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Tonight's rally against new property tax to go ahead at new location

Even though Attorney-General David Eby cancelled his town hall meeting tonight, organizers of a protest rally against his government's new property taxes have decided to go ahead with plans to voice their displeasure.

Even though Attorney-General David Eby cancelled his town hall meeting tonight, organizers of a protest rally against his government's new property taxes have decided to go ahead with plans to voice their displeasure.

The rally will be at Trimble Park at West Eighth Avenue in West Point Grey starting at 5 p.m. with speakers slated to begin at 5:30.

"In a democratic society you have a right to be heard. Mr. Eby perhaps doesn't feel as strongly about that as I do," says spokesperson MaryAnn Cummings.

"The aim of this peaceful rally is to show Mr. Eby and his policy advisors that this tax grab is confiscatory and will force people out the homes they have lived in for years – and in many cases, decades," a press release from organizers says. "Instead of hearing our community’s concerns, Mr. Eby, a person who has traditionally encouraged peaceful demonstrations, has decided to ignore and dismiss our feedback."

Eby is the MLA for Point Grey, which will be affected by the NDP's budget decision to increase property tax and property transfer tax on homes valued at more than $3 million. The riding has seen many of its homes rise above that price.

The protest was originally scheduled to be outside Eby's town hall discussion about the new taxes. When it became clear that many protesters were expected, this morning Eby cancelled the meeting at St. James Community Square, saying he was worried about the safety and security of the people attending.

The organizers also heard of those concerns and said that out of respect to the community, they would move the location. Because of the change, Cummings said, it's unclear whether as large a group will attend.

In the meantime, a petition against the taxes has garnered 9,000 signatures.

Read more from the Vancouver Courier