[All] Bill 23, Greenbelt, and Regional Planning Update

Kevin Thomason kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Mar 9 22:56:23 EST 2023 

Good Day,

Here’s an update this week on Bill 23, the Greenbelt attacks, and Regional Planning destruction:

1) Paris District High School Walkout for the Protection of the Greenbelt - Kudos to the students of Paris District High School who staged a walkout on Thursday afternoon for the protection of the Greenbelt.  It is fantastic to see the youth who are going to be the most impacted by climate change and the decisions of our elected officials speaking up and taking action.  Hopefully we will see more action and youth leadership in the weeks ahead:

	https://instagram.com/pdhswalkout2023?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= <https://instagram.com/pdhswalkout2023?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=>

	Or check out: https://twitter.com/mom2jnp/status/1633932166928236547 <https://twitter.com/mom2jnp/status/1633932166928236547>


2) Another Day, Another Study Finds Greenbelt Carveouts are Unnecessary - Data from the Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario (RPCO) shows there are already over 1 million approved and proposed housing units in the development approval process.  If a proxy of as-of-right accessory units is added, this number totals more than 1.25 million potential new homes.  And that development of the Greenbelt for more homes is unnecessary:

	https://rpco.ca/news-release-regional-planning-commissioners-of-ontario-issue-comprehensive-report-addressing-ontarios-housing-supply-concerns-and-affordability-needs/ <https://rpco.ca/news-release-regional-planning-commissioners-of-ontario-issue-comprehensive-report-addressing-ontarios-housing-supply-concerns-and-affordability-needs/>


3) Wilmot Residents Pack Council Chambers to Overflowing - Congratulations to the hundreds of Wilmot Township residents who packed Wilmot Council Chambers to overflowing, filled the overflow room set-up, and also watched the meeting about the Hallman Pit live online.  It was very unfortunate that citizens were denied the opportunity to delegate and have their concerns heard by this newly elected Council that has completely reversed a previous unanimous decision against this gravel pit and gone against their own election promises.  

The Citzen's for Safe Groundwater organization was only entity permitted 10 minutes to address Council.  They made a very impactful presentation stating that the Bill 23 provision about costs at an LPAT hearing being potentially being found against the Township that the Wilmot Township cited as their reason for decision reversal and settlement hasn’t even been approved by the Legislature yet and isn’t even in force.  

Community members are being encouraged to continue to write letters to the editor, write and call Wilmot Council, and show support on social media.

	https://www.therecord.com/news/council/2023/03/06/wilmot-residents-rally-against-council-decision-on-hallman-pit.html
	
	https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/gave-us-a-sucker-punch-wilmot-council-receives-strong-opposition-to-hallman-gravel-pit-at-meeting-1.6301483

	https://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news-story/10861203-citizens-groups-blindsided-by-wilmot-council-s-decision-to-not-fight-hallman-pit-appeal/


4) A Harsh Truth - Luisa D’mato wrote an excellent article in the Record newspaper this week questioning the role and utility of even having municipal councils if the province exerts so much control over local decision making.  What’s the point she asks of participating at all in local elections, local issues, and local democracy if local council’s have so little power and provincial rules either trump everything or Queen’s Park overrules so much local decision making at their whim:

	A Harsh Truth is Embedded in Wilmot’s Gravel Pit Decision
	https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/opinion/2023/03/02/a-harsh-truth-is-embedded-in-wilmots-gravel-pit-decision.html


5) Recent Media Coverage - great press and media coverage continues on Bill 23, the Greenbelt and Regional Planning:

	The Narwhal - Cities push Ontario to Roll Back Environmental Cuts:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-cities-bill-23/

	Rabble - The Hammer is Coming Down Hard on Ford on Urban Sprawl:
	https://rabble.ca/environment/the-hammer-is-coming-down-hard-on-ford-on-urban-sprawl/

	Woolwich Observer: Ford’s Development Woe’s Keep Piling Up:
	https://observerxtra.com/2023/03/02/fords-development-woes-keep-piling-up/

	Newmarket Deputy Mayor - “This is the Ford Tax - he should own it… This is taxpayers subsidizing developers so lets call it what it is”:
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKu0QBywCvo

	https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-take-a-hike-on-the-greenbelt-doug-ford-6645664?

	https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/03/07/how-the-dream-of-15-minute-cities-was-twisted-into-a-nightmare.html

        Predictably, more Developers have been pushing for more Greenbelt carveouts:
        https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/developer-seeks-to-open-oak-ridges-moraine-land-for-new-homes-6631343 <https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/developer-seeks-to-open-oak-ridges-moraine-land-for-new-homes-6631343>

        https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/aurora-mayor-takes-firm-stand-against-greenbelt-development-6646589 <https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/aurora-mayor-takes-firm-stand-against-greenbelt-development-6646589>


6) Waterloo Regional Official Plan Rally April 2, 2023 - Mark your calendars and save the date of Sunday, April 2nd from 2pm to 3pm as our Rally Committee is planning our next rally event against forced urban boundary expansion and the development of farmland and natural spaces.  The Waterloo Regional Official Plan (along with other Official Plans) are currently awaiting approval from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark.  A decision could come at anytime forcing thousands of acres of unwanted sprawl similar to what the province has done to the Halton Region and City of Hamilton Official Plans.

We want to draw attention to the new report from the Alliance for a Livable Ontario (ALO) showing that municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe already have sufficient lands for twice as many housing units as the province requires under Bill 23 and that Greenbelt land removals as well as forced urban boundary expansions are totally unnecessary.

Rally planning continues and a draft poster is attached below.  Please let either Mike or Kevin know if you are able to help Lyndsay Dajka and the Rally Committee with the organizing of this event.  We hope that you can help send a strong message on April 2nd!


7) Province's Housing Pledge - The City of Guelph Reacts - Under threats from the provincial government and with elected officials stating “I don’t even think they (the province) cares” the City of Guelph passed a pledge of 18,000 housing units along with numerous requests of the province:

	https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/council-puts-a-caveat-on-its-pledge-to-build-18000-homes-6623071 <https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/council-puts-a-caveat-on-its-pledge-to-build-18000-homes-6623071>

	https://www.guelphtoday.com/columns/market-squared-by-adam-a-donaldson/we-came-we-saw-we-pledged-now-what-6643941 <https://www.guelphtoday.com/columns/market-squared-by-adam-a-donaldson/we-came-we-saw-we-pledged-now-what-6643941>


8) Yours To Protect Weekend - once again the amazing folks at YTP are running the Yours To Protect weekend of events across Ontario on Earth Day and throughout the entire weekend of Friday April 21st to Sunday April 23rd.  Promote your event or learn about what is happening in communities across the province at:

	More Information: https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2023/ <https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2023/>
	Register an Event: https://tessa014321.typeform.com/to/Q2DDYzFm <https://tessa014321.typeform.com/to/Q2DDYzFm>?
	Recap of Last Years Events: https://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/04/28/the-yours-to-protect-weekend-is-over-but-the-work-continues/ <https://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/04/28/the-yours-to-protect-weekend-is-over-but-the-work-continues/>


9) Amazing Community Resource - Kudos to Kitchener resident Gail Pool for the excellent website - Land Use Neighbourhood Community Hub that he has created that is a wealth of information, resources, articles and information on planning, development, and many other topics relevant to the issues we regularly discuss.  Check it out at:

	Gail Pool - Amazing Community Resource - Land Use Neighbourhood Community Hub:
	https://landusedev.blogspot.com


10) Reminder - No Meeting this Friday - Our next update meeting will be Friday, March 17th 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 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

	Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701
	Passcode: 713374


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

Friday, March 17th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>

Sunday, April 2nd - 2:00pm - Rally to Respect Waterloo Region’s Official Plan - 475 King St North, Waterloo (draft poster below)



-------------------------------
B) 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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