[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt, and Regional Planning Destruction Holiday Update
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Dec 29 12:32:16 EST 2022
Good Day,
We hope that your holidays are going well. It continues to be a busy time with lots happening locally and across the province:
1) Official Plan ERO Comment Deadlines - the absolute most important thing that we need to be doing over the holidays is to ensure as many positive comments are received by the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) on the bold and visionary Region of Waterloo Official Plan as well as other area plans such as the Wellington County Official Plan that is also up for review. We only have until 11:59pm on January 4th to urge the province to approve these plans as approved by local municipalities and without any changes by the Minister such as the massive amounts of sprawl Minister Clark has forced in Halton and Hamilton’s 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>
It’s an easy process to submit comments and please encourage others to submit comments as well. This is could be a situation where the quantity of submissions could be very important so let's do all that we can to ensure hundreds or thousands of comments.
2) Other ERO Deadlines - there are several other ERO deadlines even sooner (December 30th at 11:59pm) that you may wish to speak up about as well:
“Conserving Ontario’s Natural Heritage” – Proposed approach to offsetting development pressures on natural wildlife habitat (consultation closes Dec. 30) <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6161> - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6161 <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6161>
Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (consultation closes Dec. 30) <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927> - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927 <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927>
Review of A Place to Grow and Provincial Policy Statement (consultation closes Dec. 30) <https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-6177> - https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-6177
Proposed Revocation of the Parkway Belt West Plan (consultation closes Dec. 30) <https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-6167> - https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-6167 <https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-6167>
3) Another Provincial Announcement - Unfortunately, on the last working day just before Christmas Eve the provincial government made another 11th hour announcement hoping that no one would notice - this time finalizing changes to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System that basically opens up almost every wetland in Southern Ontario to development and destruction:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/24/fears-for-ontario-wetlands-as-province-finalizes-changes-to-evaluations-despite-thousands-of-letters-opposed.html
4) Recent Media Articles - well written and informative articles, editorials and op-ed pieces continue in the media. Please continue to write and help to inform others:
A wonderful humorous and seasonal letter: https://www.orilliamatters.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-imagine-dickenss-ghosts-visiting-premier-ford-6290149
A national piece in the Globe & Mail questioning how the Ford government decided what lands to add to the Greenbelt:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ontario-greenbelt-farmland-wetlands-floodplains/
A great article by Brendon Samuels who joined our last call in the Hamilton Spectator:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/23/we-must-fight-the-ford-government-and-bill-23.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-oak-ridges-moraine-regulations-1.6692337 <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-oak-ridges-moraine-regulations-1.6692337>
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/21/harmer-the-fight-over-the-indefensible-greenbelt-land-grab-is-not-over.html <https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/21/harmer-the-fight-over-the-indefensible-greenbelt-land-grab-is-not-over.html>
https://www.therecord.com/local-new-hamburg/news/2022/12/27/wilmot-township-residents-state-their-wishes-for-the-coming-year.html
5) Student and Youth Action - the CBC had a good Metro Morning segment in Toronto recently about Jack Woolley a grade 12 student at Riverdale Collegiate School about a student walkout to protest the Greenbelt development plan. Listen to his interview here:
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2151697987983
We need to find ways to engage more youth in the Grand River Watershed. It would be fantastic to have a team focussed on youth and/or education. Please share any ideas or if you may be able to assist.
6) Donations - There are a number of ways to donate before the end of year to help maximize the impact that we can have. This includes:
- Our Lawn Sign and Radio Ad Campaigns - https://smallchangefund.ca/project/protect-the-greenbelt-and-visionary-regional-planning-in-the-grand-river-watershed/
- The Wellington Water Watchers - Greenbelt Promise - https://smallchangefund.ca/project/greenbelt-forever/
7) Radio Team - Our Radio team continues to air ads in the Grand River Watershed and will be recording an hour long radio show on Bill 23, the Greenbelt attacks, and the destruction to Regional Planning this coming Friday. Thanks to Henriette, Jeff, and Tanya who are working hard to inform listeners.
8) Upcoming Rallies - There are some upcoming rallies including special New Year’s Day Rallies in Toronto and Pickering:
New Years Day Protection Gathering - Toronto
Let’s start the year off together in action! David Grey Eagle is inviting us to hold a Protection Gathering this coming Sunday – on New Year’s Day – at 12:00 p.m., in solidarity against Ford's many heinous acts. This event is being held at Taber Hill (525 Bellamy Rd N, just north of Lawrence). We hope this will be the first of many Protection Gatherings to come. Even if you cannot attend, please share this invitation widely with your networks. Please consider this an action of our Truth and Reconciliation work as visitors on these lands: One voice, one message, one future.
9) Greenbelt Guardians - for those interested in becoming more active and involved in protecting the Greenbelt in a firsthand manner as a Greenbelt Guardian there is a volunteer form you can fill out to learn more and offer assistance:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAUNoxc1aD8wHiMtT7D5F95gS629lXap7V7QBve3rai15ig/viewform
10) No Meeting This Friday - due to the festive holidays and need for a break we are going to also take this Friday, Dec 30th off and resume our next Friday, 5:30pm Update Meeting on Friday, January 6th - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <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.
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A) Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 1st - 12pm - Protection Gathering/Rally in Toronto:
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>
Friday, January 6th - 5:30pm - Update Zoom Call - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>
Wednesday, January 28th - Enough is Enough Provincial events against Doug Ford - https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/ <https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/>
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B) Detailed Submission to Waterloo ROP ERO - use this document to help inform your own submissions prior to January 4th.
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C) Friends of the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Alliance for a Liveable Ontario Newsletter #4
Be sure to sign yourself and your group up for the ALO at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/viewform
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D) Youth for the Greenbelt - Here’s an example of the fantastic artwork done by a Grade 3 class in Toronto. We need to find ways to better engage the youth in the Grand River Watershed. Please share any ideas.
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E) Rise Up Ontario - Democracy Handout
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F) The Next Step to Fight Ford - Ontario Federation of Labour
<https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/BqA3LhzOFl92KwaVoz69N9eHS8TxCz0tuecet_ScBXIjzDKwejVO8tHs4UCaNPTmLjueeKs2tX_KZd1lGRO8qZ1tgmbzmvSU6ruX-Z0Se6bVeeWPUwFskQuCVc1TslcrGklAi82uLolyuMUkhplfypdNZTyPe7wRvZZkhlzmOIzFwFQfQJuodY_i_aVgrfxAmeg7z_b5KTCEjm4LZPIP7-sycHHkbaHp2RfPn2BsY9fb7EN2urFryuqHHWS1ERA8/3s1/Y2lTXzfyQVO5hc1nXhSQ8Q/h4/hXZ6nvw6Jj3VTdOA-rhtMHIgfQC6Ei-oPpqXxLkMZe0>
<https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/BqA3LhzOFl92KwaVoz69N9eHS8TxCz0tuecet_ScBXIjzDKwejVO8tHs4UCaNPTmLjueeKs2tX_KZd1lGRO8qZ1tgmbzmvSU6ruX-Z0Se6bVeeWPUwFskQuCVc1TslcrGklAi82uLolyuMUkhplfypdNZTyPe7wRvZZkhlzmOIzFwFQfQJuodY_i_aVgrfxAmeg7z_b5KTCEjm4LZPIP7-sycHHkbaHp2RfPn2BsY9fb7EN2urFryuqHHWS1ERA8/3s1/Y2lTXzfyQVO5hc1nXhSQ8Q/h4/hXZ6nvw6Jj3VTdOA-rhtMHIgfQC6Ei-oPpqXxLkMZe0>The strength of our collective power has never been clearer than over the past few months. Together, we repealed Bill 28, and we made our voices heard loud and clear: we will not accept any attack on workers’ rights.
But the reality is, too many Ontarians are still struggling. From the health care crisis to the cost-of-living crisis, things are too hard for too many. So, we’re saying: Enough is Enough <https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/BqA3LhzOFl92KwaVoz69N9eHS8TxCz0tuecet_ScBXIjzDKwejVO8tHs4UCaNPTmpMiP59-mrHFFl73xMjtzAuuLxOIme3Xw-JUKnhcmcPMa-eEBA2AypEbxg7msxVPlMripjI84Vo7PJf7z0lqYZkun94JWfSbc0gbF_Mo04Cl82zX0Ah7ybjdoB8EVyjk9gN3ii3B84JHDmaI1iYJ-m95uyPXo5iJIqR8TYfSUYRIt2q3ROjN8ZpNk7Z1QqaFm/3s1/Y2lTXzfyQVO5hc1nXhSQ8Q/h5/s5zHLuSGu4dFxx6Lapp7t7YJxmCLF9vC54ONDonGqGE>.
On January 28, join us online to launch a new campaign about how to fight for, and win, the Ontario we need. Learn more and RSVP here <https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/BqA3LhzOFl92KwaVoz69N9eHS8TxCz0tuecet_ScBXIjzDKwejVO8tHs4UCaNPTmfgbayUgbDkz-XM33CMsW-S7t0_IHxv31j284h7W0dPMr_d0J0npV1gLi-0DpFgM7SJlsRz4NdBUOPCdc-HcXNN4-Jp0RQN-BLHAsM7ktzXpTQSh_XE9uX_mqwovX5a1PKEY8CyGJqntLAqFmDcfc0FHi-1phHiJIEQYyCW5qYTvtQBkL_ko6-su8uIeoMqwC/3s1/Y2lTXzfyQVO5hc1nXhSQ8Q/h6/WBDGkXqmAZ00yO6Rnw-HMwCEP0Fiy16rm7M1-54oUFI>. https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/ <https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/>
<https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/BqA3LhzOFl92KwaVoz69NyhRZe8LSM7aux_h9_hfWErSeY0E6Osr1xbzY3Zfgs2G3xfTONgttslo67EM7YA9lR93cg_u8dXZZnzrRmO6jOOVl0rZzCwvfI4hQ5cNaMnakY0RwgJgjXxA9vqLe3zj0kwkyCDStcWN88CYoNybL2gLgXKiFc2h6zhmSsd2XkDPUQdTWHNQKe40L8gywCalsb8RXs4l0Agt5bIEU_KP1ZFP7PH3ntgpe9U2TpGvueq_/3s1/Y2lTXzfyQVO5hc1nXhSQ8Q/h7/M0MtreX__Pgicyr4l4XfxgZFR7stas_Uj8XsBQvd97o>
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G) 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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