){kind=spacer}
If you saw a photo of me speaking at the Healthcare not Highways rally, you would never guess that delivering a speech at a rally was not necessarily on my bucket list of to-dos!
As I sat ruminating on an email request for a youth speaker that would 'energize and inspire' the crowd, I was filled with mixed emotions. Before I could really think about it, yet after what felt like hours of thinking about it, I hit the 'send' button and separated myself from my laptop as far as physically possible. What was I thinking? Did I just sign up for that? I thought about why the topic resonated so deeply and knew I made the right decision.
What's the Campaign About?
The Healthcare not Highways campaign was an Ontario-wide call to redirect billions of tax dollars from unnecessary highway plans that would destroy Greenbelt lands, to a better public healthcare system for Ontarians.
Did you know that:
- For every 1000 residents, the city of Brampton has only 0.9 hospital beds, compared to a provincial average of 2.3 beds?
- In Brampton, it’s not uncommon for patients to wait over 18 hours in the emergency department before being seen?
- Brampton has been underfunded by approximately $39 million annually in healthcare compared to other cities of its size?
Brampton is not alone. Underfunded healthcare impacts families all across Ontario, which is why the weekend of action saw rallies across Burlington, Toronto, Barrie, Hamilton, Fort Erie, and more.
After agreeing to be the Youth Speaker at Climate Action Mississauga's rally, I pondered about what to share. w not a 'motivational speaker' by any means. Sure, I had done the occasional panel event at schools, Sunday School teachings to teens, and pep talks to my younger siblings, but not...this. When I finally got my pen to paper, the words flowed with ease: I knew I needed to represent youth, share my personal health experience, and inspire the audience with viable transportation alternatives. With only 5 minutes to share and an agenda packed with a line of other speakers: climate activists, farmers, and healthcare professionals alike - I knew that I needed to be succinct yet impactful.
Arriving to the Rally
The atmosphere on the day of the rally was vibrant - I immediately spotted the group with bright yellow 'DON’T PAVE THE GREENBELT’ signs huddled at an intersection corner by the Credit River. We sang, ate fresh apples, listened to expert statistics and resident stories, then walked to MPP Ruby Cuzzetto's office. It was amazing to meet folks across the climate, food, and health sectors, forming an alliance in shared experiences. I had wonderful interactions with members of the Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), and Seniors for Climate Action Now.
To my surprise, my most memorable moment was not delivering my speech itself. It was seeing the faces of allies, and being surrounded by encouragement and empathy. It was the curious faces of young children, and the kind faces of the elderly. As honks of support raced past us, I was content that my message was communicated: the burden of today's decisions will fall on youth. As youth, we needed to break the cycle of adverse health experiences in Ontario. Our voices must be heard.
I felt like a small but mighty drop of water in an ocean of solidarity.
Wondering where to start making a difference in your community on issues that seem out of reach yet impact you so close to home? Join a group like I did! Hone your skills and interests, whether it's oratory, design and communications, writing, or on-the-ground relations. Making a difference in your community is an incomparable purpose. The Community Climate Council is a great place to start!
I want to send a huge thanks to the organizers of this rally, Mississauga Climate Action, to those who showed up, and the speakers who shared.
My First Speech
Check out what I said at the Rally—
Hello everyone! I am grateful to be here amongst you all, and thank you to those who have spoken. I am Tomisona, and I’m here today as a representative of the youth who care deeply about our planet, our communities, and our future. I am a volunteer at the Community Climate Council based in Peel Region, where we advocate for community-led climate action.
As we all know, we’re gathered here today to call for a divestment from destructive highways that are threatening our environment, our health, and our right to a sustainable future.
As a young person, I think about the future a lot. I think about what kind of world we will live in - what kind of air we will breathe, and what kind of land we will call home. The concept of intergenerational justice - who is going to bear the burden of today's decisions? The world is shifting to one that recognises the value of public transit, bike lanes, and complete streets. Will Ontario be left behind? Absolutely not! We can’t afford to sacrifice more nature for concrete.
Like many of you here, I too have a story. It's a story of long emergency room waiting times, low capacity staff, and hallway healthcare. Late last year, I started showing symptoms of tuberculosis after coming in contact with a close relative who was infected. As I walked into the Milton Hospital emergency room, I immediately noticed these techy self-service kiosks and was impressed. I thought this meant a faster, more efficient diagnosis process. I ended up spending 7 hours in the hospital that day. Once I was finally called in for a blood sample, a younger staff struggled and was unable to get one. He had to recruit an older, more experienced staff - this took another 40 minutes. After a painful and agonizing process, I was cleared. As I left the hospital, I happened to pass by the emergency department again. There I saw the solemn, blank faces of pregnant women, people of color, elderly patients, fathers, mothers, and children. I shook my head sadly and thought to myself: the cycle begins again.
But I am standing here today to say that the cycle of adverse health stories must be broken.
The concentration of more air pollution in already heavily burdened areas is an environmental injustice.
Highway 413 will divide neighborhoods not bring us closer, it will take away community spaces not get us to work faster, and it will lower the quality of life for both old and young living nearby it. And it's certainly not going to solve the housing crisis. The government is prioritizing profits over people.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. I charge you all to keep signing those petitions. Keep engaging on social media. Keep attending these rallies. Keep speaking to your MPs. Keep putting up lawn signs. Keep talking to your family and friends - even our schools. These are all actions we have taken at the Community Climate Council.
Our voices will be heard, and just like the Greenbelt victory, we will win again!
Remember, we are not just fighting for ourselves; we are setting a precedent for future generations.
Thank you for standing together!
