[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt and Regional Planning Update, Meeting Fri Jan 20th 5:30pm

Thu Jan 19 16:52:46 EST 2023

Good Day,

A reminder of our meeting tomorrow (Friday) January 20th at 5:30pm on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

There’s a bunch of new developments and news on Bill 23, the Greenbelt, and Regional Planning:

1) Ontario Integrity Commissioner and Auditor General to investigate Minister Clark and Greenbelt transactions - it is fantastic to see these much called for investigations launched into the government's decision to open protected Greenbelt lands for development.  Kudos to everyone who sent letters and called for these investigations:

	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/around-ontario/ontario-integrity-commissioner-to-launch-greenbelt-investigation-6395789

	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-integrity-commissioner-investigation-1.6718018

	https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2611998&binId=1.1147261&playlistPageNum=1

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

	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/next-ontario-ndp-leader-promises-to-use-every-tool-to-stop-new-development-on-the-greenbelt-6374473

	There is an excellent article with a detailed legal examination of the Hamilton Official Plan that could have a lot of relevance for Waterloo Region depending on how things unfold in the weeks ahead:  https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/42711/ecojustice-environmental-defence-take-ontario-to-court-over-changes-to-hamilton-s-official-plan

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/01/17/flooding-soon-in-a-basement-near-you-the-impacts-of-weakening-wetland-protection-in-ontario/

	Joan Faux sent the following link to an excellent article on density and other issues that provides lots to think about for the long term:  https://www.worksinprogress.co/issue/the-housing-theory-of-everything/

	A fantastic job by Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe on TVOntario regarding Bill #23: https://twitter.com/TheAgenda/status/1615454546125365274

3) Save Ontario Wetlands - An excellent website and online resource has been created to explain how the proposed changed to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System will endanger wetlands.  It is a fantastic and detailed site: 

	https://saveontariowetlands.weebly.com/owes-changes.html

4) NDP Organizing Greenbelt Meeting - Marit Styles, the incoming leader of the NDP is organizing an meeting of Greenbelt leaders and experts along with anyone interested at 11:00am Friday January 20th on Zoom to determine next steps to defend and then eventually expand the Greenbelt.  Register to attend by e-mailing your contact information to: MStiles-QP at ndp.on.ca

5) Respect Rural Ontario Rally - This coming Monday, January 23rd at 12:00pm noon there is a large rally planned near Nathan Phillips Square at 123 Queen Street West at the Sheraton Centre Hotel where Doug Ford and much of the Conservative Cabinet will be attending the Rural Ontario Municipality Association (ROMA) Annual Meeting and Conference.  Please be creative with signs and help to send a strong message to the Premier, Cabinet as well as all of the municipal leaders that will be at the conference.

6) Alliance for a Liveable Ontario All Member Meeting - Tuesday, January 24th at 4:00pm please join the more than 500 people who have registered to help build the Alliance to stop Ford’s disastrous agenda, share information, and take action.  If you haven’t registered there is still time:

	https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nQvWyrV2TVWQvdUWkTPlaA

7) Environmental Defence What’s Next Meeting - Get updates on the OPP investigation and learn what is next for Bill 23 and the Greenbelt on Wednesday, January 25th at 7:00pm from Environmental Defence and partners.  A poster is attached below.  Register at:

	https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/120535/petition/1

8) Rally’s and Protests - Numerous additional 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) as well as Owen Sound (Jan 31st), Brockville (Jan 21st), and London (Feb 4th):  

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/

We have had several people including Hal Jaeger, Colleen Cooper and Lyndsay Dajka step forward to help plan some more local rallies here starting in February.  Please reach out to any of them, Mike, or Kevin if you are interested in helping to see what we can organize locally.

9) 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.  

10) Reminder - Friday, January 20th 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 20th - 11:00am - NDP Call with Marit Stiles on the Greenbelt - MStiles-QP at ndp.on.ca

Friday, January 20th - 5:30pm - Group Update Zoom Call - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

Monday, January 23rd - 12:00pm - Rally at ROMA - 123 Queen Street West/Across from Nathan Phillips Square

Tuesday, January 24th - 4:00pm - Alliance for Liveable Ontario All Member Call - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nQvWyrV2TVWQvdUWkTPlaA

Wednesday, January 25th - 7:00pm - Environmental Defence Webinar - Bill 23 & Greenbelt - What’s Next - https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/120535/petition/1

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) What’s Next?

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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) 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:

1) Princess Twin Cinema Waterloo -  two Land Back films at the Princess Twin on Friday, Jan 20th.

2) Knox Church Lecture - Mon, Jan 23, 7:30-9:30pm, 50 Erb St W, Waterloo:

The Niagara Escarpment: A Natural Masterpiece 450 million years in the making
 https://waterlooregionnature.ca/event/niagara-escarpment-geology/?fbclid=IwAR1yJGV5s5dhvbzHiD3R8D6pIbwsYy8IeLgJlQQYUl7AbP5J24Py18NpDic <https://waterlooregionnature.ca/event/niagara-escarpment-geology/?fbclid=IwAR1yJGV5s5dhvbzHiD3R8D6pIbwsYy8IeLgJlQQYUl7AbP5J24Py18NpDic> 

Through the use of images plus samples of rocks, fossils and minerals, Beth Gilhespy will take us on a journey to explore the rich and varied geology of the Niagara Escarpment. Come learn more about this natural masterpiece 450 million years in the making.

This will be a hybrid meeting and you can choose to attend either in-person or via Zoom.
To attend via Zoom, register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElf-mprzwjGN2vr1_X6blMpvDF5FnmDFpn <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElf-mprzwjGN2vr1_X6blMpvDF5FnmDFpn>
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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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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