[All] Join The Protest At FordFest, Waterloo Passes Motion About Shredded Corn, Which Minister To Believe, RCMP Investigations Into Greenbelt Scandal And More!

Thu Aug 15 11:35:09 EDT 2024

Good Day,

As the 5 months long summer “break” from the provincial legislature continues, the news and activities has not slowed down.  Join the fun on Friday and let Doug Ford hear your concerns directly as we protest at FordFest in Milton, the Region of Waterloo passes a surprise motion promising not to shred anymore corn in Wilmot, the RCMP Greenbelt investigation is in the news, and which Cabinet Minister should we believe?  Here’s the latest:

1) Protest At FordFest Friday, August 16th 4pm to 6pm - Doug Ford is hosting his annual FordFest in Milton on Friday, August 16th to celebrate his so-called “accomplishments”.  Environmental groups, labour unions, teachers, nurses, healthcare professionals, and many others are working together to surpass the protest at Bingeman’s FordFest last September which was the lead item on newscasts across Ontario as our number of protesters outside greatly outnumbered the attendees inside.

There will be buses provided from New Hamburg/Baden, Kitchener, Hamilton, and Toronto.  Please sign-up on the Ontario Federation of Labour website to be kept updated on the latest information and organizing details:

	https://ofl.ca/event/thankdougford-for-getting-it-done/

The bus from Kitchener-Waterloo will be starting at the Wilmot Recreation Centre (1291 Nafizger Road, Baden) at 3:30pm then travelling onto Kitchener and leaving Fairview Park Mall at 4:00pm on Friday and returning around 7pm to Kitchener and 7:30pm to Baden/New Hamburg.  At the Wilmot Recreation Centre meet on the East side by the playground and splash pad.  In Kitchener, meet outside the mall entrance by Tim Horton’s and Food Court (north side of the mall facing Kingsway drive) near Walmart.  Here’s maps and the Google Form to fill out to reserve a free seat on the bus:

	Map of where to meet in Wilmot - https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Wilmot+Splash+Pad/@43.3892366,-80.6837727,1151m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x882c070ba1e8c183:0x2eba27fd68a6760e!8m2!3d43.3892366!4d-80.6811978!16s%2Fg%2F11g8tzkp2s?hl=en&entry=ttu
	Map of where to meet in Kitchener - https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Tim+Hortons/@43.4251324,-80.4396781,288m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x882b8ad956aaaaab:0x1d48b828d2542417!8m2!3d43.425302!4d-80.438729!16s%2Fg%2F11b5wmst1_?entry=ttu

	Reserve your seat on the bus - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu07s6sy4gt7F6wAKemkG1yM3M4k4fxUpU1e0xaAfR0Y0q3g/viewform

If you plan to drive to Milton, the FordFest event is at the Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Road, Milton Ontario L9T 2X3 though parking will be at the Milton Baptist Church at 88 Tremaine Road with shuttle buses available.

Action Required - Hopefully you can join the fun to help send a strong message to the Premier.  It’s the perfect opportunity to show that we are unwilling and we are planning lots of Fight For Farmland signage.

2) Which Minister Do You Believe? - Citizens are wondering which cabinet minister to believe after Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Agri- Food and Agri-Business admitted to CityNews reporters on August 7th that the province is funding the very controversial Wilmot mega-industrial site land assembly. This is in stark contrast to numerous statements made by Minister of Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris Jr. who has consistently claimed for months that this is a local Township of Wilmot and Region of Waterloo initiative with no provincial involvement. 

So which Minister do we believe?  The new Minister who claims the province is funding it all, or the new Minister that claims there is no provincial involvement and has been blaming others since the onset with no indication that he has even been to Wilmot Township anytime in the past five months?  Will Mike Harris Jr. ever visit Wilmot?

Hundreds of people have watched the video of each Cabinet Minister’s statements.  See for yourself at:

	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EAjWXCvRM

And here’s some local news reports about these conflicting statements from our provincial government:

	StratfordToday.ca - Citizens Decry Secrecy On 770 Acre Industrial Land Assembly In Wilmot:
	https://www.stratfordtoday.ca/local-news/citizens-decry-secrecy-on-770-acre-industrial-land-assembly-in-wilmot-9345572

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Breaking News - Just as we were about to send this update, provincial ministers Vic Fedeli and Mike Harris Jr. have issued a statement stating that while the province is indeed funding the Wilmot land assembly, the Region of Waterloo is to blame for everything.  It certainly appears that the province is throwing the Region under the bus and there is no explanation as to why Mike Harris has consistently denied provincial involvement until today.   

It is astounding to see some of the wording being used in the statement such as:

	- “given the region’s lack of transparency in its land assembly process, we feel it necessary to clarify our government’s involvement”, however we understand that it is the province that hides behind an NDA and insisted on secrecy from the onset of this land assembly.

	- “while the province is supporting the Region of Waterloo with funding to help purchase land, it is the sole responsibility of the region to assemble the site and work collaboratively with all affected communities and stakeholders”, however MPP Mike Harris Jr. has consistently denied any provincial responsibility in this land assembly.

	- “we want to underline that they (efforts to attract investment) must always be conducted in a fair and respectful manner.  This is a principle we strongly uphold, and we urge the Region of Waterloo to do the same.”, however so many recent provincial government decisions have been made bypassing all proper planning processes, necessary public consultation, and dialog.  Actions such as Bill 185 removing citizen’s appeal rights are completely unfair and disrespectful to the public.

A copy of the statement from the Ministers is attached below in Section C) and here’s breaking media coverage of it:

	CityNews - MPP Harris Says Province Helping To Fund Wilmot Land Assembly:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/08/15/mpp-harris-says-province-will-be-helping-fund-wilmot-land-assembly/

This surprise statement certainly provides the Region of Waterloo with so much opportunity to abandon this absurd site and start with a fresh approach using proper planning processes and extensive community consultation to choose a better location for a mega-industrial site that is far more congruent with expectations, our Regional Official Plan, and decades of previous planning protecting farmland as well as our groundwater.

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3) Region Of Waterloo Approves Motion Regarding Wilmot Corn Destruction - In a surprise motion on Tuesday, Region of Waterloo Councillors unanimously passed a motion committing to not destroying any other crops in Wilmot Township and requested a staff report on the absurd and very expensive destruction of 160 acres of corn.

Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen introduced the motion which acknowledges the crop was only 5 or 6 weeks away from proper harvest and the destruction violated the Region’s Strategic Plan as well as conflicts with the Provincial Agri-food Strategy.  The motion also states that Regional Council will be provided of advance notice of any further work occurring on the lands purchased by the Region of Waterloo for the land assembly though given that this massive mega-site is one of the largest investments of tax dollars in the Region’s history one would have hoped that Councillors would have been well informed and involved in decisions to date.

Once again, this motion shows how out of touch the Region is with Wilmot citizens, the many other serious concerns about this mega-industrial site, and the entire process to date that has yet to have a single public meeting or any studies or research released.

Here’s some of the media reports about this new motion:

	CBC - No More Crops Will Be Destroy On Wilmot Township Lands Purchased By Region: Council:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/wilmot-farmland-crops-region-buying-motion-salonen-1.7294283

	CityNews - Councillors Request Report To Seek Answers On Wilmot Corn Crop Destruction:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/08/14/regional-councillors-to-seek-answers-on-wilmot-corn-field-destruction-requests-report/?

	The Record - Waterloo Region Purchased Farm Land For Development, Then Destroyed The Corn Crop.  Now Councillors Want Answers:
	https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/waterloo-region-purchased-farm-land-for-development-then-destroyed-the-corn-crop-now-councillors-want/article_4b6b383d-3ce0-5f81-b02e-481674d6a834.html

4) Fight For Farmland Challenges Wilmot Township To Declare It’s Unwilling - This week Fight For Farmland spokesperson Alfred Lowrick met with Wilmot Township Mayor Natasha Salonen to deliver a letter on behalf of the Fight for Farmland group. The letter calls on Mayor Salonen to declare Wilmot Township an Unwilling Host until the next Regional Official Plan Review, revert back to our strongly approved Regional Official Plan with its focus on sustainability and farmland protection, and ensure proper planning as well as public consultation processes for any future mega- industrial site investigation. The letter also reminds Mayor Salonen of the promises she made during her election campaign.
Along with the letter, Alfred included a list of 70+ questions concerning the proposed developments, requested the release of studies supporting the proposed Wilmot mega-industrial site land acquisition, and urged public meetings to explain the rationale of prime farmland for development – particularly when this 770-acre site is far outside the Countryside Line, protected by the Region of Waterloo's Official Plan, and its development violates Section 24(1) of the Provincial Planning Act.

We are hopeful that Wilmot Township will finally listen to our unwilling farmers, our other unwilling landowners, and our very unwilling community and declare that Wilmot Township is an unwilling host at their next Council meeting on August 26th.

Here’s a link to the letter:

	https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/66bd1f609b431f0b6ea59d09/1723670368635/Council+Letter+August+12.pdf

And here’s a link to the 20+ questions:

	https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/66bd1f7ab54e621c19024301/1723670394524/Wilmot+Land+Acquisition+20%2B+Questions.pdf

Action Required - Please continue to e-mail and call Wilmot Councillors and Mayor Salonen to urge them to represent their constituents who have made it overwhelmingly clear that we are unwilling and declare that Wilmot Township is an unwilling host.

5) Upcoming Fight For Farmland Rallies and Protests - In addition to Friday's protest at FordFest in Milton, we are planning large protests on Monday August 26th at Wilmot Township Council, and Wednesday, August 28th at Waterloo Regional Council for our communities to show firsthand that we are unwilling.  Please save the dates and watch for more information on these upcoming events.

	Wilmot Township Council: 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden - Monday, August 26, 2024 - 5:30 pm (council meets at 7:00 pm)

	Region of Waterloo Council: 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener - Wednesday, August 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm

Significant media coverage continues on the Wilmot mega-industrial site including these excellent articles:

	Canadian Mennonite - From Fresh Cabbage To Shovel-Ready Industrial Land:
	https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/fresh-cabbage-shovel-ready-industrial-land

	The Record - Manufacturing Has Diminished.  Is Creating Factory Lands In Wilmot A Ticket To Prosperity?:
	https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/manufacturing-has-diminished-is-creating-factory-lands-in-wilmot-a-ticket-to-prosperity/article_ad4cbca6-a135-50e9-baa5-6f9b1c16e0b0.html

	The Record - What’s In Our Water:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/what-s-in-our-water/article_c18a4f88-e289-5ec5-800f-0a8c8e8ac2a7.html

And here’s an article about government incentives for EV industrial plant expansion in Napanee:

	CityNews - Goodyear Spending $575 Million To Expand Ontario Plant To Produce EV Tires:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/08/12/goodyear-spending-575m-to-expand-ontario-plant-produce-ev-tires-2/?

And attached below are some excellent recent Letters to the Editor.  Keep up the great writing!

Action Required - Please continue to speak up, join upcoming rallies/protests, and continue to show that our communities are unwilling!

6) Greenbelt Scandal Continues With RCMP Investigation - It seems that the RCMP has finally started to interview key figures and witnesses involved in the Greenbelt scandal:

	The Toronto Star - “We Have Nothing To Hide” Doug Ford Says As RCMP Interviews Potential Witnesses Linked To Ontario Government In Greenbelt Criminal Probe:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/we-have-nothing-to-hide-doug-ford-says-as-rcmp-interviews-potential-witnesses-linked-to/article_afff8828-55ea-11ef-995e-fb0f05abd10a.html <https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/we-have-nothing-to-hide-doug-ford-says-as-rcmp-interviews-potential-witnesses-linked-to/article_afff8828-55ea-11ef-995e-fb0f05abd10a.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a01&utm_source=ts_sa&utm_medium=email&utm_email=2DF5A405D6082D2C0C4FDB5202BCAE69&utm_campaign=ford_friend_218088>

	CityNews - RCMP Interviewing Current And Former Ford Staffers As Part Of Greenbelt Investigation:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/08/09/rcmp-interviewing-current-and-former-ford-staffers-as-part-of-greenbelt-investigation/?

	The Record - As RCMP Investigates Greenbelt Scandal, Finance Minister Says Ford Government Is “An Open Book”:
	https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/as-rcmp-investigates-greenbelt-scandal-finance-minister-says-ford-government-is-an-open-book/article_142f8a4a-b974-5074-8754-305aecae5052.html <https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/as-rcmp-investigates-greenbelt-scandal-finance-minister-says-ford-government-is-an-open-book/article_142f8a4a-b974-5074-8754-305aecae5052.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_wiidt0atq3>

7) Ford Government Continues Confounding And Inappropriate Appointments - Thanks to the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition for pointing out some of the recent patronage appointments made my Premier Doug Ford that defy logic including:

	Rocco Vacca (a longtime lawyer for developers specializing in urban sprawl) has been appointed to be the Chair of the Niagara Escarpment Commission on July 1, 2024
	Here’s the announcement: https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/Agency/367
	Here’s Rocco’s professional profile detailing decades of advocating to pave over natural spaces and farmland - https://sullivanmahoney.com/lawyers/rocco-rocky-vacca/

	Marvin Geist (a development lawyer involved in one of the most controversial developments (Friday Harbour/Big Bay Point) on Lake Simcoe that has been mired in turmoil) has been appointed Lake Simcoe Science Committee Chair (all past Chairs have been scientist as you would expect).
	Here’s the announcement: https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/AgencyBios/224?appointmentId=13028

Group member Joan Faux has noted numerous other very concerning recent appointments that can be found in the following document: 

	https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZT8oMGzjbDq5a9G8hk-CpXjimLkTS6HPTEDNwRxZvAw/edit

8) Recent Articles - Include huge population growth, the Whitby Mayor scoring a new hospital, and Guelph leading with innovative homes:

	The Toronto Star - Ontario Experienced A Decade’s Worth Of Population Growth In Just Three Years.  We Can’t Support That Growth Without Building Way More Homes:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/ontario-experienced-a-decades-worth-of-population-growth-in-just-three-years-we-cant-support/article_88bc8f4c-53f9-11ef-9cd7-f393809d2fb1.html

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Said He Wouldn’t Be Bullied By This Ontario Mayor So How Did She Get Her Way?:
	https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/doug-ford-said-he-wouldn-t-be-bullied-by-this-ontario-mayor-so-how-did/article_8a846b96-55b7-11ef-9476-9f5fe4a72a0f.html

	The Record - The IKEA Of House Building - Guelph-based Pacd Homes Provides Another Way To Increase Housing Supply:
	https://www.therecord.com/business/the-ikea-of-house-building-guelph-based-pacd-homes-provides-another-way-to-increase-housing/article_8415fec6-0bfd-5621-8ca1-1b3f7eba630b.html

9) Cooperate For Canada - Ontario Election Launch - The Cooperate For Canada launch that is urging cooperation between the NDP, Liberals, and Green Parties is continuing with their a new campaign specifically for the Ontario provincial election which could be called as early as this autumn.  Details of this new campaign are available at:

	https://cooperateforcanada.ca/ontario/

There is a new Ontario brochure that can be downloaded at:

	https://actionnetwork.org/user_files/user_files/000/111/357/original/Cooperate_for_Canada_Ontario_Brochure.pdf

And learn specifically about Doug Ford’s record as Premier with a significant list of issues and crises we are facing:

	https://cooperateforcanada.ca/2024/07/16/ontario-premier-doug-fords-record/

As well, please sign up on social media to learn more and share with others:

	Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Cooperate4Canada
	Twitter/X -https://x.com/coopr84canada
	Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cooperateforcanada/

Action Required - Please share information about this new organization and campaign widely with your networks and sign up for their social media.

10) Greenspace Carve Outs Coming Soon To A Conservation Area Near You - Kudos to Guelph activist Susan Watson for her ongoing work to protect the Niska Lands and better guide the Grand River Conservation Authority.  Here’s an excellent blog post on the Environmental Defence website written by her about the provincial governments efforts to destroy our greenspace:

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/08/14/premier-fords-greenspace-carve-outs-coming-soon-to-a-conservation-area-near-you/

11) Additional Media - Include alarming homelessness numbers, our failing healthcare system is no joke, and how many cabinet ministers does it take to open a veterinary clinic?:

	The Trillium - Appalling Statistics (‘unofficial’) About The Homeless In Ontario - Impacting Approximately 3 Out Of 200, Or 234,000 People:
	https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/ontarios-unofficial-estimate-of-homeless-population-is-234000-documents-9341464

	CBC - Youth Homelessness Is On The Rise In Waterloo Region And Expected To Continue:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-region-youth-homelessness-on-rise-1.7294168

	A tragedy of homelessness:
	There were no beds for her in Hamilton. Melanie Burnett died alone in London:
	https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/there-were-no-beds-for-her-in-hamilton-melanie-burnett-died-alone-in-london/article_59e78d6f-a1df-528d-81d1-702874a0255f.html

	In case you ever wonder how many cabinet ministers (along with the Premier!) does it take to open a veterinary clinic?  We found out Tuesday, along with the fact Ontario Minister of Health, Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones is excited enough about a new facility that will provide “comprehensive and compassionate care for small animals and equine patients closer to home” to post about it on TwitterX - https://x.com/SylviaJonesMPP/status/1823443250343993843
	Background story - https://x.com/itzmekatherine/sta	tus/1823570297355653325?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw <https://x.com/itzmekatherine/status/1823570297355653325?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw>
	https://www.yorkregion.com/news/canines-have-howlin-good-time-at-dog-tales-rescue-and-sanctuary/article_78388d9c-39c9-510a-a426-4598ac140774.html
	Speaking of appalling, at this same event Doug Ford made jokes about sending hospital overflow patients to the King City Veterinary Clinic:
	https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2024/08/13/premier-ford-jokes-that-hospital-overflow-can-go-to-new-animal-hospital/

	The Hamilton Spectator - Opposition Slams Doug Ford For Jokes About Animal Hospital:
	https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/opposition-slams-doug-ford-for-joke-about-animal-hospital/article_58cc7a2d-4dec-5a7f-8659-c0b8c09fc715.html

12) Greenbelt Party Sept 29th - Greenbelt Promise has announced a Greenbelt fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th from 12pm to 5pm with live music, barn dancing, local food, and family activities to further protection of the Greenbelt at the Bela Farm in Hillsburgh.  There’ll be amazing food, local beverages, and contra dancing!

Learn more and purchase your tickets at:	

	https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gather-barn-dance-at-bela-farm-tickets-970443391307

13) Reminder - Next Meeting - Join us next Friday, August 23rd at 5:30pm online at the Zoom link below:

	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, Mike Marcolongo, and Joan Faux on behalf of all our community groups.

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A) Upcoming Events - Get out and get involved!

Friday, August 16th - Rally/Protest at Ford Fest at the Country Heritage Park in Milton - sign up and get details at: https://ofl.ca/event/thankdougford-for-getting-it-done/

Friday, August 23rd at 5:30pm - Next group update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Friday, August 23rd to Sunday, August 25th - Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow Mississaugas Of The Credit - https://newcreditcc.com/?service=pow-wow-schedule-fees

Monday, August 26th - 5:30pm - Wilmot Township Council Meeting Protest Rally - www.fightforfarmland.com <http://www.fightforfarmland.com/>

Monday, August 26th - 7pm - City of Kitchener ClimateActionWR/Waterloo Climate Collaborative Council Delegation - https://www.kitchener.ca/en/council-and-city-administration/appear-as-a-delegation.aspx

Wednesday, August 28th at 6:30pm - Fight For Farmland Rally at Region of Waterloo Council - 150 Fredrick Street, Kitchener - www.fightforfarmland.com <http://www.fightforfarmland.com/>

Sunday, September 29th from 12pm to 5pm - Greenbelt Party in Hillsburgh - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gather-barn-dance-at-bela-farm-tickets-970443391307

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B) FordFest Protest - Friday, August 16th 4pm to 6pm:

	https://ofl.ca/event/thankdougford-for-getting-it-done/

	https://ofl.ca/event/thankdougford-for-getting-it-done/

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C) Breaking News - Thursday morning statement from Minister Vic Fedeli and Minister Mike Harris Blaming The Region of Waterloo for everything:

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D) Letter to Wilmot Township Re: Unwilling Declaration:

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E) Fight For Farmland - 20+ Questions Document:

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F) Cooperate for Canada - Handout Cards To Share With Supporters:

Please print these and distribute to help build momentum:

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G) Fight For Farmland - Recent Letters To The Editor:

https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/aug-8-farmers-must-keep-fighting-for-their-land-and-values-someone-at-waterloo-regional/article_92621dc7-e972-5b05-b5d8-c309e073d73f.html

Region’s decision to destroy corn crop is hard to fathom
Re: Those in charge of destroying corn crop should lose their jobs, Aug. 8 <https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/aug-8-farmers-must-keep-fighting-for-their-land-and-values-someone-at-waterloo-regional/article_92621dc7-e972-5b05-b5d8-c309e073d73f.html>
Letter writer Tom Fitzsimmons is absolutely correct in saying heads should roll. I know this outrage is shared by many.

It appears that Regional Chair Karen Redman is pretty much the head of this entire debacle, and she has much to answer for in the polls.

Is food insecurity not a top priority? Are food banks not pleading for donations on a daily basis? Is the plight of hungry low-income families and children not a concern for the powers that be?

The secrecy and disregard for the will of the majority, apparently puts this situation at a par with dictatorship. More and more I see that happening and it is disgusting. No wonder people won’t vote!

Talk about hearts of stone. It is simply beyond my ability to understand what this region is doing! Who do they think they are? And just who do they serve?

Claire Gourlie, New Hamburg

Farmers, keep fighting for your land and values
Re: Destroying food is against Waterloo Region’s values. Especially when our neighbours are hungry, July 31 <https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/destroying-food-is-against-waterloo-regions-values-especially-when-our-neighbours-are-hungry/article_8c66465b-33ce-5823-be85-8207a089f1c4.html>
As a farmer’s daughter who is proud to have been born and raised on a Mapleton Township farm, and who knows and appreciates where our food comes from, and the long hours required to produce it, I totally agree with Luisa D’Amato’s article. 

Shame on the Region of Waterloo and farmers from Strathroy who plowed 160 acres of almost-ready-to-harvest corn into the ground!  Surely, the topographic surveys and archeological assessments could have waited a few more weeks and this corn could have become feed for animals, and fed thousands of hungry children and adults at the breakfast table!

To Alfred Lowrick and the Fight for Farmland group, I say, “Keep fighting for your values — we, who understand the value of today’s farmer, appreciate your endeavours!”

Marj Goodyear, Cambridge

Those in charge of destroying corn crop should lose their jobs
Normally I’m a pretty laid back guy and many news articles don’t cause me a great deal of concern — it’s more about information. 

However Luisa D’Amato’s’s article and picture about the plowed-under cornfield just stuck in the back of my head as I tried to understand why this destruction was necessary.

The Region’s plan to gather 770 acres of land is only one-third complete and there currently are no companies showing any interest in any of the land so far.

Then what timetable or plan or schedule was far enough behind that the Region would hire farmers from London to come to Kitchener to destroy 160 acres of corn, all of which was close to harvest time?

I believe that pretty much all members of Waterloo regional council are intelligent and well-meaning people, but in there somewhere is a person or persons who have their own agenda and the authority to pull the plug and activate this horrible move. Their next move should be to the unemployment office.

Tom Fitzsimmons, Kitchener

Why so little money for arts, but so much for land?
We have lost faith in our city and regional governments, and the people elected to represent us, including our MPP.  No money for arts and culture but plenty of funds for land speculation!

Local politicians hold all our culture and arts in limbo, including the K-W Symphony and local museums, and they threaten to pave over our best farmland.

What a bullish affront to plow under a saleable corn crop, a dare and a threat for sure from elected representatives. What have we become? What does this community stand for? What do we value?  Who are you, city and regional councillors, and who do you represent and profit from?  

Pam O’Rourke, Kitchener

Loss of farmland and corn crop breaks my heart
My vehicle meanders slowly beside the lush cornfields on the farms of our Wellington County roads, but my heart breaks into a thousand pieces, remembering those tall majestic food-bearing beauties ploughed under, food wasted, not so far away.

Paradise will be paved over once more. As singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell put it: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone!”

Art Bowers, Kitchener

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H) The Logic - Lessons From Quebec On Getting Houses Built:

Lessons from Quebec on getting houses built
Declining interest rates and one sensible law are flipping stereotypes about progressive city governments

By Martin Patriquin <https://thelogic.co/author/mpatriquin/>
A residential construction site in Montreal in May 2023. Photo: The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi
Aug 12, 2024 | 8:45 AM ET
A A <https://thelogic.co/news/quebec-ink/quebec-housing-lessons/?utm_source=The+Logic+Master+List&utm_campaign=dd5a15cd76-Quebec+Ink%3A+Lessons+from+les+villes+on+getting&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c3e8c5a4ef-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D#>
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MONTREAL — Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante advocates for things like bike paths <https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/montreal-to-add-200-km-of-protected-bike-paths-in-next-five-years/> and pedestrian-only <https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/here-are-the-11-streets-montreal-is-making-car-free-this-summer-1.6839768> streets. As such, she is a scapegoat for those who believe Canadian cities have become expensive hellscapes of leftist whimsy. Pierre Poilievre indulged earlier this year, when the Conservative leader called <https://x.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1748033446163742773> Plante (along with Bruno Marchand, Quebec City’s liberal mayor) “incompetent” on X for allegedly throttling housing construction.
The ad hominem attack was customary, for both the medium and the man. But it hasn’t aged well. In May, housing starts in Montreal were up <https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/media-newsroom/news-releases/2024/housing-starts-may-2024>200 per cent year over year. By June, the city had registered <https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/housing-data/data-tables/housing-market-data/monthly-housing-starts-construction-data-tables> a 23 per cent month-over-month increase—while Toronto and Vancouver saw declines, according to Canadian Mortgage and Home Corporation (CMHC) data. (With its own 44 per cent year-over-year increase, Marchand’s Quebec City was no slouch, either.)
Overall, Montreal is just one of the driving forces behind Quebec’s suddenly boffo ability to get shovels into dirt. In June, the province provided a rare bit of good news on the housing front, with a 72 per cent year-over-year gain in centres with more than 10,000 people. The country’s average over the same period was down 13 per cent. 
The question is why, because it’s not as if Poilievre’s tweeted bon motsprovided some unique insight, spurring the Plante administration into a building mania. The simplest explanation behind the boom has less to do with politics than a basic tenet of modern-day capitalism: people will build more capital-intensive stuff when money is cheap, and less when it isn’t.
If you chart housing starts across the country over the last four years, you’ll see the trend line hit a peak in the late summer of 2022 before cratering just under a year later. These dates aren’t random. The decline began not long after the Bank of Canada, faced with constricting global supply chains, increased interest rates to curb consumer demand. 

The ensuing downward trend and eventual plunge, which took place in summer 2023, corresponds with successive interest rate hikes aimed at stifling stubborn inflation. On Jan. 18, 2024, the day Poilievre called Plante incompetent, interest rates were at a 23-year high. They have since come down, and housing starts have risen as a result. “What caused a slowdown in housing starts in Montreal and Quebec wasn’t our regulations, it was access to capital,” Plante spokesperson Catherine Cadotte told me. 
Still, Montreal’s rebound has been bigger and quicker than those of other cities. For this, the Plante administration credits a Quebec law, passed in February, giving cities the ability to stray from zoning limits imposed by the province. “Montreal is building a lot because our 
measures are bearing fruit,” Quebec government spokesperson Alice Bergeron told me.
Montreal’s bump belies another hoary stereotype. Critics have long assailed Quebec’s rent control system, saying it is a drag on new development. In fact, it has created a thriving demand for rented accommodation, and that market has responded in kind. In June, construction began on just over 4,000 rental units in the province—about 800 more than in Ontario, which is home to nearly seven million more people.
Unlike selling condominiums, renting out apartments is a long-term proposition, which is why many investors don’t like it. Yet the end result speaks for itself. It might not feel like it for many of its citizens, but Montreal remains comparatively cheap <https://www.vtpi.org/montreal.pdf> and renter-friendly <https://renx.ca/montreal-model-canadian-residential-rents>. In Toronto, the condo market is in danger of entering a death spiral <https://www.thestar.com/real-estate/toronto-condo-sales-plummet-28-in-june-as-sales-crash-across-all-property-types/article_88312b92-394a-11ef-b77c-fb21010e8755.html> while the average home costs well over <https://wowa.ca/reports/canada-housing-market> a million bucks.
I reached out to Poilievre’s party, and didn’t hear back. But he isn’t the only leader politicizing home prices. Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has paid lip service to affordable housing since forming government in 2015, when the average home in Canada went for roughly $430,000. It has since nearly doubled. One reason: the Liberal government increased <https://thelogic.co/comment/carmichael-how-to-solve-the-housing-crisis/>immigration rates without a corresponding housing strategy to accommodate the new arrivals.
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Nor did Poilievre invent the logic-defying argument that incompetence, not market forces, is solely responsible for the country’s housing crisis. The rationale, if there is any, is strictly and cynically political. He has an election to win, and cities are juicy prey when one’s path to power runs through the surrounding suburbs and hinterland. In leading the province and much of the country in housing starts, Montreal has demonstrated the limits to this opportunism.
Martin Patriquin is The Logic’s Quebec correspondent. He joined in 2019 after 10 years as Quebec bureau chief for Maclean’s. A National Magazine Award and SABEW winner, he has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Walrus, Vice, BuzzFeed and The Globe and Mail, among others. He is also a panelist on CBC’s “Power & Politics.” 

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I) Speak Up and Ensure Your Voice is Heard:

Wilmot Township Council

Natasha Salonen, Mayor, Wilmot, natasha.salonen at wilmot.ca <mailto:natasha.salonen at wilmot.ca> or 519-634-8519 x 9351
Stewart Cressman, Councillor Ward 1, Wilmot, stewart.cressman at wilmot.ca <mailto:stewart.cressman at wilmot.ca> or 519-807-1496	
Kris Wilkinson, Councillor Ward 2, Wilmot, kris.wilkinson at wilmot.ca <mailto:kris.wilkinson at wilmot.ca> or 519-807-4173
Harvir Sidhu, Councillor Ward 3, Wilmot, harvir.sidhu at wilmot.ca <mailto:harvir.sidhu at wilmot.ca> or 519-807-2521
Lillianne Dunstall, Councillor Ward 4, Wilmot, lillianne.dunstall at wilmot.ca <mailto:lillianne.dunstall at wilmot.ca> or 519-807-4975
Steven Martin, Councillor Ward 4, Wilmot, steven.martin at wilmot.ca <mailto:steven.martin at wilmot.ca> or 519-807-5214

Region of Waterloo Council

Karen Redman, Regional Chair, kredman at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:kredman at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor, Kitchener, berryv at kitchener.ca <mailto:berryv at kitchener.ca>
Dorothy McCabe, Mayor, City of Waterloo, dorothy.mccabe at waterloo.ca <mailto:dorothy.mccabe at waterloo.ca>
Jan Liggett, Cambridge Mayor, Cambridge, liggettj at cambridge.ca <mailto:liggettj at cambridge.ca>
Sue Foxton, Mayor, North Dumfries, sfoxton at northdumfries.ca <mailto:sfoxton at northdumfries.ca>
Natasha Salonen, Mayor, Wilmot, natasha.salonen at wilmot.ca <mailto:natasha.salonen at wilmot.ca>
Joe Nowak, Mayor, Wellesley, jnowak at wellesley.ca <mailto:jnowak at wellesley.ca>
Sandy Shantz, Mayor, Woolwich, sshantz at woolwich.ca <mailto:sshantz at woolwich.ca>
Doug Craig, Regional Councillor, Cambridge, dougcraig at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:dougcraig at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Pam Wolf, Regional Councillor, Cambridge, pwolf at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:pwolf at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Colleen James, Regional Councillor, Kitchener, CJames at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:CJames at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Michael Harris, Regional Councillor, Kitchener, MHarris at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:MHarris at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Kari Williams, Regional Councillor, Kitchener, KariWilliams at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:KariWilliams at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Rob Deutschmann, Regional Councillor, Kitchener, RDeutschmann at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:RDeutschmann at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Jim Erb, Regional Councillor, Waterloo, JErb at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:JErb at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Chantal Huinink, Regional Councillor, Waterloo, CHuinink at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:CHuinink at regionofwaterloo.ca>

Province of Ontario

Premier Doug Ford - doug.fordco at pc.ola.org <mailto:doug.fordco at pc.ola.org> or 416-325-1941 - available 24/7 - all calls confidential
Paul Calandra - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing - paul.calandra at pc.ola.org <mailto:steve.clark at pc.ola.org> or 416-585-7000
Andrea Khanjin - Minster of Environment, Conservation and Parks - andrea.khanjin at pc.ola.org <mailto:andrea.khanjin at pc.ola.org> or 705-722-0575
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 - Minister of Red Tape Reduction, 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

Local Green Party MPPs:
Mike Schreiner - MPP Guelph - mschreiner at ola.or <mailto:mschreiner at ola.org>g or (519) 836-4190
New! - Aislinn Clancy - MPP Kitchener Centre - aclancy-co at ola.org <mailto:aclancy-co at ola.org> or 519-579-5460

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

Federal Members of Parliament

Local Liberal MPs:
Bryan May - MP Cambridge - bryan.may at parl.gc.ca <mailto:bryan.may at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 624-7440
Tim Louis - MP Kitchener-Conestoga - tim.louis at parl.gc.ca <mailto:tim.louis at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 578-3777
Valerie Bradford - MP Kitchener-South Hespeler - valerie.bradford at parl.gc.ca <mailto:valerie.bradford at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 571-5509
Bardish Chagger - MP Waterloo - bardish.chagger at parl.gc.ca <mailto:bardish.chagger at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 746-1573
Lloyd Longfield - MP Guelph - lloyd.longfield at parl.gc.ca <mailto:lloyd.longfield at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 837-8276

Local Conservative MPs:
Michael Chong - MP Wellington-Halton Hills - michael.chong at parl.gc.ca <mailto:michael.chong at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 843-7344
Larry Brock - MP Brantford-Brant - larry.brock at parl.gc.ca <mailto:larry.brock at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 754-4300
John Nater - MP Perth-Wellington - john.nater at parl.gc.ca <mailto:john.nater at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 273-1400

Local Green Party MPs:
Mike Morrice - MP Kitchener - mike.morrice at parl.gc.ca <mailto:mike.morrice at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 741-2001

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Kevin Thomason
Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network
www.gren.ca <http://www.gren.ca/>

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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