[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Official Plan Update - Dec 6th
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Tue Dec 6 14:52:34 EST 2022
Good Day,
After a weekend of very successful rally's and good media coverage across the province here are the latest updates on Bill 23, the Greenbelt land swaps, and Regional Planning changes:
1) Rally’s, Protests and Petition Signing - It was fantastic to have such strong turnouts at events across the Grand River Watershed (Elora, Brantford, Cambridge, Kitchener, Elmira and Guelph) this past weekend. Despite often challenging weather conditions attendance was in the hundreds of people at several locations with lots of creative signs/messaging. Many petitions were also completed along with hundreds more lawn signs and leaflets distributed. With such unprecedented activities a strong message is being sent and awareness continues to grow.
A rally is planned this weekend in Erin - this is right where the government plans to add lands to the Greenbelt that not even the Mayor of Erin can figure out or understand. More details to come about the time and location of this rally.
Handbill canvassing is also planned in Kitchener-Waterloo this weekend to help raise awareness and distribute more of the flyers that have been so well received so far.
Also people are encouraged to pack the Visitor’s Gallery at Queen’s Park on Thursday to send a strong message about Bill 39 and its very concerning minority rule provisions along with the destruction of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (see flyer below for Queen’s Park details).
2) Recent Media Coverage - There was fantastic coverage of almost all of the rally’s along with continuing articles on Bill 23, the Greenbelt, and Regional Planning changes:
2a) Rally’s - Guelph Today -Guelph Rally Says Protect Greenbelt - https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/guelph-rally-says-protect-the-greenbelt-6197931
- The Toronto Star - Demonstrations in 10 Ontario communities urge end to Bill 23 | The Star <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/04/10-ontario-communities-hold-unprecedented-rallies-sunday-to-protect-the-greenbelt-from-bill-23.html> - https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/04/10-ontario-communities-hold-unprecedented-rallies-sunday-to-protect-the-greenbelt-from-bill-23.html
- The Record - Ontario Greenbelt focus of local rallies - https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/12/04/ontario-greenbelt-focus-of-cambridge-rally.html <https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/12/04/ontario-greenbelt-focus-of-cambridge-rally.html>
- CBC National - The World This Weekend - Dec 4th at 6:45 minutes into the broadcast - Ontario Greenbelt Protests - https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-68 <https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-68>
- CTV News - video link and transcription of the story which first appeared Saturday evening Dec 3 - https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/we-want-hands-off-the-greenbelt-protestors-in-cambridge-rally-against-bill-23-1.6180026 <https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/we-want-hands-off-the-greenbelt-protestors-in-cambridge-rally-against-bill-23-1.6180026>
2b) Continuing Stories/Articles - A powerful editorial in the Toronto Star on Monday: With so many questions, Ontario’s Greenbelt housing plan must stop | The Star <https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2022/12/05/with-so-many-questions-ontarios-greenbelt-housing-plan-must-stop.html>
The New Hamburg Independent - Seyitan Moritan - "It's Moving Ontario Back 30 Years!" - https://www.therecord.com/local-new-hamburg/news/2022/12/05/it-s-moving-ontario-back-30-years-former-planner-environmentalist-on-controversial-bill-s-impact-to-waterloo-region.html <https://www.therecord.com/local-new-hamburg/news/2022/12/05/it-s-moving-ontario-back-30-years-former-planner-environmentalist-on-controversial-bill-s-impact-to-waterloo-region.html>
Minister Steve Clark fired and ousted? - https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2022/12/05/doug-ford-will-be-haunted-by-these-5-questions-on-his-greenbelt-land-grab.html
Bill 23 to Cost City of Waterloo $30 million - https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/bill-23-could-cost-waterloo-30m-over-next-five-years-6203142
3) Region of Waterloo Regional Official Plan, Wellington County, City of Toronto, Barrie, Durham, Peterborough, Belleville and Simcoe County Official Plans Posted to ERO - the Region of Waterloo ROPA 6 along with Wellington County and others have just been posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario:
Region of Waterloo - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952
County of Wellington - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635
We need as many people as possible to submit supportive comments on our bold and visionary Regional Official Plan as well as these other Official Plans to encourage the provincial government to leave them intact and approve them with the exact wording and sustainability concepts that received such strong support from area municipalities. We have until January 4th at 11:59pm to submit comments.
4) Alliance for a Liveable Ontario - ALO - The Big Tent group of influential leaders across the province continues to build and mobilize. They have created the new organization the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario have have sent out the following urging us to join them:
Collectively, we have power to stop Premier Ford's disastrous plans and get back to building liveable communities -and we have Ontario on our side. In addition to a growing list of other actions, here are three actions to take right now -as part of this new alliance::
Sign this letter <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoybF_7r6qpPcC3LOaKkrPE59Rcto6DImfAywoaBcurZBpdQ/viewform?usp=sf_link> to Premier Ford. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoybF_7r6qpPcC3LOaKkrPE59Rcto6DImfAywoaBcurZBpdQ/viewform) We plan to deliver it to him early in the New Year.
Join the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/viewform?usp=sf_link>. (https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/formResponse) We’re creating a “big tent” for organizations and individuals who want to work towards building a livable Ontario.
Use this form <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUfYDpl5ThiCz1ObDwznJ68rZDp1feO5sL20PqrR19XRycqQ/viewform?usp=sf_link> (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUfYDpl5ThiCz1ObDwznJ68rZDp1feO5sL20PqrR19XRycqQ/viewform) to help us keep track of how Bill 23 is harming Ontario. Send us any intelligence on local government efforts related to Bill 23 (e.g. Municipal Council meeting resolutions, discussions of massive property tax increases, discussions of new infrastructure costs to enable sprawl etc., discussions of new developments to proceed without parkland, schools etc.)
In the coming weeks, we will be developing a draft plan for how we can collectively work together to create livable communities, protected farmland and conservation lands, and real solutions to Ontario’s housing crisis.
Premier Ford and his developer friends have started a war against Ontario’s future. Now it’s our turn to start working together for a livable Ontario.
Sincerely,
The Liveable Ontario Committee (Anne Golden, Cherise Burda, Claire Malcolmson, David Crombie, Franz Hartmann, Ian Borsuk, Kevin Eby, Liz Benneian, Lynn Morrow, Margaret Prophet, Tim Gray, Victor Doyle)
It’s fantastic to see this broad provincial initiative taking a long-term proactive stance. Please join at the links above and encourage others to join as well.
5) Bill 23 Analysis - Legal firm Aird Berlis has provided an excellent, succinct, and simple synopsis of what is in force with Bill 23 now and what is still yet to come/be determined. It’s well worth reviewing:
https://www.airdberlis.com/insights/publications/publication/more-homes-built-faster-act-2022-receives-royal-assent-a-quick-guide-to-what-s-in-force
6) Radio Ads - Kudo’s to our radio team who has done a fantastic job of getting 5 different radio ads written, produced and recorded and on the air as of today on CHYM 96.7, 570 News, and other area stations. We hope to continue to buy airtime and add additional stations including campus and community radio stations in the days ahead. Recordings of each ad is attached below.
7) Lawn Signs - thousands of lawn signs have now been distributed and continue to be highly sought. Please contact any of the following sign captains for additional signs or information:
Guelph Downtown - Anne Moore - amoore083 at gmail.com
Guelph South - Al Dejong - albert1dejong at gmail.com
Centre Wellington - Peter Varty - pjvarty at gmail.com
Brantford - Joan Faux - mom2jnp at gmail.com
Cambridge - Jenna Quinn - jenna.quinn at raresites.org
Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - geosynergy at yahoo.com
Kitchener - Cathy Scott - cathy.scottfree at gmail.com
Waterloo - David Lubell - dlubell at bell.net
Elmira - Sandra Bray - sandra at sandrabray.ca
Wilmot - Dorothy Wilson - ah_wilson at sympatico.ca
Wellesley - Linda Lackey - lindamclackey at gmail.com
8) Water Watchers Greenbelt Promise Call - This coming Thursday, December 8th at 7:15pm the Water Watchers will be hosting a Zoom call to discuss Bill 39 and a Greenbelt Promise. We urge you to register to join the call at: https://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/campaign_to_protect_the_greenbelt_next_steps
Additional information is in the flyer attached below.
9) Friday, Dec 9th 5:30pm Update Call - Thanks to the dozens of people who joined our weekly Friday at 5:30pm update call. I’m back in Canada now and we are going to have another regular call again this coming Friday at 5:30pm to go over the latest news, events and information. Please join us at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09
Thanks for all the great efforts so far. Please share any questions or ideas.
Cheers,
Kevin Thomason and Mike Marcolongo on behalf of all our community groups.
-------------------------------
Upcoming Events
Thursday, December 8th - Pack the Visitor’s Gallery at Queen’s Park for the Bill 39 vote.
Thursday, December 8th - 7:15pm - Water Watchers Greenbelt Promise Call - https://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/campaign_to_protect_the_greenbelt_next_steps
Friday, December 9th - 5:30pm - Next group Zoom Update/Planning Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>
Friday, December 9th - 11:59pm - Deadline for submissions to the Environmental Registry of Ontario for numerous Bill 23, Planning Act and Heritage Act regulations - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6216 <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6216>
Saturday, December 10th - Rally in Erin, Ontario.
Saturday, December 10th - Handbill canvassing/delivery planned for Kitchener-Waterloo (details to come).
Wednesday, January 4th - 11:59pm - Deadline for submissions to the Environmental Registry of Ontario for Region of Waterloo and Wellington County Official Plans:
Region of Waterloo - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952
County of Wellington - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635
-------------------------------
Radio Ad Recordings: Here’s the ads running across the Grand River Watershed:
-----------------------
Recent Newspaper Articles:
-------------------------------------
Water Watchers Thursday Dec 8th Greenbelt Promise Meeting Information:
---------------------------------------
Speak Up and Ensure Your Voice is Heard:
Premier Doug Ford - doug.fordco at pc.ola.org <mailto:doug.fordco at pc.ola.org> or 416-325-1941
Steve Clark - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing - steve.clark at pc.ola.org <mailto:steve.clark at pc.ola.org> or 416-585-7214
David Piccini - Minster of Environment, Conservation and Parks - david.piccini at pc.ola.org <mailto:david.paccini at pc.ola.org> or 905-372-4000
Todd Smith - Minister of Energy - todd.smith at pc.ola.org <mailto:todd.smith at pc.ola.org> or 613-962-1144
Michael Parsa - Associate Minister of Housing - michael.parsaco at pc.ola.org <mailto:michael.parsaco at pc.ola.org>
Local Conservative MPPs:
Mike Harris Jr - MPP Kitchener-Conestoga - mike.harris at pc.ola.org <mailto:mike.harris at pc.ola.org> or 519-669-2090
Brian Riddell - MPP Cambridge - brian.riddell at pc.ola.org <mailto:brian.riddell at pc.ola.org> or 519-650-2770
Jess Dixon - MPP Kitchener South - jess.dixon at pc.ola.org <mailto:jess.dixon at pc.ola.org> or 519-650-9413
Local NDP MPPs:
Catherine Fife - MPP Waterloo - cfife-qp at ndp.on.ca <mailto:cfife-qp at ndp.on.ca> or 519-725-3477
Laura Mae Lindo - MPP Kitchener Centre - llindo-qp at ndp.on.ca <mailto:llindo-qp at ndp.on.ca> or 519-579-5460
Or use the Hold The Line Waterloo Region engagement engine to automatically address and send an e-mail you help to draft: www.holdthelinewr.org <http://www.holdthelinewr.org/>
-------------------------------------
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
-----------------------------------------
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0009.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Protect The Greeneblt_Spot 30_4.mp3
Type: audio/mpeg
Size: 1241444 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0005.mp3>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0010.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Protect The Greeneblt_Spot 30_3.mp3
Type: audio/mpeg
Size: 1241444 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0006.mp3>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0011.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Protect The Greeneblt_Spot 30_5.mp3
Type: audio/mpeg
Size: 1241444 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0007.mp3>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0012.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Protect The Greeneblt_Spot 30_2.mp3
Type: audio/mpeg
Size: 1241444 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0008.mp3>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0013.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Protect The Greeneblt_Spot 30_6.mp3
Type: audio/mpeg
Size: 1241444 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0009.mp3>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0014.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Waterloo Region Record Ontario Greenbelt focus of local rallies.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 493603 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0002.docx>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0015.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Cambridge Times Record New Hamburg Independent - Moritiwon story.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 29329 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0003.docx>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0016.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 1670265105647blob.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 125626 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20221206/7f07d7d7/attachment-0017.html>
More information about the All
mailing list