[All] Bill 23, Regional Planning, Greenbelt Scandal Updates
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Aug 24 12:57:53 EDT 2023
Good Day,
Once again, news is rapidly evolving daily as Premier Doug Ford and his Conservative Government attempt to stonewall and distract from the Greenbelt Scandal with many other concerning issues simultaneously happening. In just the past 48 hours we have seen MMAH Chief of Staff Ryan Amato suddenly resign and the OPP announce that the RCMP will be leading any investigation into the Greenbelt scandal. We have also seen impressive leadership from the First Nations Chiefs of Ontario with a list of requirements that must be met before they will interact with the provincial government and considerable ongoing media coverage along with great editorial and op-ed pieces.
Momentum is building, what we have been saying all along is being confirmed, and we need to continue to speak up loud and strong for the future that we want to see! Please read below for the actions that you can be helping with including new letter campaigns, the FordFest Rally in Kitchener on Sept 8th, and a huge Hamilton Rally on September 14th.
1) Local, Provincial and National Media Coverage - Here are just some of the many news articles over the past few days. Each of these articles raises many good points and concerns and include legal questions, the mysterious 3 months gap in Doug Ford’s cell phone usage, calls for resignations, conspiracy theories, broader patterns of concern, Ford blaming immigrants, the OPP handing things over to the RCMP, recent resignations, and calls for much more:
The Trillium - Feds Take Next Step On Study That Could Stop Greenbelt Development:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/feds-take-next-step-on-study-that-could-could-stop-greenbelt-development-7415766
CTV News - Interim Ontario Liberal Leader Says Ford is Lying:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.6141966
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Housing Minister Must Resign - But Hey, Don’t Just Take It From Me:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-housing-minister-must-resign-but-hey-don-t-just-take-it-from/article_742bf67e-9804-5df2-88c9-7478fc0c2f2c.html
The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-housing-minister-must-resign-but-hey-don-t-just-take-it-from/article_f97d137e-0f6d-5256-8b13-b9776c8d19fd.html
The Toronto Star - Insiders say Doug Ford Saved Staffer Blamed in Greenbelt Scandal - Despite Advice To Let Him Go:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/insiders-say-doug-ford-saved-staffer-blamed-in-greenbelt-scandal-despite-advice-to-let-him/article_7305dc13-c376-5e5e-a552-d869d4c853ea.html
The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/insiders-say-doug-ford-saved-staffer-blamed-in-greenbelt-scandal-despite-advice-to-let-him/article_c01d40f7-5f58-5701-ab28-0a1108a5bb84.html
The Narwhal - Doug Ford Says Building On The Greenbelt Will Help Immigrants Acheive “The Ontario Dream”. Here’s Why He’s (Still) Wrong:
https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-immigrants-development/
The Record - Doug and The Developers: Is It A Conspiracy Or Just Conspiracy-ish?:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/doug-and-the-developers-is-it-a-conspiracy-or-just-conspiracy-ish/article_1012fe81-c581-57c3-b6ba-f613ed9ff4fb.html
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Should Be Investigated For Other Controversial Decisions That May Affect Environment:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-should-be-investigated-for-other-controversial-decisions-that-may-affect-environment-advocates-say/article_f20ba07f-acb5-5f1f-b18e-ef343f78e568.html
The Conversation - Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Scandal: The Beginning Of The End Of His Years In Power?:
https://theconversation.com/doug-fords-greenbelt-scandal-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-his-years-in-power-211629
The Toronto Star - Greenbelt Should Be Considered Sacroanct In Terms of Preservation:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/greenbelt-should-be-considered-sacrosanct-in-terms-of-preservation/article_52f2215c-70f3-530d-b49d-b234c0efdbe0.html
Global News - Doug Ford’s Government Phone Unused For 3 Months As Transparency Calls Grow:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9905383/doug-ford-government-phone-pandemic-not-used/
CBC: 1200 Homes On Prime Farmland: What’s Know About The Plan To Develop The Greenbelt in Pickering, Ontario:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/duffins-rouge-agricultural-preserve-1.6937144
The Toronto Star - Influence The Ford Government? Auditor’s Report Suggests Developers Dictate Its Policies:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/influence-the-ford-government-auditor-s-report-suggests-developers-dictate-its-policies-critics-charge/article_19799a92-4633-5919-a2ce-d8ba3a324342.html
The Toronto Star - Amid Greenbelt Controversy, Doug Ford Unveils $1.2 Billion Fund To Encourage Municipalities To Build More Homes:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/amid-greenbelt-controversy-doug-ford-unveils-1-2b-fund-to-encourage-municipalities-to-build-more/article_39cba516-8bf1-51e6-b648-cb71e1abb27d.html
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Hits A New Low By Using Immigrants To Sell His Greenbelt Scheme:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-hits-a-new-low-by-using-immigrants-to-sell-his-greenbelt-scheme/article_91311026-39d7-5d61-ba53-a2efdbec5f70.html
CBC - Ontario Housing Minister’s Chief Of Staff Resigns Amid Greenbelt Controversy:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-housing-amato-resigns-1.6944225
The Toronto Star - Ford Government Staffer At Centre of Greenbelt Controversy Resigns:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-staffer-at-centre-of-greenbelt-controversy-resigns/article_e1f77e93-30ae-5e95-bf19-5c7ac31341c2.html
CBC - RCMP Now In Charge Of Potential Investigation Into Ford’s Government’s Greenbelt Swap:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-land-swap-opp-rcmp-1.6944697
The Toronto Star - OPP Refers Greenbelt Probe to RCMP To Avoid “Perceived Conflict Of Interest”:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/opp-refers-greenbelt-probe-to-rcmp-to-avoid-potential-perceived-conflict-of-interest/article_f6301852-5e84-5016-964c-5320cf04f636.html
Greenbelt Scandal Shows We Need Electoral Reform:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/greenbelt-scandal-shows-we-need-electoral-reform/article_aa50b1ef-0a83-530d-8150-d6af10a56b55.html
DurhamRegion.com - Greenbelt Timeline: Details Show Fate of DRAP over 50 Year Span:
https://www.durhamregion.com/news/greenbelt-timeline-details-show-fate-of-pickerings-durham-rouge-agricultural-preserve-over-50-year-span/article_42748703-2537-5136-a96e-598c4228834d.html
CityNews - OPP Says Ford Government Greenbelt Probe Being Referred to RCMP:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/08/23/greenbelt-opp-rcmp-inquiry/?
CBC - Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell Says Ontario’s Greenbelt Announcement “Could Have Been A Little Better”:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/brian-riddell-mpp-cambridge-summer-check-in-1.6939233
Toronto Life - There Was Preferential Treatment for Developers: Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk On Her Scathing Greenbelt Report:
https://torontolife.com/city/there-was-preferential-treatment-for-developers-auditor-general-bonnie-lysyk-on-her-scathing-greenbelt-report/
CityNews - Province Will Appoint Facilitator To Assess Region’s Governance Structure By Sept 11th:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/08/23/3398498/?
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Is Proof Voters Get The Government They Deserve:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/doug-ford-is-proof-voters-get-the-government-they-deserve/article_9684ff2d-b5e4-5eb4-ab19-fa53c39e531d.html
The Record - Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Scandal Demands A Bigger Resignation Than The One We Got:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/five-things-to-know-about-reforming-waterloo-region-as-emotional-divisive-debate-gets-underway/article_87002a3c-a8ae-538f-90cb-21636eb3b1e8.html
2) Outstanding Narwhal Coverage - The Narwhal continues its outstanding coverage of the events here in Ontario. Here are two great articles worth reading:
The Narwhal - Here’s What’s Happened Since The Auditor General’s Report:
https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-report-reaction/
The Narwhal - Meet Bonnie Lysyk, Author of The Bombshell Report on Ontario’s Greenbelt and Developer Influence:
https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-auditor-general-interview/
3) Fantastic Toronto Star Editorial Today - "Steve Clark Should Follow The Example of His Chief of Staff and Resign - Doug Ford appears to be creating a regime of arbitrary personal favour, in which conduct, norms, policies and standards do not matter.”
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/steve-clark-should-follow-the-example-of-his-chief-of-staff-and-resign/article_0fe5aa5b-f6ad-5d29-9a40-c230d1bbefbb.html
4) Excellent Opinion Pieces - There have been great opinion pieces drafted by community leaders that are running in leading media:
If you are only going to read one article:
Don McLean - Winners and Losers in the Doug Ford Greenbelt Scandal - Hamiltonians Can Challenge The Greenbelt Removals on Sept 14th:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/winners-and-losers-in-the-doug-ford-greenbelt-scandal/article_8ba780b7-a48f-5f66-9860-a398ea8025fc.html
Tim Gray - National Observer - Ontarians Should Take Action To Address The Greenbelt Scandal:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/08/17/opinion/ontarians-take-action-greenbelt-scandal
Martin Straatfof - Bradford Today - Greenbelt Mess Raises Concern for Farmland:
https://www.bradfordtoday.ca/local-news/guest-column-greenbelt-mess-raises-concern-for-farmland-7416710
Mike Schreiner - Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Giveaway Is Just The Beginning - Unless We Fight Back:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-giveaway-is-just-the-beginning-unless-we-fight-back/article_6da04d41-ada7-5595-a2b8-8e65c6e5df9c.html
5) Podcasts - If you are tired of reading here’s some easy listening:
The Toronto Star - Ford Persists That Greenbelt Is Needed For Housing. Experts Say No:
https://www.thestar.com/podcasts/this-matters/ford-persists-that-greenbelt-is-needed-for-housing-experts-say-no/article_a3e12538-3bf5-5dd2-b021-44d6d9e5c7b3.html
6) Other Relevant Articles - In addition to the Greenbelt issues we still need to be addressing our housing crisis and other issues:
The Record - Federal Government Needs To Turbocharge Housing Construction:
https://www.therecord.com/business/feds-need-to-turbocharge-construction-innovation-to-get-homes-built-faster-experts/article_1f9142df-2a37-5b6b-b28e-16b18ed376e4.html?
The Record - Lack Of Housing For Newcomers Will Help Throttle Back Waterloo Region Econony:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/lack-of-housing-for-newcomers-will-help-throttle-back-the-waterloo-region-economy-new-economic/article_9db220d5-1b54-58b5-95a6-24811739e839.html
The Toronto Star - We Need A War Effort Approach To Solving The Housing Crisis - From All Levels Of Government:
https://www.therecord.com/business/real-estate/we-need-a-war-effort-approach-to-solving-the-housing-crisis-from-all-levels-of/article_fe1e280e-ff9a-50a8-901d-a649bf3e33ae.html
The Record - Five Things To Know About Reforming Waterloo Region As Provinicial Facilitator Gets Underway:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/five-things-to-know-about-reforming-waterloo-region-as-emotional-divisive-debate-gets-underway/article_87002a3c-a8ae-538f-90cb-21636eb3b1e8.html
And Rally Media Coverage Continues:
BayToday.ca - “Abhorrent”: Angry Citizens Take Greenbelt Protest to Simcoe MPP’s Office:
https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/abhorrent-angry-citizens-take-greenbelt-protest-to-simcoe-mpps-office-7411482
7) Upcoming FordFest Rally - A reminder that on Friday, September 8th Doug Ford is bringing FordFest to Bingeman’s Park in Kitchener. Labour groups, unions, and others have reached out to see how we can all work together to ensure a memorable welcome for Doug Ford to our communities with a Rally in front of Bingeman’s from 4pm to 6pm.
Plans are still coming together and if you would like to volunteer on our Rally Committee to help out please let Mike or Kevin know. A poster from the Waterloo Labour Council for the Rally is attached below and we are hopeful that we can set records for attendance - sending a really strong message to the Premier and provincial government. The Conservative Party has been sending widespread text messages to mobile phones across our watershed encouraging citizens to come out for a free BBQ over the past few days (example below).
8) First Nations - Chiefs of Ontario - Stand United in Support of The Auditor General’s Special Report - The Chiefs of Ontario have released an impressive statement standing united with Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk and her Special Report on Changes To The Greenbelt. The far-reaching demands they have put forth to Premier Ford and Minister Rickford include:
5 Demands the Government Must Meet:
1) Resignation or Firing of MMAH Minister Steve Clark and Chief of Staff Ryan Amato;
2) Return removed parcels to the Greenbelt immediately;
3) Complete repeal of Bill 23 and immediate reinstatement of environmental protections for the Greenbelt;
4) Commitment to seek consent from First Nations before any future changes to the Greenbelt;
5) Extension of the Provincial Planning Statement ERO (019-6813) by at least one year for fulsome engagement with First Nations on proposed changes.
Read the impressive complete statement here:
https://chiefs-of-ontario.org/chiefs-of-ontario-leadership-council-stands-united-in-support-of-auditor-general-of-ontarios-special-report/
And read about it in the media here:
Hamilton Spectator - First Nations Demand End to Controversial Plan To Develop Former Greenbelt Lands:
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/first-nations-demand-end-to-controversial-plan-to-develop-former-greenbelt-lands-in-hamilton-gta/article_54ae16b3-8f73-5f29-80ca-20310baf8983.html <https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/first-nations-demand-end-to-controversial-plan-to-develop-former-greenbelt-lands-in-hamilton-gta/article_54ae16b3-8f73-5f29-80ca-20310baf8983.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_z5lbzqayr6>
We need to determine how we can best support the first nations to see these demands met. Please share any ideas.
9) ALO Letter Calls for Auditor General Investigation Into Other MMAH Decisions - The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario has issued a request that was endorsed by numerous leading groups calling for the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner to expand the investigations beyond the Greenbelt land removal to include other similar troubling land use planning decisions by the provincial government following the same patterns including:
- the use of MZO’s with little or no public input,
- the legislative changes of Bill 23 despite concerns,
- elimination of the Growth Plan and upper tier planning,
- elimination of density targets,
- removal of decision authority from upper tier municipalities,
- forced urban boundary expansions,
- gutting of the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES).
Read the full statement attached below as a PDF or online at:
https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/letter-to-auditor-general-and-integrity-commissioner-expand-the-investigations-beyond-the-greenbelt-land-removal
And here’s Toronto Star coverage of the ALO request to the Auditor General:
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Should Be Investigated For Other Controversial Decisions That May Affect Environment:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-should-be-investigated-for-other-controversial-decisions-that-may-affect-environment-advocates-say/article_f20ba07f-acb5-5f1f-b18e-ef343f78e568.html
We need your help to get as many Ontarians to speak up and endorse the call for expanded investigations. If we can build enough public momentum this could further open up wide the scandalous land use planning decisions made over the past year and possibly force some of them to be reversed. Here’s what you can do right now:
1) Use your social media channels to promote action - like and share our Facebook post here - https://www.facebook.com/liveableontario/
2) Send e-mails to your friends and family asking them to help build public support for the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner to expand their investigations - https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/letter-to-auditor-general-and-integrity-commissioner-expand-the-investigations-beyond-the-greenbelt-land-removal
3) Contact media, write letters to the editor, and speak up to your elected officials.
10) LeadNow Automated Calling System - The great team at LeadNow has developed an automated calling system that allows you to easily phone Premier Doug Ford’s Office and the offices of other key Ministers (Minister Steve Clark, Environment Minister David Piccini or Agriculture Minister Lisa Thompson) automatically and connect directly to speak to staff or leave a message. It is a brilliant and easy to use system that already had over 220 people place calls in just a few day. Please speak up to urge Premier Ford and key Ministers to reverse The Greenbelt Land Swap:
https://act.leadnow.ca/call-ministers-greenbelt/
Follow the link above to call now using your phone - its fast, easy, effective and key points are provided to help you.
11) Online Petitions - There are lots of ways to easily speak up online and help to make a difference with groups reaching out across the province:
- The Green Party - has created an automatic form for you to demand an OPP and RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt scandal - https://secure.gpo.ca/opp-investigation
- Avaaz Petition - Save the Greenbelt Petition - https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/save_the_greenbelt_loc/?twitter
- NDP Petition - Protect Our Greenbelt - https://www.tspndp.ca/protectourgreenbelt
- Environmental Defence Petition - Demand the Police Investigate Developer Collusion and the Greenbelt Scandal - https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/133516/action/1
- Change.org Petition - Call for the Resignation of Doug Ford - https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-the-resignation-of-premier-doug-ford
12) Help To Get Climate Change Reports Released - Help Seniors For Climate Action Now get the Ford government to release 2 climate change reports they have been sitting on.
a) Click the following link to read the Open Letter - https://seniorsforclimateactionnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Open-Letter-to-the-Ford-Government-Release-the-Reports.pdf
b) Send an e-mail with “Add my name” in the subject line including your full name and postal address: jpreleasethereports at gmail.com
c) Get others to speak up as well.
13) Windsor FordFest GravyPlane - Learn more about Doug Ford’s GravyPlane scandal after he took an OPP airplane to Windsor to attend FordFest and then get back to his cottage in the same day:
Ford GravyPlane Story:
https://twitter.com/TDotResident/status/1692196758175044037
14) Learn Conservative Talking Points - See firsthand the Conservative talking points that are being used to justify the recent actions of the provincial government from Grey-Bruce MPP Brian Sanderson:
Conservative Talking Points - Grey-Bruce MPP Brian Sanderson:
https://briansaundersonmpp.ca/point2point-podcast-greenbelt-discussion/
15) Reminder - Meeting next Friday - Join us Friday, September 1st at 5:30pm online to hear the latest and help plan out the FordFest Rally for the following Friday:
Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Bi-Weekly Zoom Meeting
Time: Every Other Friday at 5:30pm EST
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09
Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701
Passcode: 713374
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.
-----------------------------------
A) Upcoming Events
Thursday, Aug 24th at 12pm - Doug Ford and The Ontario Greenbelt Fallout: Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Robert Benzie takes reader questions
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-and-the-ontario-greenbelt-fallout-the-star-s-queen-s-park-bureau-chief/article_ffc36577-a87d-52c2-bcd5-fb0f8ecbecf6.html
Friday, September 1st - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09
Monday, September 4th - 12pm - Labour Picnic at Waterloo Park - https://waterloolabour.ca/
Friday, September 8th - Ford Fest At Bingeman’s Kitchener - More details to be determined - https://waterloolabour.ca/events/save-the-date-a-big-welcome-to-waterloo/
Tuesday, September 12th - 7pm - Simcoe County Special Greenbelt Forum - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uniting-for-a-sustainable-future-public-forum-on-the-greenbelt-tickets-699659128287?aff=scgcaugeml
Thursday, September 14th - Hamilton Provincial Negotiator Meeting - Ancaster Memorial Arts Theatre Wilson Street Thursday, September 14th 6:00pm - 1,000+ person protest being planned in advance
Saturday, October 28th - Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition Event with Margaret Atwood and Sarah Harmer - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gather-for-the-greenbelt-tickets-658110374847?aff=scgcaugeml
Also watch for more upcoming Rally’s and Protests over the coming weeks around Ontario as citizen’s speak up and take action for the future they want to see.
Learn more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/
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B) FordFest Rally at Bingeman’s - Friday, September 8th 4pm to 6pm:
FordFest Rally - https://waterloolabour.ca/events/save-the-date-a-big-welcome-to-waterloo/
4 to 6pm, Friday September 8th

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C) Recent Social Media:



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D) ALO Letter Calls for Auditor General Investigation Into Other MMAH Decisions:

Please speak up and help to encourage the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner to investigate further.
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E) Recent Media:



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F) Don McLean in Hamilton Spectator:
Winners and losers in the Doug Ford Greenbelt scandal
Hamiltonians can challenge the Greenbelt removals Sept. 14, writes Don McLean
By Don McLean
Saturday, August 19, 2023
2 min to read
Article was updated Aug 19, 2023
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Demonstrators rally outside the riding office of Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy in Pickering to show their displeasure with the Greenbelt scandal.
Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star file photo
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<https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/winners-and-losers-in-the-doug-ford-greenbelt-scandal/article_8ba780b7-a48f-5f66-9860-a398ea8025fc.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share#>
Who got paid off? That’s a key unanswered question in the auditor-general’s (AG) damning report on how the provincial Conservative government carved up the Greenbelt. She tells us the land speculators will get over $8 billion in a process that strongly suggests corruption.
Three prominent Conservatives are identified by the AG — Premier Ford, Housing Minister Steve Clark and the chief of staff they appointed to pick whose lands got removed from the formerly protected Greenbelt. The AG tells us the latter got handed a package at a builders’ dinner last fall that listed 92 per cent of the lands subsequently chosen for removal.
What did he or Ford or Clark get in return? They ignored or neutered the established process. They didn’t consult with municipalities, conservation authorities, Indigenous nations or financial experts. They trashed their party’s promise to not touch the Greenbelt, with all the political fallout that entails. And that decision delivered an enormous windfall to a handful of already extremely rich people.
Who cashed in? Was it one of these, two of them, all three and/or some others who somehow managed the process out of sight of the AG? Or are we to naively believe that those who got handed over $8 billion didn’t provide a significant payoff?
Will this be revealed or continue to be covered up? Will our alleged democracy deliver justice?
Because there are also big losers — you and me and the rest of the non-billionaires. What are our losses, besides having a government that clearly does not represent our interests and can’t be trusted?
Do you eat? We lose thousands of acres of the best agricultural land in Canada precisely when climate change has made the weather for growing food increasingly unreliable and food prices are jumping. And when heat, drought, wildfires and floods are also smashing up the foodlands we rely on in other parts of the world.
Do you breathe? We lose the air cleaning and oxygen from productive green fields plus the forests and wetlands being carved out of the Greenbelt whose public benefit is to be destroyed for private profit.
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Are you feeling the heat? We lose the cooling effects of all these lands and waters on the rural and adjacent urban areas.
Is your community trying to reduce carbon emissions by more efficient use of lands? The sprawl development eagerly eyed by the billionaire developers will make that much worse and much harder to accomplish.
Do you struggle to get around in the time you have? The planned suburban housing will be car dependent, piling thousands more vehicles onto already congested roads.
Do you pay property taxes? You’ll pay more to provide the roads, sewers, water pipes, fire stations and all the other services to new sprawl development.
Do you worry about climate change? All of the above will make it worse faster, filling pockets of the wealthy while they blame you for not personally doing enough. This scandalous giveaway reconfirms that our Ontario government is an intentional climate destroyer.
And will this build affordable housing? Not a chance. As always, anything built on rural foodland and green spaces will be the most expensive. The billionaire speculators didn’t buy these lands to help you or your kids. Housing will continue to be converted from a place to live to an “investment opportunity.”
Who is benefiting? Is it the public or the billionaire corporations?
Hamiltonians get to challenge the Greenbelt removals Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre.
Don McLean is with the Hamilton 350 Committee for real action on climate change at www.hamilton350climate.org <https://protect-ca.mimecast.com/s/R5JLCWLJ3PU52J4Vu6qyDH?domain=hamilton350climate.org>.
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G) Learn More About the Ontario Place Fiasco:
Ontario Place Place for All - A Better Idea Presentation - Watch this presentation about a Better Idea For Ontario Place and how you can take action for a better future for Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre.
https://mailchi.mp/f1cb2efeed71/abetterideaevent-12621002?e=ac2616f42b
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H) Join the Queen’s Park ClimateFast Lobby Breakfast:
Lobby Breakfast at Queen's Park
Tuesday September 26, 2023, 7:30am - 9am
Queen’s Park, Toronto ON
Training session: Monday September 25, 7 - 9 pm, Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave <https://www.google.com/maps/search/60+Lowther+Ave?entry=gmail&source=g>.
Overnight billeting can be arranged for those from out of town.
One way to fight for a renewable energy future! Please join in our lobby day, this will involve sending an invitation to your MPP and attending the breakfast, or arranging another meeting time with your MPP. Coordinated by CCL, OCEC, OCAA and ClimateFast, this day of lobbying will address Ontario's energy future with a specific focus on fighting the planned expansion of gas plants in Ontario. Lobbying can be very effective and the more ridings we represent that day, the better. One of our speakers will be Zoe Keary-Matzner, who is a litigant in the youth climate suit against the Ontario government.
Please register <https://climatefast.ca/civicrm/mailing/url?u=5453&qid=180292> if you are able to attend - https://climatefast.ca/form/lobby-day-sign-up-form
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I) Waterloo Labour Council Labour Day Picnic - Monday, September 4th 12:00pm

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J) 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
Will Bouma - MPP Brantford-Brant - will.bouma at pc.ola.org <mailto:will.bouma at pc.ola.org> or (519) 759-0361
Ted Arnott - MPP Wellington-Halton Hills - ted.arnott at pc.ola.org <mailto:ted.arnott at pc.ola.org> or (519) 787-5247
Ernie Hardeman - MPP Oxford - ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org <mailto:ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org> or (519) 537-5222
Matthew Rae - MPP Perth-Wellington - matthew.rae at pc.ola.org <mailto:matthew.rae at pc.ola.org> or (519) 272-0660
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
Local Green Party MPPs:
Mike Schreiner - MPP Guelph - mschreiner at ola.org <mailto:mschreiner at ola.org> or (519) 836-4190
Independent MPPs:
Bobbi Ann Brady - MPP Haldimand-Norfolk - babrady-co at ola.org <mailto:babrady-co at ola.org> or (519) 428-0446
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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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