[All] Bill 23, Bill 97, Regional Planning, Greenbelt, PPS Updates, Meeting Friday, May 12th at 5:30pm

Thu May 11 17:55:51 EDT 2023

Good Day,

A reminder of our meeting tomorrow, Friday, May 12th at 5:30pm on Zoom where we will try to address recent provincial announcements and implications for our communities: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

1) Media Coverage - for once there hasn’t been a lot of new media coverage on the issues.  In fact, it is very concerning to see the lack of awareness and media coverage on the devastating rural severances proposal by the Ford government given its broad negative impacts, how much it stands to destroy our countryside, and forever compromise food production across Ontario:

	Toronto Star - High Costs Putting Farming Out of Reach for Young People, Affecting All Canadians:
	https://www.thestar.com/business/2023/05/07/high-costs-putting-farming-out-of-reach-for-young-people-affecting-all-canadians.html

2) Rural Farm Severances - Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar - Join Ontario Farmland Trust on May 17th at 12pm for the free Lunch, Learn and Take Action Webinar on Impacts of the New Proposed Provincial Planning Statement: Lot Creation Policies.  Featruring Dr. Pam Duesling, Dr. Wayne Caldwell, and Margaret Walton it should be an excellent and easy way to learn more about these policy changes proposed in the new PPS and how you can take action for agriculture and the environment:

	https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537

3) Speak Up on the ERO Submissions - We need to be speaking up very loudly and protesting these proposed changes to planning, our communities, and precious farmland.  There are still an important open comment periods on the recent announcement of changes to the Provincial Policy Statement.  You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t need to submit a lengthy submission in order to comment - even just a few words of concern is enough to send a message that you are not supportive of these provincial changes and policies:

	Comment on the Provincial Policy Statement (in particular the absurd proposed farm severances) until June 5th:
	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813

We should note that while at times we wonder if our letters, phone calls and ERO submissions have much impact with Doug Ford’s Conservative Provincial Government, we were recently learned just how concerned the government is by all our actions, how closely they are tracking them, and that we are indeed having a significant impact.

4) Lawn Signs -  Now that Spring is here brighten up your lawn with a sign in support of the Greenbelt and lawn signs in support of Respecting Official Plans/Stopping Sprawl.  We still have some signs available (examples below).  Please let any of our sign captains know if you would be interested in some for your lawn and neighbourhood:

	Both Regional Official Plan and Greenbelt Signs:
	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>
	Cambridge - Ashley Labelle - ashleynlabelle at gmail.com <mailto:ashleynlabelle at gmail.com>
	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>
	Greenbelt Signs:
	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>
	Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - geosynergy at yahoo.com <mailto:geosynergy at yahoo.com> 

5) Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities Webinar - the next webinar called “Creating Housing Solutions Amidst Provincial Planning Chaos" is being held on Thursday, May 25th at 4 pm.  It features Victor Doyle (Provincial Housing and Planning Expert) and Dr. Karen Chapple (Director of the School of Cities, University of Toronto).

The panel discussion will focus on an expert analysis of the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and what it will mean for municipal Councils trying to meet housing needs.  Additional information is in the poster below.

Citizens and local municipal officials can register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ

6) Reminder - Meeting this Friday - Our next update meeting will be Friday, May 12th 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

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, May 12th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Wednesday, May 17th - 12pm - Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar on Rural Severances - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537

Thursday, May 24th - 4pm - Creating Housing Solutions Amidst Provincial Planning Chaos Webinar - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ#/registration

Monday, June 5th - last day to comment on the Provincial Policy Statement - https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813

---------------------------------
B) Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar on Farm Severances - May 17th 12pm:

Wayne Caldwell Lunch Learn and Take Action - Rural Farmland Severances:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537

-------------------------------------------
C) Need a lawn sign?  Please reach out to Kevin, Mike, or any of our Sign Captains:

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

Please comment by 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> 

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>

-----------------------------
E) Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities - Webinar - May 25th at 4pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ#/registration

-----------------------------
F) Good Media Articles:

-----------------------------
G) Public Healthcare - Pharmacare Townhall Meeting - May 16th 7pm:

------------------------------
H) 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

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

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/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0008.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Screenshot 2023-04-28 at 7.38.25 PM.png
Type: image/png
Size: 368681 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0009.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Stop Sprawl Sign Print.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 603636 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0003.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0010.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 89289fad-1fd6-54fb-7922-9ffa81409388.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 62947 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0003.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0011.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: f6001b9b-c57d-f6f2-fc4d-eab4e6968f23.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 76237 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0004.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0012.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Housing Webinar Poster.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 1541295 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0004.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0013.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image0.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 673657 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0005.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0014.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Pharmacare poster & press release.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 166334 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0005.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20230511/e08c540d/attachment-0015.html>