[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Planning Update, Meeting Fri Feb 3rd 5:30pm

Thu Feb 2 11:12:15 EST 2023

Good Day,

A reminder of our meeting tomorrow (Friday) February 3rd at 5:30pm on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

There’s an impressive amount of new developments and news on Bill 23, the Greenbelt, and Regional Planning:

1) Local Rally for Wetlands, Saturday Feb 4th 1:00pm - In support of wetlands, our local Grand River Conservation Authority, and World Wetlands Day Colleen, Hal, Dave, Laura, Lyndsay, and Kae have been busy organizing a rally for Saturday, February 4th at 1:00pm at the Dumfries Conservation Area in Cambridge fronting on busy Hespeler Road/Hwy #24.  

Hopefully you will be able to be creative with some signage and join for an hour rain, snow or shine this Saturday.  A flyer is attached below and you learn more online at:

	https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097 <https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097>

2) Recent Media Articles - A steady stream of media articles and coverage continues:

	“So naturally you’re going to build on that open field. Simple as that” - Doug Ford commits again to build on Greenbelt lands:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/01/27/doug-ford-warns-ottawa-what-happens-with-the-greenbelt-is-ontarios-business.html

	A fantastic article about how distant sprawl subdivisions have already been struggling:
	https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/01/31/i-dont-know-what-they-are-smoking-durham-was-already-struggling-to-support-growth-then-the-province-opened-up-its-greenbelt-lands.html

	Greenbelt Council is going to need another new Chairperson and Hazel McCallion Dies at Age 101:
	 https://www.thestar.com/News/Obituary/2023/01/29/hazel-mccallion-longtime-mississauga-mayor-dies-at-age-101.html -

	Christopher Hume - Opening the Greenbelt Has Nothing to Do With Housing:
	https://storeys.com/greenbelt-has-nothing-to-do-with-affordable-housing/

	https://ontarionature.org/ontarians-wont-be-ignored-blog/

3) Better Election Outcomes? - There continues to be lots of speculation and discussion about Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner running for the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party:

	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/01/28/veteran-liberals-urge-green-mpp-mike-schreiner-to-be-their-leader.html

	https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2023/01/29/10-reasons-why-mike-schreiner-should-think-before-swapping-green-for-grits.html

	https://www.cp24.com/news/mike-schreiner-says-he-s-thinking-about-running-for-leader-of-ontario-liberals-1.6252600

4) Local Developments Already Seeing Bill 23 Impacts - Already Bill 23 is negatively impacting local developments:

	https://www.therecord.com/local-waterloo/news/2023/01/30/wetland-protections-at-risk-in-waterloo-as-development-pushes-out.html

	https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/report-centre-wellington-1000-acres-short-of-needed-growth-land-6441699

	https://thenarwhal.ca/great-lakes-treaty-poop/

5) Federal Intervention? - There are increasing calls for the Federal Government to intervene to protect the Greenbelt:

	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/01/30/ottawa-has-an-obligation-to-protect-the-greenbelt.html

	NFU Letter on Federal Protection:
	https://www.nfu.ca/letter-protect-the-duffins-rouge-agricultural-preserve/

	And here’s the Narwhale article that lead to the speculation about the Federal government intervening in the Greenbelt:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/steven-guilbeault-ontario-greenbelt/

6) Other Rally’s and Protests - Numerous additional rallies and protests are being planned for the weeks ahead in Toronto including a Welcome Back February 25th meeting at Queen’s Park (details below) as well as London this weekend (Feb 4th):  

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/ <https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/>

7) Reminder - Friday, February 3rd at 5:30pm Zoom Update Meeting Dial-in Details:

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 <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

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

Friday, February 3rd - 5:30pm - Bi-weekly Update Meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

Saturday, February 4th - 1:00pm to 2:00pm - Rally for Wetlands and Conservation Authorities - Dumfries Conservation Area, Cambridge - https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097 <https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097>

Monday, February 13th - 1:00pm - Planning Meeting for February 21st Queen’s Park Welcome Back Protection Gathering

Thursday, February 16th - 4:00pm - Municipal Best Practices for Protecting Farmland and Natural Heritage - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai

Saturday, February 25th - 11:00am - Welcome Back Doug Rally at the Legislature Lawn - https://www.welcomebackdoug.com - in some parts of Guelph buses are being organized due to lack of public transit options on weekends - more details to come.

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B) Wetland Rally this Saturday!

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C) Welcome Back Gathering February 21st at Queen’s Park

After a nice long 10-week break, the Ontario House of Legislature gets back to the business of burning Ontario's Healthcare, Education, Environment and Democracy to the ground while failing to meet our collective need for affordable housing, transit, decent wages, an anti-poverty strategy, or a sustainable future. (note, this is not an exhaustive list by any means!)  

On February 21 Ontarians are invited to a Protection Gathering where we will sing, chant and dance and work together for a better future.   This peaceful and powerful event will tell the Progressive Conservative Party that Ontario demands better.  Help us welcome Doug back from his cottage with a cross-sectional gathering of friends.  

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D) COWA (Coalition of Ontario Watershed Alliances) Update

Below is an update from Andrew McCammon at COWA - please reach out to him at andrew at ontarioheadwaters.ca for more information.

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E) Municipal Best Practices for Protecting Farmland and Natural Heritage Event:

Municipal governments still have tools available to protect farmland and natural heritage lands, even if they've been removed from the Greenbelt. Now we need to make sure Local Councillors know about them. 

Please contact your local Councillors and community leaders and tell them about "Municipal Best Practices for Protecting Farmland and Natural Heritage." This event happens on Thursday, February 16th at 4 pm (see attached poster).

This one hour Zoom panel discussion and Q&A is designed for municipal leaders and community leaders who want to use local powers to protect farmland and natural heritage. It features:
·         Anne Bell, Ontario Nature
·         Phil Mount, National Farmers' Union
·         Susan Robertson, People Plan Community

You can register here. <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai> - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai

This event is organized by the Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities, a network of community leaders who want to make sure our municipal leaders have access to the tools, experts and networks they need to succeed.

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F) 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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Other Events of Possible Interest:

Due to provincial and local government love of highway extensions and expansions (e.g. “New” H7, 413, Morriston Bypass, 401, Hanlon, Bradford Bypass), I invite you to attend a series of highway planning webinars starting next week. 

Transport Futures – Highway Planning Webinar Series
Thu, Feb 9 to Thu, May 4, 2023 (3-hour webinars take place every 2 weeks @ various times) 

Should highways be expanded, optimized and/or replaced? Learn from international experts and stakeholders as we compare and contrast the latest research, case studies and best practices. The first of 7 webinars takes place on Feb 9.  Greenbelt West Coalition members and supporters receive 15% discount with promo code GWC88. For details and to register, see https://transportfutures.ca/highway <https://transportfutures.ca/highway>

Marty Collier, MES (Pl.)
Director, Healthy Transport Consulting
Founder, Transport Futures

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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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