Brandon Rhéal Amyot
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brandonamyot.bsky.social
Brandon Rhéal Amyot
@brandonamyot.bsky.social
280 followers 420 following 81 posts
They/Them. Lakehead grad, community organizer, and avid baker. On Chippewa Tri-Council territory in Barrie, ON. Opinions are my own. 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️🍊🌹🌾🍉

https://linktr.ee/brandon.amyot
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brandonamyot.bsky.social
Watching @avilewis.ca speak at a local restaurant patio in Niagara (where the Ontario NDP convention is happening) to a full crowd, speaking about wealth inequality and the need for addressing food insecurity. Lewis announced his run for the NDP leadership today.
Avi Lewis speaking with a megaphone in front of a crowd
September 20, 2025 at 2:27 AM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Forever grateful for my time at Lakehead & those who helped me get here. It wasn't always easy, but I made it, receiving not only me BASc Interdisciplinary Studies but also the President's Award.

The work continues in planting the seeds of a new world & nurturing then but today, I celebrate. 💙💛
Brandon stands smiling on stage in graduation regalia at Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus convocation, arm-in-arm with Ligaya Byrch, who holds her honorary doctorate. Brandon nominated Ligaya for the honorary degree and introduced her at the ceremony. Beside them stand Lakehead President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall and Chancellor Rita Shelton Deverell. All four are smiling as the audience applauds in the background. Brandon in graduation regalia speaking at the microphone. Brandon crosses the stage at Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus convocation at Casino Rama, smiling as they shake hands with Dr. Glenda Bonifacio, Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities. Brandon is receiving their degree and the President’s Award, wearing graduation robes and cords. Dr. Florin Pendea seated nearby applauds. Brandon smiling in graduation regalia, holding their Bachelor of Arts and Science (Interdisciplinary Studies) parchment from Lakehead University. There is a crowd in the background.
June 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Today is a beautiful day to vote! I went and cast my ballot in the federal election this morning — quick, easy, and great to see a healthy turnout.
Polls are open today in Ontario until 9:30 PM. Be counted: find out where and how to vote at elections.ca!
Brandon, wearing glasses, a dark jacket, and a striped sweater, smiles while taking a selfie outside a voting location. Behind them is a bright yellow Elections Canada 'VOTE' sign, placed in a planter filled with yellow flowers. Tall evergreen shrubs and a partly cloudy sky are visible in the background.
April 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Today's the perfect date.
A two-panel scene from the movie Miss Congeniality. In the first panel, a male host onstage asks a beauty pageant contestant, "Describe your perfect date." In the second panel, the contestant, Miss Rhode Island, smiles brightly and responds, "That's a tough one. I'd have to say April 25th. Because it's not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket." The humorous moment plays on the double meaning of "date," interpreting it as a calendar day rather than a romantic outing.
April 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Mark Carney is now PM, but are we asking the hard questions? Niigaan Sinclair noted Carney’s silence on Indigenous issues and avoiding APTN. His father was a Day School principal & Residential School denialist. Fathers aren’t sons, but… 1/2

archive.is/HzAwY
Screenshot of a Winnipeg Free Press article titled 'Fathers are not sons — good news for Carney’s prospects with Indigenous voters' by Niigaan Sinclair, published on March 31, 2025, at 2:24 PM CDT. The article is part of the 'Vote Canada 2025' coverage.
April 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Hour four of power out amid the ice storm. I believe it'll soon be time to play Scrabble by candlelight. 🕯️
March 29, 2025 at 11:53 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
We trekked up a large hill and through some snow, but we voted! 🗳️

There are many ways to vote, make sure you're counted: elections.on.ca.

#Barrie #OntarioElection #ONpoli
Jase, left, and Brandon, right, standing in front of a yellow Elections Ontario sign that says 'vote', which sits on top of a large snow bank by the street.
February 22, 2025 at 8:45 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
So, unsurprisingly, you'll find that Barrie mayor Alex Nuttall also made the maximum allowable contribution to the PCs last year.

#Barrie deserves better.
A screenshot from the Elections Ontario financial contributions website displaying a donation record for Alex Nuttall, Mayor of the City of Barrie. The record shows a contribution of $3,375.00 to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario under the 2024 Annual Period. The deposit date is October 17, 2024, and the received date is October 23, 2024. The statement type is a Political Party Annual Return (AR10). The source is listed as RTD, and the recipient type is Party. There is an option to "Show details" under the political party section.
February 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Police spending doesn’t lower crime, yet #Barrie hikes its police budget yearly—while other services are told to tighten up or face audits.

Instead of outspending peers on police, we could invest in housing, transit, libraries & social supports—things that actually prevent crime. 1/
A graphic titled 'Barrie’s Police Budget is Out of Control – At What Cost?' displays four bar charts comparing the police budgets of Barrie, Guelph, and Kingston in Ontario. The charts show that Barrie has the highest 2025 police budget at $71.43 million, the highest per capita police spending at $483.28 per resident, and the largest five-year budget growth at 39.2%. Despite this, Kingston has the highest Crime Severity Index (CSI) at 66.1, while Barrie’s CSI is significantly lower at 47.7. The data suggests Barrie is overspending on policing compared to cities with higher crime rates.
January 31, 2025 at 3:58 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Mayor Alex Nuttall is endorsing Doug Ford — despite Ford’s record of underfunding municipalities, attacking rent control, and prioritizing developers over communities.

This endorsement is out of touch with #Barrie residents. 1/
A digital graphic with a dark blue background featuring a political endorsement from Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall for Premier Doug Ford. The original endorsement text is overlaid with a large red ‘X’ crossing it out. Above the image, in bold black text on a white background, the phrase ‘Barrie deserves better.’ is prominently displayed.
January 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Just binged the first few episodes - love it! Go watch on APTN or CBC.
January 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Listening to TVO's Queries, thanks to the @tvotoday.bsky.social #ONpoli podcast posting it. It's excellent! A great listen on my transit to work.

Give a listen to this exploration of how human rights, religion & politics are colliding in Ont’s Catholic schools. www.tvo.org/podcasts/que...
January 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Approaching Christmas Eve, I’m sharing a powerful piece of local art by Nicholai Melamed, set in #Barrie at Meridian Place. It portrays the humanity and struggles of those living unhoused, reminding us that love and resilience persist even in the harshest conditions. 1/
A 2024 digital painting called Happy Holidays by Nicholai Melamed depicting a modern unhoused family, set at the Meridian Place stage in Downtown Barrie during winter. In the foreground, a person is sitting up in a worn jacket plays a guitar beside a person sleeping on the ground under a tattered blanket. A young person sits beside them, holding a cardboard sign that reads 'Happy Holidays.' In the background, festive holiday lights and a family walking away with shopping bags provide a stark contrast, emphasizing themes of inequality and resilience.
December 23, 2024 at 11:01 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Under Ford, we've seen multiple extended breaks that go beyond the norm & clearly avoid responsibility and scrutiny in the chamber:
2019: Jun-Oct, 144 days
2020–21: Dec-Feb, 70 days
2021: Sep-Oct, 22 days
2023: Jun-Sep, 109 days
2024: Jun-Oct, 137 days
2024–25: Dec-Mar, 80 days
A tweet from Siobhan Morris (@siomoCTV) reads: "BREAKING: Ontario legislature won't resume until Mon. March 3, 2025, that's a longer than usual break. Usually back just after Family Day in February #onpoli." Timestamp: 1:14 PM · December 12, 2024.
December 15, 2024 at 3:31 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Let's call Ford's "plan" what it is: a mix of insufficient funding and punitive measures that will worsen the very issues it claims to address. This "plan", in essence, is handcuffs instead of housing, handcuffs instead of harm reduction. Let’s unpack this mess. 1/7🧵#ONpoli
A screenshot of a tweet by Colin D'Mello, Global News, stating: "NEW: The Ford government unveils its encampment plan: • $75M for access to alternative accommodation including: • $50M to create long term affordable units • $20M for additional shelter spaces The premier says the new law would also prohibit the use of illicit drugs in public spaces with fines of up to $10,000 and 6 months in jail for repeat offenders."
December 12, 2024 at 8:15 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
#Orillia City Council officially opposes Ontario criminalising poverty & threat to use the notwithstanding clause to displace unhoused people + those who use drugs. It calls for the province to work collaboratively to instead develop strategies that address root causes.
A graphic containing the text of a motion passed by the City of Orillia Council on December 9, 2024. The motion opposes the use of the notwithstanding clause by the Government of Ontario for legislation facilitating the eviction, displacement, arrest, or incarceration of encampment residents, or mandatory residential mental health and addiction treatment. It affirms that all individuals, regardless of housing status or personal circumstances, are entitled to full Charter rights. The motion calls for compassionate, evidence-based solutions to address homelessness, mental health, and addiction, and urges collaboration with municipalities, health providers, and community organizations. A copy of the resolution will be sent to provincial ministers and all Ontario municipalities. The motion was supported by six councillors and opposed by two.
December 9, 2024 at 10:52 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Another thing on Ford's letter. He says he's "fully prepared" to use the Sec. 33 if courts "interfere" in order to defend Charter rights for the unhoused & PWUD. Pair that with his & AG Doug Downey's push for partisan judges, and we see a gov't ready to undermine democracy & rights. This is alarming
A screenshot of a section from Premier Doug Ford’s letter. Highlighted text reads: "However, should the courts interfere with our shared goal of effectively addressing and clearing out encampments using these enhanced tools, with your support, our government is fully prepared to use the Notwithstanding Clause." The text references Ford's intent to bypass court decisions using Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if they oppose his government's plans regarding encampments.of unhoused people.
December 5, 2024 at 8:37 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Calls to Action:
1. Sign this petition: form.123formbuilder.com/6777598/peti....
2. Write to your MPP urging them to change their approach: www.ola.org/en/members/c....
3. Support frontline work in your community! In the Barrie area, this includes folks at Gilbert Centre & @ryanshope.bsky.social.
Graphic with a red and black theme emphasizing harm reduction and opposing Ontario’s Bill 223. The left side shows the text 'HARM REDUCTION SAVES LIVES' with a heart and Narcan nasal spray icon. The right side states '66 ONTARIO MPPS VOTED AGAINST IT' with a list of MPPs who voted for the bill.
December 3, 2024 at 5:42 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Yesterday, Ford's Conservatives—incl. Simcoe County MPPs Dunlop, Downey, Mulroney & Saunderson—and the Ontario Liberals (MPPs Fraser, Hsu, Hazell & Blais) voted for the anti-science Bill 223. It will close close to 60% of supervised consumption sites, set back harm reduction approaches & cost lives.
Vote breakdown for Ontario's Bill 223 in the provincial legislature. The 'Ayes' list includes 66 MPPs who voted in favour, with names such as Jill Dunlop, Doug Downey, Caroline Mulroney, Brian Saunderson, Andrea Hazell, John Fraser, Ted Hsu, and Stephen Blais. The 'Nays' list includes 22 MPPs who opposed the bill, such as Ontario NDP MPPs and leader Marit Stiles, and the two Ontario Green MPPs.
December 3, 2024 at 3:38 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
It's getting cold outside and our unhoused neighbours need warmth. We cannot continue to fail then like in years past where resources opened too late, were insufficient, or both. We need to dedicate far more resources. #WhereIsOurWarmingCentre #Barrie 3/
A person holding a sign that says "Where's our warming centre?"
December 1, 2024 at 2:17 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
On Nov. 6, @simcoecounty announced limited support for overnight warming centre spots in @cityofbarrie: 8 beds for men only at Salvation Army when temps of -10C or colder + 12 beds at Elizabeth Fry (incl. couples & pets). When will they open & when will more resources be dedicated? #Barrie 1/
A screen capture of a portion of a November 6 release from the County of Simcoe, stating additional warming centre locations in Barrie and elsewhere would be announced "in the coming weeks." It is now December 1.
December 1, 2024 at 2:17 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
Orillia has joined Guelph, Kingston & other municipalities, as well as the OSPAPPH & OSPE, in voicing opposition to Bill 212. If passed, Bill 212 will restrict #BikeLanes - an essential part of safer, multimodal planning in communities.

orillia.civicweb.net/document/348...
@jm-mcgrath.bsky.social
A screen capture of the agenda from Orillia City Council on November 18, 2024 featuring a motion that Council supported which speaks against Ontario's anti-bike lane Bill 212.
November 20, 2024 at 9:23 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
📬 Postal workers are fighting for good jobs that support families. Instead of providing fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions, Canada Post cancelled their current contract.

Support #PostalWorkers at a picket line near you: act-cupwsttp.nationbuilder.com/picket_lines...

#CdnPoli
November 19, 2024 at 10:25 PM
brandonamyot.bsky.social
I’ve lived in #Barrie most of my life & was taught from a young age how to take the bus. Now, I rely on it daily. But recent changes are raising concerns about accessibility, convenience & whether it’s serving the public good.

Barrie Riders, let's take action 👇
barrie.uservoice.com/forums/22571...
A screen capture of the Simcoe.com article titled "Barrie Transit users are asking the city to form a citizen-included advisory committee following recent changes to bus services. Here's why"
November 16, 2024 at 1:02 PM