[All] Reminder: Friday 5:30pm Update Call Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Planning Destruction, ERO Midnight Deadline

Kevin Thomason kevinthomason at mac.com
Fri Dec 9 12:08:23 EST 2022 

Good Day,

A reminder of our Zoom update call today (Friday) at 5:30pm - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 - additional dial-in details are below.  

Some updates:

1) Midnight Deadline for ERO Filings - A reminder that you have until 11:59pm tonight to submit comments to the provincial government on many aspects of Bill 23 including changes to the Heritage Act, City of Toronto Act, Development Charges Act, and Additional Residential Units:

	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6196
	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6163
	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6172
	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6197

Please take a few minutes to submit comments.  They don’t need to be detailed - just enough to express your objection to the government’s action/proposal.


2) Bill 39 Approval Yesterday - Bill 39 is another Omnibus that's significant for folks fighting for the Greenbelt because it represents the removal of a couple of defenses for a particularly important area of the Greenbelt: the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP).  In the 1970's the lands were expropriated for the PIckering Airport that never came to be. These lands are also known as the Seaton lands.  In 1999, the Regional of Durham and the Town of Pickering and the province agreed to enable the sale by the Province of these lands to tenant farmers or original landowners under strict conditions: the purchaser of the land was required to agree to a conservation easement that would. protect the land for agricultural uses in perpetuity. 

Bill 39 reverses the conservation easements that protect the Duffins Rouge Agricultural lands from being developed for housing. 

Bill 39 will also extend strong mayor powers to the Cities of Toronto and Ottawa when it comes to provincial priorities such as housing. In other words, Mayors in those cities who bring about bylaws for housing will only need 1/3 of Council's vote to pass such measures - minority rule. The Province continues to strongly hint that the Strong Mayors "tools" will be extended to "more of Ontario's rapidly growing municipalities”.  In Waterloo Region the Mayors of Kitchener and Waterloo have spoke out against the need for Strong Mayors powers and says they have no use in our region, while the new Wilmot Mayor Natasha Solonen says she would welcome and request the Strong Mayors powers if possible.

We will continue to demand the repeal of Bill 39 due to its undemocratic minority rule approach unique in Western democracies and devastating impacts on the Greenbelt/Duffins Rouge Area.


3) Recent Media Coverage - it’s great to see the strong media coverage continuing both locally and nationally.  Here’s just some of the recent articles:

	https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/greenbelt-impact-the-focus-of-bill-23-rally-in-elora/

	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/2022/12/08/scrap-bill-23-and-implement-real-housing-solutions.html

	Former Minister Ted McMeekin - https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/02/understanding-the-fuss-about-ontario-bill-23.html?rf

	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-ontario-changes-parks-canada-1.6675993

	https://www.orilliamatters.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-for-the-people-fords-actions-say-otherwise-6198140

	For a good laugh - https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/guest-column-whats-next-in-ontario-a-tax-on-sunlight-6189547


4) Lawn Signs - more than 3,000 lawn signs have now been distributed and yet another 1,000 are on order and should be ready for delivery next week.  Please continue to reach out to our local sign captains for signs and information:

	Guelph Downtown - Anne Moore - amoore083 at gmail.com <mailto:amoore083 at gmail.com>
	Guelph South - Al Dejong - albert1dejong at gmail.com <mailto:albert1dejong at gmail.com>
	Centre Wellington  - Peter Varty - pjvarty at gmail.com <mailto:pjvarty at gmail.com>
	Brantford - Joan Faux - mom2jnp at gmail.com <mailto:mom2jnp at gmail.com>
	Cambridge - Jenna Quinn - jenna.quinn at raresites.org <mailto:jenna.quinn at raresites.org>
	Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - geosynergy at yahoo.com <mailto:geosynergy at yahoo.com> 
	Kitchener - Cathy Scott - cathy.scottfree at gmail.com <mailto:cathy.scottfree at gmail.com>
	Waterloo - David Lubell - dlubell at bell.net <mailto:dlubell at bell.net>
	Elmira - Sandra Bray - sandra at sandrabray.ca <mailto:sandra at sandrabray.ca>
	Wilmot - Dorothy Wilson - ah_wilson at sympatico.ca <mailto:ah_wilson at sympatico.ca>
        Wellesley - Linda Lackey - lindamclackey at gmail.com <mailto:lindamclackey at gmail.com>


5) Radio Ads - are continuing to air on local radio stations such as CHYM 96.7, 570 News, Country 106.7, CJOY 1460, and Magic 106.1FM as well as some community and campus radio stations with more coming soon.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to these ads.  It’s great to hear them on the air!


6) Alliance for a Liveable Ontario - ALO - Every local group and individual is encouraged to join the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, a big tent initiative to bring a wide variety of people and groups across Ontario together to fight Bill 23 and create the liveable communities we need over the long term.  It is an impressive provincial collaborative that is coming together.

Learn more and sign up at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/viewform


7) Keep e-mailing, calling and mailing - It’s important that we continue to keep the pressure on local MPP’s (particularly vulnerable Conservative MPPs who won by only a few hundred votes).  The Hold The Line Waterloo Region e-mail engine has been updated to include MMAH Staff and the new option to send a physical letter to Conservative MPPs in the region - www.holdthelinewr.org


8) Rallies and Canvassing - Rallies are continuing in Ontario in places such as London, Muskoka, Belleville, Milton, Niagara Falls and Woodbridge this weekend.  Join them and learn more at:

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/

There is also strong interest in canvassing for lawn signs and delivering handbills here in Waterloo Region - particularly in neighbourhoods around the homes of our Conservative MPPs.  Please share any ideas and more information will be available soon.


9) Petitions - there are still a number of great petitions you can sign online including:

	https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-attack-on-heritage-kill-bill-23

	https://www.change.org/p/demand-ontario-s-auditor-general-investigate-ford-s-more-homes-built-faster-act/

	https://connectivity.wildlandsleague.org/protecting-ontarios-greenbelt/

	https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/stop-bill-23-protect-the-greenbelt-and-build-real-affordable-housing

Please encourage your family and friends to sign these as well - it’s a great and easy way to start to engage them in this cause and these activities we need for a better future.


Keep up all the incredible actions and please share any questions or ideas.

Cheers,
Kevin Thomason and Mike Marcolongo on behalf of all our community groups.

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1) Friday at 5:30pm Zoom Dial-in Details:

Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Weekly Zoom Meeting
Time: Fridays at 5:30pm EST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701
Passcode: 713374
One tap mobile
+17806660144,,82644695701#,,,,*713374# Canada
+12042727920,,82644695701#,,,,*713374# Canada

———————————————————

2) Preparations for today’s rally in London - a great photo for anyone looking for creative sign ideas:




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3) Bill 39 Press Release - Environmental Defence



For immediate release: December 8, 2022

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE 

Statement from Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, Environmental Defence: Bill 39 is a public giveaway and breach of MPPs’ promise to not to touch the Greenbelt

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – MPPs who voted this afternoon to force passage of Bill 39 – the so-called “Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022” – have directly participated in breaking their government’s clearest, most emphatic promise to Ontario voters, and endorsed a vast transfer of public wealth to a few select real estate investors. That is because the substantive impact of Schedule 2 of the bill - Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Repeal Act - is to remove strong legal protection for the Greenbelt’s unique Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. 

While the Ontario government has proposed to remove large areas of the Greenbelt, special legal protections for the key triangle of Greenbelt land connecting Rouge National Park to Duffins Creek mean that this 4000 acre jewel of the Greenbelt could not be opened to development without the active participation of individual MPPs. Each and every one of them was elected on the government’s express and repeated commitment that it would “not consider any proposals to remove or develop any part of it.”

The passage of Bill 39, Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Repeal Act, will enable a massive transfer of land value effectively held in trust for the public into the hands of a few well-connected real estate investors. This is because the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve was formerly public land, bought, paid for and belonging to the people of Ontario as a reserve, and rented out to farmers to maintain it as an agricultural preserve. While it was nominally “sold” to private owners, and ultimately found its way into the hands of the current owners, it was for a tiny fraction of market value, because the most valuable portion of the property rights were retained in trust for the people of Ontario in the form of an easement. 

That easement protected the public interest in preserving the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve strictly as agricultural and natural heritage land. Bill 39 removes that easement, thereby transferring development rights worth millions – if not billions – of dollars to private real estate investors without payment of that money to the public.

It is clear that this extraordinary reversal of promises – and handover of public wealth – will not help accelerate housing construction. That is because the supply of “greenfield” land is not one of the factors constraining housing supply in Durham Region, where the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve is located. Even prior to the current round of urban boundary expansion, Durham has the GTA’s largest supply of farms and natural areas already designated for development and included within settlement boundaries, but sitting unused. While Durham Region consumed roughly 1,546 hectares of greenfield land in the 18 years between 2001 and 2019, it has roughly six times that much land, 9,509 hectares, sitting unused within its boundaries.  

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca <http://environmentaldefence.ca/>): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities. 

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4) Upcoming Events

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/019-6196 <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 <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952>
	County of Wellington - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635 <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635>

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5) 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/>

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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 <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

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