Premier Doug Ford met by protesters in Kitchener, Ont., amid heavy police presence

During his visit to Kitchener, Ont., on Friday, Premier Doug Ford was met by protesters — with police working to keep orderliness — as the city's first Ford Fest was held amid the Greenbelt development controversy.

Ford was scheduled to speak about funding for Waterloo region at 6:30 p.m. ET, about an hour and a half after Ford Fest got underway. The free event includes food, music and carnival rides. Other such events have also been held in Scarborough in suburban Toronto and Windsor.

Representatives of the three opposition parties showed up at the protest organized by the Waterloo Regional Labour Council, which is focused on workers' rights.

At one point, an OPP vehicle was forced to change direction as protesters waved signs and shouted while trying to approach it. Several police officers could be seen trying to keep the protesters away from the vehicle.

Ford's spokesperson, Caitlin Clark, said the premier wasn't in the vehicle that was met by the wall of protesters.

In an emailed flyer, the council said they planned to walk on the sidewalks along Bingemans Centre Drive in Kitchener, the site for Ford Fest, "to show Premier Ford and his supporters that this community feels enough is enough."

Another protest, dubbed GreenFest, was led by Aislinn Clancy, the Ontario Green Party candidate for Kitchener Centre, at her campaign headquarters.

Clancy also spoke at the protest outside Bingemans, a multi-purpose recreation centre.

"This is greed at its highest. This is corruption at its highest," she said. "This is business that is causing harm and robbing our generations. This is not OK. We need to stop the harm now."

Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife spoke to the protesters on the behalf of the Official Opposition.

"We have called for an immediate return of the Legislature to return the stolen lands back to the Green Belt," she said. "We are not going to let up at all."

Mike Nagy, one of the founders of the Wellington Water Watchers, a grassroots organization focused on conserving water resources, was also at the protest.

"This person is ... hiding behind legislative law," he told CBC News while holding a sign with a cartoon depiction of the premier.

"This is a dangerous precedent, which means any government going forward can disband environmental laws."

As part of the Greenbelt controversy, an auditor general's report released last month found the criteria for what lands were chosen for development were altered after most of the proposed sites were found not to fit the parameters.

Some of the proposed sites were also changed to fit the minimum criteria set forth by the government, the report found.

Ford has said the 15 sites originally chosen by the province for development will also be reviewed by a provincial facilitator.

Funding pledges outlined

After Ford arrived in Kitchener, he met up with other dignitaries for a photo-op at 1144 Courtland Ave. E. at about 3:30 p.m.

At the meet-up, Spotlight Affordable Ventures, a non-profit developer, proposed building four new towers in the area with 2,500 new residential units.

The development will also come with community supports, including a medical office and 24-hour daycare.

Their goal is to aid families that make under $75,000 per year.

The project is being developed in partnership with several organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and Trillium Housing.

Support for schools, roads, hospitals

In prepared remarks for his speech Friday, Ford said the government is helping build three new elementary schools in Waterloo region with an over $45-million investment.

He said a total $50-billion investment for both the region and other parts of Ontario, a pledge he made previously, will support more than 50 new hospital projects. Some of that funding will also help support the redevelopment of Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital.

He mentioned a $28-billion investment in roads and highways across the province, including the new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.

Ford also showed support for an expanded GO Train service on the Kitchener Line.