[All] Bill 23 Update, Greenbelt, Regional Planning Update
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Feb 9 01:23:03 EST 2023
Good Day,
Here’s the latest on Bill 23, the Greenbelt attacks, and Regional Planning destruction:
1) Local Rally for Wetlands - Congratulations to our amazing rally organizers - Colleen, Dave, Hal, Laura, Kae, Lyndsay, along with the 100+ people who also helped and came out to our rally on Saturday at the Dumfries Conservation Area! It was fantastic to see so many people out on one of the coldest days of the year and we had a lot of fun even in the chilly weather. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner gave a great address, petitions were signed, hundreds of passing cars provided enthusiastic support, and there was fantastic media coverage helping to spread the word about the devastating actions of the provincial government against our wetlands, the GRCA, and so much else we depend on in our watershed.
Below are some links to media articles and some photos are attached at the end of this e-mail. Please share any ideas for future events.
CKCO CTV News coverage of the rally
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2622652&binId=1.1147261&playlistPageNum=1
Local media coverage on Cambridge Today and CityNews following the rally:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/green-party-leader-joins-cambridge-protest-against-bill-23-6491517
Media coverage in advance of the rally:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/residents-rally-in-support-of-wetlands-and-conservation-areas-6486169
2) Recent Media Articles - A steady stream of media articles and coverage continues:
Doug Ford’s Greenbelt attacks has now made international media with this excellent New York Times article providing a global perspective on this environmental loss:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/05/world/canada/toronto-greenbelt-development-homes.html
An excellent long read in The Pointer about the Greenbelt and Federal government:
https://thepointer.com/article/2023-02-05/federal-government-flip-flops-on-intervention-to-stop-doug-ford-s-assault-on-the-environment
New Study Highlights Importance of Wetlands:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/new-study-highlights-importance-of-wetlands-in-southern-ontario-6489039
3) Other Aspects of Bill 23 coverage in the media:
Thousands of Heritage Properties at Risk:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/bill-23-heritage-properties-impact-cambridge-1.6728343
Podcast - Do We Really Need to Build:
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-earth-care-92491008/episode/do-we-really-need-to-build-108152240/
4) City of Waterloo Stalls Suburbs Over Bill 23 - In an ironic twist, the City of Waterloo has delayed the construction over a new road needed for thousands of new homes due to the negative development charge aspects of Bill 23 and no longer being able to afford the $68 million road required due to Ford's cuts and his misguided efforts on how to build more homes:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2023/02/06/waterloo-threatens-to-stall-suburbs-over-bill-23.html
5) More Evidence Developers Knew - Further evidence has been found that developers had advance notice of the provincial Greenbelt takeout announcements:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9450647/ontario-ndp-evidence-integrity-commissioner-greenbelt-investigation/
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/political-blogger-uncovers-evidence-for-greenbelt-investigation-6470870
6) Ontario Federation of Agriculture Petition - The OFA continues their excellent campaign to protect farmland and the Greenbelt with this petition already signed by 60,000 people from over 200 municipalities. Add your name to those concerned with farmland loss:
https://homegrownofa.ca
7) Voices of the Greenbelt Video - Watch the beautiful Greenbelt photography in this impressive short film by Atreyu Lewis and the volunteers at Shake Up The Establishment as they tell how the Greenbelt provides such important support to life on earth and lived experiences:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0Ez7e7WxUa-lcBjzH62Sy6Qr8hhJwd5rbn15hF28yBoBOPvpG3pWbd4fY&v=pPEiXXgShls&feature=youtu.be
8) Municipal Best Practices for Protecting Farmland and Natural Heritage Event - Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities is a network of community leaders who want to make sure that our municipal staff and elected officials have the information and access to experts needed to best protect farmland and natural areas. Please contact your local Councillors, municipal staff, and community leaders to tell them about this free webinar featuring Dr. Anne Bell from Ontario Nature, Phil Mount from the National Farmers Union, and Susan Robertson from People Plan Community on Thursday, Feb 16th at 4pm.
More details are below and you can register at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai>
9) We’re Watching You - Join the Ford Watch Party in the Queen’s Park Visitors Gallery on Tuesday, February 21st at 9:45am and welcome Doug Ford back to the Legislature with an appropriate welcome as we pack the Visitor’s Gallery to let hime know that we remain vigilant and are committed to protecting the Greenbelt and our communities. Social media materials are provided below for you to use on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Learn more at: www.bit.ly/ford-watch
10) Welcome Back Doug Rally - Join us on Saturday, February 25th for a large rally on the Queen’s Park Legislature Lawn at 11:00am. There will be buses arranged leaving from this area with more details provided next week and online at:
https://www.welcomebackdoug.com <https://www.welcomebackdoug.com/>
11) Excellent Letter by Conservatives Pushing Back on the Greenbelt Carve Out Impacts on the Rouge-Duffins Agricultural Preserve - Town of Erin Greenbelt and Bill 23 Activist Liz Armstrong recently met with MP Michael Chong who revealed that the Friends of Rouge Park recently wrote a scathing letter to Mr. Ford and his government on Bill 39 and the removal of protection for the Rouge-Duffins Agricultural Preserve (DRAP). A copy of this excellent letter is attached below.
12) Next Meeting - A reminder that our next meeting will be held next Friday, February 17th at 5:30pm on Zoom .
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
Thursday, February 16th - 4:00pm - Municipal Best Practices for Protecting Farmland and Natural Heritage - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOqgrz8iHdJ6vjHhjYYGmPuW-fXru5ai>
Tuesday, February 21st - 9:45am - We’re Watching You Event at Queen’s Park Visitors Gallery - www.bit.ly/ford-watch
Saturday, February 25th - 11:00am - Welcome Back Doug Rally at the Legislature Lawn - https://www.welcomebackdoug.com <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) 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 <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.
--------------------------------
C) We’re Watching You - February 21st at Queen’s Park - Social Media Tools and Posters:
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D) Wetlands and Conservation Authorities Rally - Saturday Feb 4th - kudos again to organizers and everyone who came out!
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E) Conservative Letter to Doug Ford re: Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve
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F) Voices of the Greenbelt Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0Ez7e7WxUa-lcBjzH62Sy6Qr8hhJwd5rbn15hF28yBoBOPvpG3pWbd4fY&v=pPEiXXgShls&feature=youtu.be
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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/>
-------------------------------------
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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