[All] Bill 66 Community Groups Update - Jan 8th - Unanimous Success at Region of Waterloo!

Wed Jan 9 00:01:03 EST 2019

Good evening GRENer's

It has been a busy and successful day with delegation presentations against Bill 66 at Waterloo Regional Council, Woolwich Township, and Wellesley Township in addition to other Bill 66 activities.  Thank you to everyone who helped to ensure success at these important meetings.

1) Region of Waterloo Planning and Works Committee Delegation - both myself and Dr. Greg Michalenko from GREN appeared as delegates speaking against Bill 66 this morning.  We had many good questions from Mayors and Councillors with great discussion about a myriad of concerns with Bill 66.  Regional Staff also presented their Staff Report opposing Bill 66 and Regional Chair Karen Redman introduced a motion reconfirming the Region’s support for our strong local protections and community consultation.

The Councillors and Mayors spent almost an hour on discussions, asking questions, and expressing their opinions about Bill 66.  Councillor after Councillor expressed serious concerns about the Bill, issues with the approach of the government, and a commitment to do better here in our Region.

In the end it was wonderful to have a unanimous vote approving the Staff Report opposing Bill 66 and then a unanimous vote supporting Chair Redman’s motion as well.  

2)  Wellesley Township Council Delegation - This evening we had two delegations appear before Wellesley Council.  Kudo’s to Dorothy Wilson from the Nith Valley Ecoboosters and Sean Campbell from Hold the Line WR who made excellent presentations to Council.  Wellesley Staff presented a Staff Report opposing Bill 66 and our delegates along with other supporters present were successfully able to get the Wellesley Staff Report opposing Bill 66 unanimously approved along with a resolution against Bill 66 too.  Mayor Joe Nowak earned special recognition for fighting valiantly for an even stronger Council motion against Bill 66.

3) Woolwich Township Council Delegation - Bob Jonkman from KW Peace presented on behalf of our community groups this evening to Woolwich Township Council and did a very good job informing the Council of our concerns with Bill 66.  Unfortunately, there was no Staff Report at Woolwich and while Mayor Sandy Shantz tried to explain to Council the presentations, motions, and concerns from the earlier Regional Council meeting, Woolwich Councillors wanted more time to learn more about Bill 66 and develop a response as well as resolutions.  

Thus, it was decided that we would work with Township Staff and Councillors over the next few days to develop resolutions opposing Bill 66 with the goal of having them approved at next week’s (January 15th) Woolwich Council meeting.  

4) Bill 66 Local Media Coverage - Kudos to Sam Nabi from Hold the Line WR who had a great interview on 570 News today about Bill 66.  We also had coverage on CBC Radio and the following CBC article about the Regional Council Opposition to Bill 66:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/bill-66-region-of-waterloo-no-support-tell-province-1.4969748

Look for articles in The Record and the Woolwich Observer in the days ahead and please do whatever you can to help raise awareness on the need to kill Bill 66.

5) Billboards - Groups elsewhere in the province frustrated by the inability to get meetings with Conservative MPP’s are instead launching billboards to make their concerns about Bill 66 known.  It is fantastic to see these groups doing the fundraising and production required to have such a substantial message that is bound to get attention.  For the cost of about $1500 we could undertake a similar effort here in Waterloo Region if there is interest and support: 

6) Doug Ford coming to Kitchener - we have just learned that the Premier is coming to Bingemans on Friday for a fundraising dinner.  This will be a high profile initial fundraising event that could garner significant media attention province wide and could be worth organizing a protest against Bill 66 at.  Please share any ideas and if you would be interested in making placards, signs and spending an hour or so protesting the arrival of people to the event.  With a little bit of preparation and someone willing to lead things we may be able to garner as much media coverage as the Conservatives at the event.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9115179-ford-s-first-political-fundraiser-as-premier-will-be-a-25-a-plate-spaghetti-dinner-in-kitchener/

7) Ontario Nature Bill 66 - What You Need to Know - Ontario Nature has put together a great one page post on the ten key points that people need to know about Bill 66.  Check it out and share it with others:

https://ontarionature.org/bill-66-facts/

8) Upcoming Bill 66 Events - Please attend what you can and share with others:

	Friday, Jan 11th - Doug Ford Fundraiser Protest at Bingemans?????

	Saturday, Jan 12th - Bill 66 Provincial Organizing Workshop in Ajax - https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/35964/petition/1 <https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/35964/petition/1> 

	Monday, Jan 14th 3:00pm - City of Waterloo Council Presentation

	Monday, Jan 14th 4:00pm - City of Kitchener Council Presentation

	Monday, Jan 14th 7:00pm - Wilmot Township Council Presentation

	Tuesday, Jan 15th 7:00pm - Stewards of our Future - ECO Dianne Saxe Event, Kitchener City Hall -  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stewards-of-our-future-protecting-what-we-love-tickets-54268453405 <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stewards-of-our-future-protecting-what-we-love-tickets-54268453405>

	Tuesday, Jan 15th 7:00pm - City of Cambridge Council Presentation

	Tuesday, Jan 15th 7:00pm - Woolwich Township Council Presentation #2

	Monday, Jan 21st 7:00pm - North Dumfries Township Presentation

Kudos again on the teamwork and excellent Council presentations today!   Lets keep doing all that we can to stop this awful Bill.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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

Kevin Thomason
Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network

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

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