[All] Tonight: Provincial Greenbelt Expansion Proposal Kitchener Open House Thursday, Feb 22nd 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Thu Feb 22 09:36:12 EST 2018

Hi GREN Folks,

A quick reminder that tonight is the Provincial Open House for the Greenbelt Expansion Proposal.  Please be sure to attend if you can - strong attendance is going to be very important.  Details are below.

Please also be sure to speak up with your support, feedback, and ideas before March 7th to:

www.ontario.ca/greenbelt and http://contact.smartgrowthwaterloo.ca/greenbelt/

Thanks,
Kevin.

P.S. The folks at Hold The Line Waterloo Region are doing a fun Pints & Policy meet-up beforehand if you want to join them at TWB and then walk over together - https://www.facebook.com/events/189065248532514/

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

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
> Subject: Provincial Greenbelt Expansion Proposal Kitchener Open House Thursday, Feb 22nd 5:30pm to 8:00pm
> Date: February 13, 2018 at 4:49:22 PM EST
> To: "Grand River Environmental Network (GREN)" <all at gren.ca>
> 
> Hi GREN Folks,
> 
> The province has announced the dates and started the consultations on the Provincial Greenbelt Expansion proposal.  Attendance at the first Open House events in Barrie and Guelph have been really strong as people speak up with their support for this long-awaited opportunity for a significant Greenbelt expansion to our essential Moraine groundwater recharge areas along with other important natural areas facing development pressures.
> The details are as follows:
> What: Protecting Water for Future Generations – Growing the Greenbelt in the Outer Ring Public Consultations
> Date: Thursday, February 22, 2018
> Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
> Location: Communitech, Main Cafeteria
> Address: 151 Charles Street West, downtown Kitchener
> It is very important that we have as many people as possible attend this Open House and talk with staff from numerous provincial ministries firsthand.  It is an informal drop-in format with colourful easy-to-follow information boards and lots of opportunity for discussion and feedback.
> The provincial government isn’t going to know how much we need Greenbelt expansion to protect the Waterloo Moraine, the Paris-Moraine, and to reinforce our local protections like the Countryside Line and our Protected Countryside if nobody shows up next Thursday evening.  We also don’t want the Waterloo region provincial Open House to have the lowest attendance when we have lead with so many environmental initiatives and we are facing some of the highest growth pressures as well as rates of growth in the province. 
> Please plan to attend – even if you can drop by for only a few minutes.  We haven’t had a GREN meeting this month so that we can focus on this Greenbelt expansion opportunity and so that you will have an available evening to attend.   Bring your family, some friends/colleagues and ensure that they speak up too.  There is lots of parking around the venue and it is on several major transit routes too.
> If you are unable to attend the Provincial Open House on February 22nd please be sure to e-mail, phone, or write the province to show your support at:
> www.protectourwaters.ca <http://www.protectourwaters.ca/> or www.ontario.ca/greenbelt <http://www.ontario.ca/greenbelt> 
> John Jackson will be in touch more regarding a GREN meeting in March, however we want to focus on this Greenbelt expansion proposal, the provincial Open Houses, and the submission deadline of March 7th first.
> Cheers,
> Kevin.
> 
> --------------------------------
> 
> Suggestions for your comments, letters, and submissions:
> 
> Talk about the importance of:
> - Protecting our crucial supply of groundwater
> - Protecting farming and supporting farmers and the importance of local food
> - Preserving our most beautiful and unique natural areas for future generations
> - Supporting and reinforcing our local protections and our Regional Official Plan that directs growth to core areas - growing up instead of out
> - Ensuring that the lands we’re already protecting with local rules will continue to be protected in the future
> 
> -------------------------------
>  
> 
> -------------------------------
> https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/ <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/>
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> 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>
> 
> -----------------------------------------
> 
> 
> Public forum explores possible expansion of greenbelt into Waterloo Region
> NEWS 10:06 AM by Johanna Weidner <https://www.therecord.com/waterlooregion-author/johanna-weidner/7B167600-A2D2-4618-A225-467D0DB4EC9F/>  <mailto:jweidner at therecord.com> Waterloo Region Record
>  <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/#> <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/#> <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/#&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.therecord.com%2Fnews-story%2F8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region%2F&&title=Public%20forum%20explores%20possible%20expansion%20of%20greenbelt%20into%20Waterloo%20Region%20&> <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/#&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.therecord.com%2Fnews-story%2F8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region%2F&&title=Public%20forum%20explores%20possible%20expansion%20of%20greenbelt%20into%20Waterloo%20Region%20&> <mailto:?subject=A%20friend%20has%20shared%20%22Public%20forum%20explores%20possible%20expansion%20of%20greenbelt%20into%20Waterloo%20Region%22%20from%20TheRecord.com&body=I%20am%20sharing%20this%20story%20from%20TheRecord.com:%20%0D%0A%22Public%20forum%20explores%20possible%20expansion%20of%20greenbelt%20into%20Waterloo%20Region%22%0D%0A%0D%0APlease%20visit%20the%20following%20page%20for%20more%20information:%20%0D%0Ahttps://www.therecord.com/news-story/8129956-public-forum-explores-possible-expansion-of-greenbelt-into-waterloo-region/?s=e%0D%0A%0D%0A**%20Disclaimer%20**%0D%0A%0D%0AMetroland%20Media%20Group%20Ltd.%20and%20its%20affiliated%20sites%20are%20not%20responsible%20for%20the%20content%20of%20this%20e-mail.%20Please%20note%20that%20neither%20the%20e-mail%20address%20nor%20name%20of%20the%20sender%20has%20been%20verified.>
> WATERLOO REGION — People are encouraged to share their thoughts on the Waterloo moraine and the proposal to expand Ontario's greenbelt at a public forum being held in Kitchener this month. 
> 
> Kevin Thomason, co-founder of the citizen advocacy group Smart Growth Waterloo Region, called the greenbelt proposal a "rare opportunity" to shape growth and protect valuable resources. 
> 
> "Its impact should last generations. That's why it's important we get it right," Thomason said. "Get out now and speak up for the future you want to see."
> 
> Ontario's greenbelt protects areas of ecological and hydrological significance by keeping urbanization at bay.
> 
> The study area for potential greenbelt expansion includes the Waterloo and Paris/Galt moraine complex in Waterloo Region, Brant and Wellington counties — part of the outlying area of the Greater Golden Horseshoe that is experiencing significant growth.
> 
> The Waterloo moraine is a formation of sand and gravel deposited by receding glaciers after the last ice age. The sand and gravel filters rainwater and groundwater that seeps into aquifers, or underground water reservoirs. 
> 
> Aquifers below the moraine are important for municipal water supplies, and essential water sources for the region's waterways, including the Grand and Nith rivers.
> 
> "These are really important discussions coming up," Thomason said. "These things really define what sort of community we have."
> 
> He said Waterloo Region has been a pioneer in the province with its progressive long-term planning to limit urban sprawl while safeguarding environmentally sensitive landscapes and farmland. 
> 
> "We've developed some great local protections," Thomason said.
> 
> 
> But he cautioned those protections could be changed under new councils, while the greenbelt rules are permanent. With both in place in this area, they could reinforce each other. 
> 
> "This is where we can have the best of both worlds," Thomason said.
> 
> The Kitchener open house is Thursday, Feb. 22, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tannery, 151 Charles St. W.
> 
> A public consultation was held in Guelph earlier this month, and another is planned in Brantford on Feb. 20.
> 
> Comments can also be submitted online at www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page17650.aspx <http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page17650.aspx>.
> 
> The deadline for feedback is March 7. 
> 
> 
> jweidner at therecord.com <mailto:jweidner at therecord.com>, Twitter: @WeidnerRecord
> 
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