The Windsor chapter of Canada's Yellow Vests held a protest in front of the AM800 Studio Saturday, the first of many to be held nationally every week.
Around 15-people held signs calling for Canada's withdrawal from the United Nations, increased vetting of immigrants and an end to the Carbon Tax.
Close to 15 Yellow Vests protesting the #carbontax and immigration policies in front the the @AM800News building currently. @CTVWindsor #cklw pic.twitter.com/XI0tANT2Dm
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) January 5, 2019
Protestor Shannon O'Brien blames Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Government for what she claims is the weakening of Canada's sovereignty — she cites Canada's participation in the UN's "non-binding” Global Compact for Migration as one example.
"Sustainable, properly-vetted immigration, you can't just keep taking people in and people in, with no programs for them," say's O'Brien. "We don't want any foreign bodies dictating to Canada who can come in and out of our country."
She goes on to say "Canada has a history of accepting international law" when asked how something that by definition isn't a law could be adopted by the Canadian government.
The pact "comprises 23-objectives for better managing migration," according the UN's website.
Yellow Vests also claim the Carbon Tax will break low-income households, according to O'Brien. The idea behind the Carbon Tax is to force companies and residents to be more environmentally friendly through taxation.
Although there's a clear explanation as to where money will be directed on the government's website, O'Brien and her organization claim the tax, "is just a cash-grab because the government has no plans or any kind of infrastructure or any kind of idea what they're using those funds for."
According to government’s website, the money collected from the Carbon Tax will,
"Be used to provide support to the province’s schools, hospitals, small and medium-sized businesses, colleges and universities, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities, which will help save money and create good jobs. In Ontario, this amount is estimated at $1.45 billion over the next five fiscal years.
Direct proceeds from industrial facilities under the federal output-based pricing system will be directed to supporting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario."
O'Brien cites statistics used by the group that were "heard during House of Commons debates" that state the average cost per household will be $244 in the first year.
It's true that it will cost $244 per home, but according to the government's website, even if residents don't choose more environmentally friendly options to increase rebates, they will still get more money back than they spend.
"Under the federal system, the estimated average cost impact for a household in Ontario is $244, in 2019, which is less than the average for Climate Action Incentive payments of $300."
That cost will rise heading into 2022, but so will the rebate to offset corporations trying to pass the cost of the “polluting tax” onto customers.
A Yellow Vest movement in France began over fuel costs and has since spread through parts of Europe.
Like Canada's movement, which claims to be 200,000 strong, protests vary drastically from region to region.
The group's only online presence as of Jan. 5 is via a private Facebook group.