[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt Attacks and Regional Planning Devastation Update
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Tue Jan 10 14:37:57 EST 2023
Good Day,
The new year is off to a busy start with lots happening already on Bill #23, the Greenbelt and Regional Planning:
1) Hamilton City Council Fights Back - It appears that Hamilton City Council is united in their anger about Bill 23 and by a vote of 14-1 to has passed a motion demand that the province repeal Bill 23 - https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=344561 With nothing to lose and their Official Plan destroyed with thousands of acres of forced sprawl it seems that Hamilton politicians are being very vocal.
You can read more about it from the Hamilton Citizen Journalists at: https://mailchi.mp/9ebb3204cb8f/council-challenges-bill-23?e=45d23c60d3
2) Environmental Groups Use Hamilton Official Plan Override to Also Fight Back - Yesterday Ecojustice and Environmental Defence announced that they are taking the provincial government to court over the attack on Hamilton’s Official Plan. Ecojustice has served a notice of application seeking a judicial review in Ontario’s Divisional Court with lawyers arguing that the province has violated the law and is ignoring obligations under the Planning Act:
https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/01/09/environment-groups-taking-provincial-government-to-court-over-attack-on-hamiltons-official-plan/
Depending on what happens with the Waterloo Regional Official Plan this could serve as a model to fight back as they are arguing that the Minister’s actions are unsupported by Ministry Staff or justification and are in contravention with the Provincial Policy Statement, Planning Act, and other laws.
3) Big City Mayors Issue Strong Motion - Following a meeting in Guelph, the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) has also issued a motion against Bill 23 that numerous municipalities have endorsed including the Town of Oakville:
https://www.ontariobigcitymayors.ca/news/details.php?id=856
Please share the OCBM motion with members of your local Council and ask if they plan on supporting the motion.
4) Recent Media Articles - Well written and informative articles, editorials, and op-ed pieces continue in the media. Please continue to write and help to inform others:
Thanks to Susan Fulop who recommended this excellent editorial from Collingwood: https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-ontarians-are-frogs-in-water-under-ford-govt-6336747
The Toronto Star Editorial Board suggests Doug Ford should make a fresh start: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/08/doug-ford-should-use-the-new-year-to-make-a-fresh-start.html
The CBC has released an article about GTA municipalities that are showing potential tax increases of 54%, 88% and over 100% in communities that have embraced sprawl and are now trying to balance their budgets in the absence of development funding: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/development-charge-property-tax-survey-1.6706263?
CBC News has just aired a good in-depth 30 minute segment explaining the Greenbelt takeouts and changes. We are in interesting times when a reporter spends 30 minutes interviewing other reporters…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKqADkTe-SY
CTV News - OPP Looking into Complaints about Doug Ford’s decision to develop the Greenbelt - https://twitter.com/CTVKitchener/status/1612486951281590272
Great article in today's Toronto Star from Victor Doyle - https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/01/10/the-truth-about-the-greenbelt-protection-deal-the-ford-government-is-breaking.html
5) Council Watchdogs Needed - following the excellent idea of other parts of the province we are looking for volunteers across the Grand River Watershed to become a Council Watchdog and review your municipality agendas, council/committee meetings and flag items that relate to unnecessary sprawl and development. Council Watchdogs look out for new threats to Greenbelt/protected areas and farmland, decisions incompatible with climate mitigation policies, tree removal, compromises to safe active transportation networks, unethical behaviour of elected officials and share this information back to us so we can all assist as required.
Please reply and let us know if you can be a Watchdog for your municipality. We will also need Watchdogs for our upper tier governments as well as the GRCA.
The City of Guelph has a relatively new organization called “Get Involved Guelph (GIG)” that will be the Guelph Council Watchdog. Members of the group are meeting on Thursday, January 12th at 7pm to identify priority issues and how best to track motions/concerns. Learn more at: https://getinvolvedguelph.wordpress.com
With many eyes watching over the months ahead hopefully we will have a clear picture of what is happening in our watershed and be able to react accordingly.
6) Lawn Signs - It’s impressive to see all the lawn signs across the province. Below is the list of sign captains for our watershed, please reach out to Mike if you need contact information for any of the more than two dozen sign captains we now have throughout Ontario:
Guelph Downtown - Anne Moore - amoore083 at gmail.com <mailto:amoore083 at gmail.com>
Guelph South - Al Dejong - albert1dejong at gmail.com <mailto:albert1dejong at gmail.com>
Centre Wellington - Peter Varty - pjvarty at gmail.com <mailto:pjvarty at gmail.com>
Brantford - Joan Faux - mom2jnp at gmail.com <mailto:mom2jnp at gmail.com>
Cambridge - Jenna Quinn - jenna.quinn at raresites.org <mailto:jenna.quinn at raresites.org>
Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - geosynergy at yahoo.com <mailto:geosynergy at yahoo.com>
Kitchener - Cathy Scott - cathy.scottfree at gmail.com <mailto:cathy.scottfree at gmail.com>
Waterloo - David Lubell - dlubell at bell.net <mailto:dlubell at bell.net>
Elmira - Sandra Bray - sandra at sandrabray.ca <mailto:sandra at sandrabray.ca>
Wilmot - Dorothy Wilson - ah_wilson at sympatico.ca <mailto:ah_wilson at sympatico.ca>
Wellesley - Linda Lackey - lindamclackey at gmail.com <mailto:lindamclackey at gmail.com>
7) Rally’s and Protests - Numerous rallies and protests are being planned for the weeks ahead in Toronto including a Welcome Back February 21st meeting at Queen’s Park (details below). We need to determine what our approach is going to be in our area. It would be great if we could form a team of people interested in organizing simple Pop-Up rallies/events here over the weeks ahead. Please let either Mike or I know if you would be interested in joining this team and seeing what sort of impact we can make.
8) Greenbelt Guardians - For those interested in becoming more active and involved in protecting the Greenbelt in a firsthand manner as a Greenbelt Guardian there is a volunteer form you can fill out to learn more and offer assistance. The Greenbelt Crime Stoppers continues to get set up and organized with online mapping to gather information being set-up. Offer to help out at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAUNoxc1aD8wHiMtT7D5F95gS629lXap7V7QBve3rai15ig/viewform <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAUNoxc1aD8wHiMtT7D5F95gS629lXap7V7QBve3rai15ig/viewform>
9) Reminder - Friday, January 13th at 5:30pm Zoom Update Meeting Dial-in Details:
Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Weekly Zoom Meeting
Time: Fridays 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, January 13th - 5:30pm - Update Zoom Call - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>
Wednesday, January 28th - Enough is Enough Provincial events against Doug Ford - https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/ <https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/>
Monday, February 13th - 1:00pm - Planning Meeting for February 21st Queen’s Park Welcome Back Protection Gathering
Tuesday, February 21st - MPP Meetings at Queen’s Park, Noon Rally at the Legislature Lawn
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B) 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.
Our first cross-sectional planning meeting is on Friday January 13, 2023 at 1:00pm. If you would like your group to be part of the organizing team, please attend our zoom meeting or email us back (see link below).
If you have any questions, feel free to email Kim and I and we will do our best to get back to you, but briefly:
Immediately SAVE THE DATE!!
Yes, everyone is invited to attend. If you or your group has concerns about the current government's conduct, get involved
No, we don't actually have a fixed plan. This is a happening and it depends on you to make it work, so please, get involved.
Yes, of course, we will have lots of music and fun and a songbook is in process. Email Susan Berry if you have something musical to share.
With faith in the future,
Kim and Susan from the Welcome Back PC Party Team
susanberry at hotmail.com
Greenbelt Guardians is inviting you to a zoom meeting
Time: Friday January 13, 2023 at 1:00pm
Topic: February 21 2023 Protection Rally at Queen's Park
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85736096758?pwd=VzhZZTM1UEZadVJZV0FNV2UwVmxVQT09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85736096758?pwd=VzhZZTM1UEZadVJZV0FNV2UwVmxVQT09>
Meeting ID: 857 3609 6758
Passcode: 781945
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,85736096758#,,,,*781945# US
+16694449171,,85736096758#,,,,*781945# US
--------------------------------
C) 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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