[All] Provincial Greenbelt and Growth Plan Announcements

Mon May 22 13:42:45 EDT 2017

Good Day,

As you may have seen, this past week Premier Wynne and the Provincial Government released the final results of the 2 year long Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review of the Growth Plan, Provincial Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine, and Niagara Escarpment Plans.  

The government was very clear that they have heard that people want healthy, sustainable and vibrant communities and are moving to implement most of the 80+ recommendations made by David Crombie in his review of the plans.

The overall verdict seems positive.  Given that a couple of years ago we were fearing a Tim Hudak government abolishing the Greenbelt at the 10 year review, the fact that we have just completed the 10 year review, the Greenbelt has not only survived intact but had many significant Urban River Valley’s and a few other parcels added to it is great news.  Also, the fact that the government refused 735+ requests to remove land from the Greenbelt and allowed only 17 is wonderful.  Unfortunately, some of the 17 removals seem a bit dubious though.

Sadly, we didn’t get any expansion of the Greenbelt into the Outer Ring right now as we had once hoped but we did get the NHS mapping and Ag System mapping which are both almost completed and will force local municipalities to better protect nature and farmland.  And we did get a commitment to undertake an exercise this summer to hold consultations on Greenbelt expansion in certain areas such as Waterloo, Wellington and Simcoe which could be significant if we manage it correctly.

It has been an interesting time recently for environmentalists with the Wynne’s government recent announcements on public transit, GO Trains, High Speed Rail, the Greenbelt, energy, OMB reform, Smart Growth, etc. - so many things we have worked towards for years 

Overall, many developers are quite upset and while we didn’t get everything we wanted right away, with possible expansion and careful implementation of the NHS, Ag systems, etc. not only will the Greenbelt thrive for another decade but significant further gains can also be made.  We will be in touch more as we learn about what the public consultation process for Greenbelt expansion will be in the weeks ahead.

As for the Growth Plan - the good news is the ambitious Waterloo-like targets still stand much to the dismay of many developers and municipalities which is great.  However, by dragging the implementation timelines out until 2031 or half a generation away it greatly reduces the positive impact and means there are many years yet of business as usual for urban sprawl.

Additional details on both the Greenbelt and Growth Plan announcements are below or can be found at:

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10882.aspx <http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10882.aspx>

Overall, it is generally a good news story though there will be things still to work on - in particularly the Greenbelt expansion consultations happening this summer.  

Please remember that there are still lawn signs to Protect Our Water and Grow the Greenbelt on John Jackson’s porch at 17 Major St. Kitchener.  It will be important that we continue to get these up around the community in the weeks ahead - particularly if there is going to be an effort to expand the Greenbelt to Waterloo Region.  Please put one on your lawn and put some on other lawns of supporters as well.

Please share any questions or ideas and lets keep moving forward!

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

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 Important protections were won, but we must remain vigilant.

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After 26 months, Ontario has just this morning released its new Greenbelt and Growth Plan.

You and thousands of your fellow Environmental Defence supporters raised your voices and called for protection to Ontario's Greenbelt, sensitive natural areas, and farmland. Thank you so much for being part of this campaign!

Today's announcement makes it clear that, while our voices were heard and protections for the Greenbelt are valued and enshrined, we can't rest just yet. Yes, we won some important protections today, but will have to be vigilant in the coming months to make sure they're put in place properly.

Here are three of the top victories you helped achieve:
Despite intense pressure from sprawl developers, the Greenbelt's boundaries will remain mostly unchanged. The development industry failed to cut up the Greenbelt, thanks to you raising your voice.
The province will expand the Greenbelt by adding 21 major urban river valleys and associated coastal wetlands and 5 new areas in Hamilton, Niagara and Halton Hills. 
Stronger intensification targets for urban centres served by transit and the prioritization of transit hubs (putting transit closer to homes and jobs). Both will create more sustainable communities that will be walkable and less car dependant. Building up transit will help us stop sprawl.
We're excited to see good progress being made. But the next few months will be critical for establishing a strong implementation plan that includes sound monitoring and oversight for the Plans.

In particular, the Growth Plan stopped just short of freezing urban boundaries for the next 10 years, which means that the door has been left open a crack for development. We are going to have to be vigilant in our own communities and keep pushing back on sprawl.

Thank you once again, Kevin, for raising your voice and pushing for a stronger Greenbelt and speaking up against greedy sprawl developers. We may ask you again to join us to protect green space, farmland and fight for smart, sustainable communities. 

With my sincere gratitude,

Erin Shapero
Senior Manager, Greenbelt and Smart Growth
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> 
> 
> 	 <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fontariogreenbelt&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=1>  <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fgreenbeltca&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=2>  <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FOntarioGreenbelt&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=3>
> Kevin -- 
> We have exciting news to share! After an 808-day long Review, 42,000 written submissions, and dozens of public meetings, the new Greenbelt Plan <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mah.gov.on.ca%2FPage10882.aspx&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=4> is here.
> 
> Here are five reasons to celebrate:
> 
> Ontario’s 2-million acre Greenbelt withstood intense pressure and remains permanently protected!
> The Greenbelt grew to include 21 urban river valleys and 7 coastal wetlands <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mah.gov.on.ca%2FPage13786.aspx&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=5> – connecting millions of urban residents to its rural landscape.
> Greenbelt farmers will see more flexibility and less red tape under the new rules.
> Future urban growth <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.placestogrow.ca%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D9%26Itemid%3D104%26lang%3Deng&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=6> will be more compact and transit-friendly, and use up less land.
> The critical role of the Greenbelt in fighting climate change has been recognised.
> You can read our longer statement on the final amendments to the Greenbelt and Growth Plans here <http://www.greenbelt.ca/amendments_growth_plan_greenbelt_statement?e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=7>. 
> 
> Please take a minute to tweet  <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fctt.ec%2F1yde2&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=8>or email  <mailto:minister.mma at ontario.ca>your thanks to Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro, for successfully stewarding the Greenbelt through the lengthy and complex review:
> 
>  <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fctt.ec%2F1yde2&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=9>
> While we’re happy with the outcomes, there is still work to do. The province announced a process and new policies to grow the Greenbelt <http://www.greenbelt.ca/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.growourgreenbelt.ca%2F&e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=10>, and over the summer we will be hard at work with our partners in Waterloo Region to make that a reality. 
> 
> But for now, I want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy lives to submit comments, attend an open house, write your MPP, sign a petition or just read and share our updates over the past two years.
> 
> It is thanks to all of you that the Greenbelt emerged bigger, stronger, and ready for another successful ten years!
> 
> Onwards – to an even bigger and better Greenbelt.
> 
> 
>    Felix Whitton
>    Senior Program and Engagement Lead
>  <http://www.greenbelt.ca/?e=9eb7305f43f8039942eefcc645ce3321a606096d&utm_source=greenbelt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17_review_water&n=11>
> 
> 
> P.S. Kevin! Want to show your support for the campaign to grow the Greenbelt in Waterloo Region with a 'Protect Our Water' lawn sign? Contact Kevin Thomason at the Grand River Environmental Network (kevin at gren.ca <mailto:kevin at gren.ca>) to request one for your front lawn. 
> 
> 
> 
> Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation · 661 Yonge St, Suite 500, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z9, Canada
> 
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