[All] Bill 23, Bill 97, Greenbelt, Regional Planning, PPS - ERO Deadline Today & Meeting Friday, June 9th at 5:30pm

[Kevin Thomason]

Good Day,

Two reminders and some amazing updates:

1) PPS Deadline - We still need to speak up and send ERO comments regarding the PPS and devastating proposed rural severances today.

A reminder that while the original ERO (Environmental Registry of Ontario) filing deadline of today - Monday, June 5th has been extended for another 60 days until August 4th due to public pressure and feedback, it is still very important to send the government a strong message right now about the PPS and the need to abandon and withdraw the three rural severances being proposed to be allowed for every farm and rural property.  

Despite many media headlines citing the withdrawal of this severance proposal and abandonment of this absurd scheme that could allow up to 12 houses on every farm in Ontario, we can still find no proof or evidence, or even government statement, quote or comment confirming it is actually being withdrawn at this time.

In fact, even just today Minister of Agriculture Lisa Thompson was refusing to answer if the severances have been cancelled and is stating that no decisions will be made until the ERO consultation is complete in August.

We need to continue to write, call, rally, and do all that we can to ensure that this rural severance proposal is completely withdrawn and our farms along with our countryside will remain intact to be able to sustain future generations.

It’s easy to submit a comment to the ERO.  Please do so right now even if it is only a couple of sentences at:

	 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813

Ontario Nature has lead the creation of an excellent ERO submission in collaboration with 62 groups across the province.  It is attached below and you can utilize it to help draft your own comments and feedback to the government.


2) Upcoming Group Meeting - A reminder of our regular update meeting later this week on, Friday, June 9th at 5:30pm on Zoom where we will discuss all the recent activities and the implications for our communities: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09


3) Enough is Enough - Congratulations to the tens of thousands of people who attended Enough is Enough events across Ontario this past weekend!  It was fantastic to team up with labour, education, healthcare, affordable housing, basic income, agricultural groups, and many others to send a clear message that the province is heading the wrong direction.  Excellent events were held locally in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, and Brantford while more than 10,000 people participated in the Toronto march through downtown streets.  Here’s some of the media coverage:

	CTV News - Families are Struggling: Enough is Enough Day of Action Held in Kitchener:
	https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/families-are-struggling-day-of-action-held-in-kitchener-1.6426377

	The Toronto Star - “People Are Fed Up”: Thousands Rally In Ontario Over Discontent With Provincial Government:
	https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/06/03/thousands-rally-in-ontario-over-discontent-with-provincial-government.html

	CityNews - Enough is Enough:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/06/03/enough-is-enough-rally-taking-place-in-kitchener/?


4) PPS/Rural Severances - Kudo’s to the farm organizations uniting and everyone who has spoke up so far about the absurd rural severance proposal.  Media has been widely reporting that we have been successful and the severance proposal has been withdrawn though we can find no actual proof of any withdrawl and the severance proposal still stands in the proposed PPS materials.

It has been fantastic to see municipalities across the province continue to issue Staff Reports and motions against these severances as well as raise other concerns about the proposed PPS changes.  Please ensure that your municipality is speaking up and sending a clear message to Queen’s Park - particularly since they now have until August 4th to comment on the ERO.  At the very least they should approve and endorse the excellent motion that the Township of Woolwich has drafted and made available to other communities (attached below). 

Here are recent media articles clearly understanding the potential negative impacts of these proposed severances and other PSS changes but we believe erroneously/prematurely reporting that the government is cancelling them, abandoning them and backing down when we can find no proof and staff, MPP’s, Ministers and the Premier refuse to answer any questions or confirm that they are abandoning the rural farm severance scheme to allow three severances and up to 12 homes on every existing farm property.

	The Toronto Star - Ford Government Cancels “Clueless” Plan To Allow Housing on Farmland After Backlash:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/05/31/ford-government-cancels-clueless-plan-to-allow-housing-on-farmland-after-backlash.html

	CityNews - Ontario Abandons Proposal to Sever Farmland Lots In Response to Farmer Opposition:
	https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/05/30/ontario-abandons-farmland-farmer-opposition/

	CBC - Farmers Pressure Doug Ford Government to Reverse Course on Housing Plan:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-farmers-housing-severance-land-use-doug-ford-1.6856666?

	Newmarket Today - Ford Government Backtracks On Plan to Sever Farmland for Housing:
	https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/ford-government-backtracks-on-plan-to-sever-farmland-for-housing-7075160?

	The Pointer - PC Housing Bill Limits Environmental Protections, Scraps Complete Communities but Farmers Win Key Fight Against Developers:
	https://thepointer.com/article/2023-06-02/pc-housing-bill-limits-environmental-protections-scraps-complete-communities-but-farmers-win-key-fight-against-developers

	
In an attempt to try to determine if the severances have indeed been cancelled or not opposition MPPs have been very direct for several days in Question Periods trying to get clear answers which has been even more challenging than usual:

	Legislative Assembly at the 42 minute mark:
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1hGmoem63o&t=2807s

	I love the quote by independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady: A government in-touch with rural Ontario wouldn’t need to take until August 4th to figure out that this is a bad idea, yet then Doug Ford claims in response that there has never been a government in Ontario that has supported the farmers and been more loved by farmers and all the farm organizations than he has.

The farm organizations that have united across Ontario have issued a joint statement that recognizes that government has heard the their concerns, has extended the ERO deadline, and is seeking dialog with them but doesn’t mention whether the severances have been cancelled or not as the media is reporting.  The farm organizations plan to continue to pressure the government to prove they are truly ending the severance proposal and will work to protect, rather than target farmland.

	OFA Joint Statement From Ontario’s Farm Leaders:
	https://ofa.on.ca/newsroom/joint-statement-from-ontarios-farm-leaders/


Thus, until we have clear, firm, unequivocal confirmation that these absurd severances that would decimate farms, groundwater recharge areas, and natural areas across the entire province are completely withdrawn and abandoned we need to ignore the media headlines and keep up the pressure, greater than ever, with letters, submissions, phone calls, and everything that we can possibly do.


5) ALO - It’s Time for the Premier To Tell The Truth About The Housing Crisis - The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario held an excellent Press Conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday where former Toronto Mayor and Conservative MP told Doug Ford to “Keep your hands off the Greenbelt” and to “Tell the truth about the housing crisis” that it isn’t a land issue.  David Crombie, along with The Ontario Farmland Trust, The National Farmers Union, ACORN, and Environmental Defence all made excellent presentations that can be viewed online:

	https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/june-1-media-event-at-queens-park

An excellent Take Action Toolkit has been developed with great resources and information materials that you can use to help let people know that we can solve Ontario’s housing challenges without sacrificing the Greenbelt and farmland:

	https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/its-time-for-the-premier-to-tell-the-truth


6) Recent Media -  In addition to the rural severances and PPS there continues to be extensive coverage of other issues in the media including the Greenbelt, Bill 23, and more:

	The Era - How the 407 Golden Corridor can save the Ontario Greenbelt:
	https://www.therecord.com/local-newmarket/opinion/2023/05/29/how-the-407-golden-corridor-can-save-the-ontario-greenbelt.html?itm_source=parsely-api

	Watch a 4th grader get the government to admit they don’t need the Greenbelt:
	https://twitter.com/JoelHardenONDP/status/1663240912795729937?t=0oAOsGt1-ES9t4TXEgeyhQ&s=19

	The Toronto Star - The Next Step In The Greenbelt Battle: Protecting the Once Off-Limits Oak Ridges Moraine
	https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/06/03/the-next-step-in-the-greenbelt-battle-protecting-the-once-off-limits-oak-ridges-moraine.html

	Ontario Legislature Question Period - Opposition Announces More Evidence That Ford Government Knew Greenbelt Take Outs Earlier Than Admitted:
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqHsLLSRWIQ

	Starting right at the beginning of the video.  There was considerable comments on social media about how angry and arrogant the Conservatives have been recently with Speaker Arnott frequently having to stop proceedings and call out specific members to restore decorum:
		https://twitter.com/wendygoodes/status/1664321750551633921?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw

	Our own Mike Marcolongo had a tweet recently go viral about Doug Ford visiting an ice cream shop - and it was picked up BlogTO: 
	https://www.blogto.com/city/2023/05/doug-ford-pr-stunt-people-ontario-roasting-twitter/

	TVO's "The Thread" did an excellent show on the issues, concerns and similarities between the debate to keep Ontario Place public and the Greenbelt out of developers' hands:
	The Fight for Green Space | Full Episode | The Thread with Nam Kiwanuka - YouTube
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN7lOMcidvg


7) CELA Bill 23 Passed…  What Happens Next Webinar - The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) will be hosting an online webinar with the Markham Public Library discussing Bill 23 and the impacts it will have on communities, climate resilience, citizen engagement, affordable housing, protecting water, and natural heritage.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 15th at 6pm and will also discuss other recent land use and housing law proposals.  Registration is required at:

	CELA Lecture - Bill 23 Passed…. What Happens Next?
	https://markham.bibliocommons.com/events/64494f0a023dc43e007f54f3


8) Proposed Rally and Picnic? - Our Rally Committee is wondering about hosting our next rally on Saturday, July 29th in advance of the August 6th PPS ERO deadline.  It could be a perfect opportunity to bring together a broad range of groups such as affordable housing advocates, agricultural groups, environmental groups, and many others concerned about the proposed PPS changes, housing, and rural severances.  Please let either Mike or Kevin know if you would be interested in joining the Rally Committee to help plan this next event or if you have any ideas on how we can surpass our last events with even greater impact.


9) New Mapping and Analysis by Environmental Defence - New mapping and analysis by Environmental Defence discredits Ontario government's excuses for forcing suburban boundary expansions and removing Greenbelt, floodplain and wetland protections: 

	New Mapping and Analysis Discredits the Ontario Government’s Excuses for Forcing Suburban Boundary Expansions and Removing Greenbelt, Floodplain and Wetland Protections - Environmental Defence <https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/05/30/new-mapping-and-analysis-discredits-the-ontario-governments-excuses-for-forcing-suburban-boundary-expansions-and-removing-greenbelt-floodplain-and-wetland-protections/>


10) NDP Stop The Sprawl Virtual Rally and Town Hall - Official Opposition Housing Critic NDP MPP Jessica Bell and NDP MPP for Waterloo Catherine Fife held an excellent online virtual Town Hall meeting last Wednesday discussing how the housing crisis can be solved while protecting the Greenbelt and farmland.  Their staff have produced an excellent Stop Sprawl Toolkit for citizens with clear, easy instructions on actions anyone can take and how to get involved.  It is attached below as a PDF slide deck.


11) MPP Peter Tabuns Petition - There is an online petition that you can easily sign by NDP MPP Peter Tabuns.  Take a minute and sign it at:

	https://www.petertabuns.ca/protect_the_greenbelt_march_2023?recruiter_id=23179


12) Reminder - Meeting this Friday - Join us this Friday, June 9th at 5:30pm:

	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


Please help us inform people about these issues.  Feel free to forward this e-mail or parts of it to anyone you think would be interested and please reply or send Mike or Kevin any e-mail addresses of people you would like to be added to our distribution list.  Each week we are growing our reach and helping to educate to more people.

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

Today - Monday, June 5th - Please comment on the rural severances, protecting farmland and the Provincial Policy Statement - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813

Friday, June 9th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Saturday, July 29th - 2:00pm - Save the Date!  Proposed Rally and Picnic at Waterloo Park - More details coming soon!

Friday, August 4th - last day to comment on the Provincial Policy Statement - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813


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B) Staff Reports and Woolwich Motion they are encouraging other municipalties to endorse/adopt as well:

i) Woolwich Township PPS Staff Report and Motion:
	



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C) Speak up on the Provincial Policy Statement and proposed rural severances for farmland: 

Please comment by today - JUNE 5th on the PPS: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813 <https://gasp4change.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f78129ba7eabe097015221d5d&id=840c2d168c&e=8a629d034f> 

You can also still send in additional comments as we learn more by AUGUST 4th.


Here are some notes to help write your comments:

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/04/06/ontario-to-kill-growth-plan-proposed-new-planning-rules-would-kneecap-housing-supply-efforts-and-unleash-unprecedented-sprawl-on-ontarios-forests-farmland-and-wetlands/ <https://gasp4change.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f78129ba7eabe097015221d5d&id=4ae43b5c7d&e=8a629d034f>

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D) Here's Excellent Ontario Nature Led Submission on the PPS and Rural Severances you can use in your ERO submission:

	


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E) Stop The Sprawl Toolkit - Here’s the fantastic Citizen’s Toolkit from MPP Jessica Bell:

	



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F) Additional Media Articles - these articles are misleading on the provincial government’s response.  The ERO has been extended but we are still awaiting any sort of government statement on the severances:






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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
Will Bouma - MPP Brantford-Brant - will.bouma at pc.ola.org <mailto:will.bouma at pc.ola.org> or (519) 759-0361
Ted Arnott - MPP Wellington-Halton Hills - ted.arnott at pc.ola.org <mailto:ted.arnott at pc.ola.org> or (519) 787-5247
Ernie Hardeman - MPP Oxford - ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org <mailto:ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org> or (519) 537-5222
Matthew Rae - MPP Perth-Wellington - matthew.rae at pc.ola.org <mailto:matthew.rae at pc.ola.org> or (519) 272-0660

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

Local Green Party MPPs:
Mike Schreiner - MPP Guelph - mschreiner at ola.org <mailto:mschreiner at ola.org> or (519) 836-4190

Independent MPPs:
Bobbi Ann Brady - MPP Haldimand-Norfolk - babrady-co at ola.org <mailto:babrady-co at ola.org> or (519) 428-0446

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

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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