[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Planning Update, Meeting Fri Feb 17th 5:30pm

Thu Feb 16 10:28:20 EST 2023

Good Day,

A reminder of our meeting tomorrow (Friday) February 17th 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) Media Coverage - The incredible amount of media articles and news coverage continues:

	A great local call to action by Susan Koswan - Gearing Up for the Next Round:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/2023/02/15/gearing-up-for-next-round-in-fight-to-save-greenbelt.html?rf

	Federal Government Deserves A Say in Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Plans:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/02/14/federal-government-deserves-a-say-in-doug-fords-greenbelt-plans.html

	Toronto Star - Martin Regg Cohn:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2023/02/13/john-tory-goes-up-in-flames-as-doug-ford-hides-in-a-smokescreen.html

	Toronto Star - Doug Ford Should Demand Caroline Mulroney Resignation:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2023/02/15/doug-ford-should-demand-caroline-mulroneys-resignation.html

	https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2023/02/06/its-time-to-cut-our-ties-to-fossil-fuels.html

2) Doug Ford Defends Wedding Stag & Doe Party - More rot and corruption within Doug Ford’s family and inner circles has been uncovered as extremely troubling details continue to emerge about developers being asked to help fund Doug’s daughter’s wedding:

	The Toronto Star 
	https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2023/02/10/ontario-developers-who-benefitted-from-ford-government-decisions-on-greenbelt-and-mzos-dined-with-the-premier-at-his-daughters-wedding.html

	CTV News - This is Ridiculous as Doug Ford Defends Party
	https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/this-is-ridiculous-doug-ford-defends-stag-party-attended-by-developers-1.6268733

	CBC News 
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-daughter-wedding-developers-stag-doe-1.6744311

	CityNews - Ford Denies Wrongdoing
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/around-ontario/ford-denies-wrongdoing-over-developers-attending-daughters-wedding-stag-and-doe-6523381

	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/around-ontario/ford-wont-say-who-sent-invites-to-daughters-150-stag-and-doe-event-6559532

	Really impressive Global News Coverage that doesn’t hesitate to call things out:
	https://globalnews.ca/news/9457569/ontario-premier-doug-ford-stag-doe/

	Wow!  Leave it to a Western Canadian Globe & Mail Reporter to call things out in Ontario:
	https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-no-mr-ford-its-not-okay-to-host-a-party-where-developers-come-with/

Also here’s some great fodder for political cartoonists:

	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorial_cartoon/2023/02/15/theo-moudakis-cordially-invited.html

	https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorial-cartoon/2023/02/16/feb-16-editorial-cartoon.html

3) Queen’s Park Reporters Fired and Quit in Scandal/Protest - In a confounding story it seems that a number of reporters have been fired and/or quit in protest over being told to not report on Doug Ford’s opening of the Greenbelt for developers:

	An unusual and unfolding story about the editor-in-chief and reporters quitting and being fired/laid off citing interference in their journalism into the opening up the Greenbelt:
	https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/02/09/qp-briefings-editor-in-chief-reporter-quit-in-protest-after-ford-story-fight.html

4) New Home Construction Falling Significantly Short - It appears that despite Doug Ford and the Conservative Party’s extremely misguided actions to open the Greenbelt, remove Conservation Authority oversight, eliminate development charges, and numerous other troubling issues new home construction continues to plummet along with sales of existing homes - further worsening the housing crisis as data shows the Ford government has Ontario heading in the wrong direction in the excellent article from John Micheal McGrath at TVO:

	Housing Falling Short - Plan A is Failing in Ontario.  What’s Plan B?
	https://www.tvo.org/article/plan-a-for-housing-is-failing-in-ontario-whats-plan-b

5) 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>

6) We’re Watching You Queen’s Park Event - 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 <http://www.bit.ly/ford-watch>

7) 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 to be discussed during the call on Friday at 5:30pm:

	https://www.welcomebackdoug.com <https://www.welcomebackdoug.com/> 

8) SPR Greenbelt Survey - A short survey invitation for individuals to provide their views on the protection of Ontario’s Greenbelt and affordable housing. 

SPR* is inviting you to participate in a confidential 10-minute on-line survey on Ontario’s Bill 23 & the Greenbelt.  This confidential survey is part of a wide response to government changes removing protections from development from much of Ontario’s Greenbelt lands surrounding our cities.  Virtually all of Ontario’s municipalities, hundreds of organizations and thousands of citizens oppose these changes.

Why we are inviting you:  It is important for all Ontarians to “have their say” on such changes. 

Main questions: the survey asks about repeal of Bill 23, to better protect the Greenbelt lands around Ontario cities.  It also asks whether you think these changes will improve access to affordable housing.

The survey is not sponsored by the Government or private sectors but is undertaken by SPR as a not-for-profit public interest project. SPR’s survey is supported by a wide range of organizations, include most Ontario unions, the Social Planning Network of Ontario, the YWCA Ontario Network for affordable housing, Nature Ontario, and many others. 

We ask you to complete the survey and further distribute the invitation to your co-workers, family, and others such as municipal officials. 

To take the survey, just click on the following link, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. 

https://secure11.securewebexchange.com/spr.ca/greenbelt/greenbelt.htm <https://secure11.securewebexchange.com/spr.ca/greenbelt/greenbelt.htm>
Be sure to complete the survey before February 28th.  The results of this survey will be used by SPR to draft a position paper which will be reviewed with supporters and distributed through all supporting organizations, to the media and to the Ontario Legislature by late March.

* SPR conducts surveys and policy research for the Public and Private Sectors. SPR has a 35+ year track record in research and advocacy on health and safety, housing, and other areas, often with major impacts on legislation and public policy.  (See www.spr.ca <http://www.spr.ca/>)

9) ALO Website and New Tools - The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario has launched a new way to see events and find tools while providing a new venue to share your events/actions/tools.  Learn more at:

	https://mailchi.mp/6597bce5b0eb/new-see-and-share-events-actions-and-tools

	https://www.liveableontario.ca

10)  Reminder - Friday, February 17th 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.

-----------------------------------
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 <http://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.

--------------------------------
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) Social Media Tools for the Ford Watch Party Event on Tuesday, Feb 21st at 9:45am

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

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Mastodon: @kthomason at mstdn.ca
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

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

--------------------------------
D) More Information on the Latest Doug Ford Wedding Greenbelt Developer Scandal

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-mayor-john-tory-statement-1.6745144

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

E) 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>
-----------------------------------------

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0010.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Municipal Leaders Feb 16 Promotion.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 712497 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0001.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0011.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_FB.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 411378 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0004.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0012.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_IG.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 251512 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0002.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0013.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_Tw.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 427064 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0005.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0014.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_Tw.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 427064 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0006.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0015.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_IG.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 251512 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0003.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0016.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FordWatchers_Feb21_FB.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 411378 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0007.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0017.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Screen Shot 2023-02-10 at 10.25.45 PM.png
Type: image/png
Size: 35779 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0018.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Screen Shot 2023-02-14 at 8.28.45 PM.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1072430 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0003.png>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230216/90c553bf/attachment-0019.html>