[All] Minutes of April GREN Meeting

[Susan Bryant]

Hi GREN-

 

Here are the minutes from our April 24 meeting, below and attached.

 

Cheers,

 

Susan B.

 

GREN Minutes - April 24, 2013

St. John's Kitchen

 

1.       Water Symposium at rare - June 8, Slit Barn, 768 Blair Rd.,
Cambridge, 10:00-2:45

.         Bob Burtt is organizing this event with rare. He explained that it
grew out of concerns about the water pipeline planned for Waterloo Region
and communities downstream.  

.         Susan K. volunteered to make a Facebook page for the event.

 

2.        People's Budget Meeting - Greg Michalenko spoke at this meeting on
behalf of GREN; Susan K. and John J. helped write the presentation.

.         The meeting was hosted in this Region by the Ontario Federation of
Labour to get input into the Ontario budget.

.         Greg noted that his comments were the only ones that touched on
environmental issues, but it was great to see people ready to stand up for
their views.

.         The final report was submitted to the Wynn government. It's on The
People's Budget.ca and OFL.ca. The GREN submission is on our website.

 

3.       Municipal Elections 2014 - Marc Xuereb from the Labour Council
discussed the Council's plan to start early this time organizing Better
Choices Coalition for Waterloo Region. 

.         Will start consultations in June with local groups, intending to
broaden the base and issues beyond just labour. Would like GREN to be in the
coalition.

.         Coalition will decide on core issues to use for evaluation,
analyze all candidates for the three cities, the Region and the school
board, and decide who to support. Recruiting volunteers to work for their
candidates is also part of the effort.

.         GREN chose not to endorse candidates in the last election.
Consensus is that we should endorse this time, as it helps people make
decisions and increases voting turnout.

.         It was decided that we would endorse candidates both as GREN and
as part of the Coalition. 

.         Greg M. asked if there's solid evidence that endorsements work.
Norah Chaloner pointed him to Guelph Civic League.ca

 

4.       GREN Updates 

a)      Status of ROP and OMB hearings - Deb Swidrovich summarized: the
surprising OMB decision to side with developers against the ROP, thus
opening 1013 hectares for sprawl development in the Region.

.         Region is appealing OMB decision in divisional court.

.         John, Deb and Kevin T. have been compiling info to support the
Region, getting letters of support from orgs. across the province to
pressure the provincial gov't to support the Region. The province agreed. 

.         Now need to get the province to sit at the next OMB hearing on the
ROP, concerning the countryside line. Risks involved, as Region would pay
developers' costs if Region loses. 

.         Smartgrowthwaterloo.ca (put together by Kevin and Deb) explains
the issues and tells people how they can help support the Region. Please
thank the province and circulate the website.

 

b)      Source Drinking Water Protection  - John J. reported that GREN
received inadequate response to its comments on the Source Water Protection
Plan from the SWP Committee. The Plan was submitted to the Minister in
February. John sent the GREN comments on to the Minister.

 

c)       Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) - Caterina Lindman reported that
people are now organizing a local chapter of the CCL. Since 2007, the Lobby
has grown to 80 chapters in US and Canada working for effective energy
policies. 

.         Key asks are putting a rising fee on carbon and paying dividend to
households; ending fossil fuel subsidies; developing renewable energy plan
for Canada.

.         For more info and to join, see citizensclimatelobby.ca or contact
Caterina.Lindman at gmail.com

     

d)      Region's Biosolids (sewage sludge) - Robert Milligan reported,
noting that Cambridge is unhappy about becoming the destination for the
Region's biosolids. 

.         Robert says new technology from U Waterloo has not been considered
by the Region-an economical and non-smelly process used in Guelph and being
installed in Centre Wellington.

.         We don't know when Region will make final decision.

.         Robert will arrange a speaker about the technology in the fall. 

 

e)      The Peaker Plan - Norah Chaloner reported on the plan by the Ontario
Power Authority and Hydro One to build a new power plant somewhere in this
area.

.         She noted that the reason given is to address strain during the 10
peak days of summer. She says retrofitting would do the job. A new plant
will cost almost a billion dollars.

.         Norah wants pushback from K-W, Cambridge and Guelph. She will
speak about this to any group.  

.         For more information, see www.cleanairalliance.org  or contact
Norah at nchaloner at hotmail.com  There will be a public meeting on it in May
in Guelph.  

 

5.       GREN Business

a.       GREN Membership fees are due--$40 for a group, $20 individual, $10
student. Fees support our website and other activities, and paying members
get to vote.

b.      GREN Elections for the Executive - There were no nominations and the
current executive agreed to continue. Chair- John Jackson; Vice Chair- Kevin
Thomason; Treasurer- Theo Negoita; Secretaries -Greg Michalenko, Susan
Koswan, Susan Bryant.

Next Meetings - June 8, Water Forum at rare

                                    June 27, GREN Potluck Picnic at Kevin's
on Sunfish Lake, Waterloo.

 

Minutes by Susan Bryant

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