Greta Thunberg Praises Protesters as Hundreds of Thousands Expected for Montreal Climate March

By Benjamin Shingler, CBC News

27 September 19

wedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg praised those on Friday who gathered in Montreal for what was expected to be the city's largest climate march.

"I am very excited to be here, and it is going to be very much fun today, to once again stand together with people from around the world, for one common cause," said the 16-year-old, whose activism has made headlines around the world.

"It is very moving to see everyone, everyone who is so passionate to march and strike, people of all ages and all generations."

Friday's event comes in the middle of the federal election campaign and could be the largest environmental protest in Montreal's history. 

Young people — many not old enough to vote — are demanding politicians adopt a climate action plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050.

Marches are planned around the world and elsewhere in Canada, including in Vancouver and Toronto.

Thunberg met with Indigenous youths ahead of the march, as well as with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

She said afterward it was clear he hadn't done enough as prime minister.

"My message to all the politicians is the same: to just listen to the science and act on the science."

nspiring students

The driving force behind the march is students, and classes at many high schools, colleges and universities are cancelled for the day.

Thunberg's presence in Montreal has created even more interest in the march. Activists said they were optimistic the movement would lead to change. 

"Just know: every little thing we do counts, but the big things have to be done too," said Cedric Gray-Lehoux, a member of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Youth Network.

"We have to make a drastic change. We have to change the system. We have to say that enough is enough."

Business closed, public transit free

A crowd began gathering at noon ET at the foot of Mount Royal on Parc Avenue. 

Police have warned downtown Montreal will be difficult to navigate, and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante announced public transit will be free all day.

Many Montreal businesses, as well as unions and community organizations, have closed for the day so their employees can attend the demonstration.

Plante estimates the protest could draw upwards of 300,000 people.

Culmination of yearlong series of strikes

Ben Clarkson, a spokesperson for La Planète s'invite au Parlement, said the Montreal gathering is the culmination of a yearlong series of climate strikes, which began in August 2018. 

La Planète is one of the groups organizing Friday's climate march whose name translates as "the planet goes to Parliament."

More than 150 countries have since participated in the #FridaysForFuture movement, launched by Thunberg.

Clarkson said Montreal's protest movement is particularly powerful, and he's hopeful it will lead, ultimately, to significant change.

"We have a history of popular mobilization that the rest of Canada and maybe the rest of North America doesn't have here in Montreal," he said. "That's been able to turn into and form into a very effective organizational group that has really grabbed onto this one day."

The environment has emerged as a key issue in the election campaign.

Trudeau, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet are all expected to attend.

The NDP's Jagmeet Singh is attending a climate march in Victoria, while Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is not planning to attend a march while campaigning in Vancouver.