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

[strothjkl at sympatico.ca]

Thanks Kevin - Plus a recent article from The Record describing another detrimental effect Bill 23 might have- destruction of heritage properties to pave the way for development    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/bill-23-heritage-properties-impact-cambridge-1.6728343?fbclid=IwAR26Y5A3CoLtZJFqFk8pKpuZnksGhCTTUCOsoi5515ppXuHEiaiwBxFpdUc

 

Lori S.

From: All <all-bounces at gren.ca> On Behalf Of Kevin Thomason
Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023 11:12 AM
To: Grand River Environmental Network (GREN) <all at gren.ca>
Cc: Mr. Mike Marcolongo <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>
Subject: [All] Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Planning Update, Meeting Fri Feb 3rd 5:30pm

 

Good Day,

 

A reminder of our meeting tomorrow (Friday) February 3rd at 5:30pm on Zoom - 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

 

 

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/

 

 

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

 

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.

 

-----------------------------------

 

A) Upcoming Events

 

Friday, February 3rd - 5:30pm - Bi-weekly Update Meeting on Zoom - 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.

 

 

--------------------------------

 

B) Wetland Rally this Saturday!

 



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