[All] Regional Hearings, Highway #413, Green Energy Flip-Flop, Bill 23, Zoom Meeting Tomorrow, Friday Jan 12th at 5:30pm

Kevin Thomason kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Jan 11 22:12:31 EST 2024 

Good Day, 

A reminder that tomorrow (Friday, January 12th) at 5:30pm is our regular bi-weekly Update Meeting on Zoom.  Join us to discuss the latest news on upcoming Regional and Pre-Budget Hearings along with the latest from the Auditor General’s Report:

	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09   


Here’s the latest news:

1) Auditor General Report Confirms Aggregate Issues - The Auditor General’s report released in mid-December right after Doug Ford adjourned the Legislature early to avoid having to deal with questions, confirms serious problems with many of the issues we have raised concerns about for years including pit inspections, enforcement, rehabilitation, and the sheer quantity of aggregate pits approved.  We need to continue to speak out loudly and ensure that this concerning report isn’t forgotten:

	Auditor General - Value For Money Audit: Management of Aggregate Resources:
	https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en23/AR_mgmtaggregates_en23.pdf

Media Coverage:

	The Record - Ontario Auditor General’s Damning Report On Aggregate Industry Confirms Local Concerns:
	https://www.therecord.com/news/ontario-auditor-generals-damning-report-on-aggregate-industry-confirms-local-concerns/article_ffd67680-c0a5-50d8-a421-5a98e7a8fa80.html


2) Regional Reform Hearings - This coming Thursday, January 18th the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy is holding hearings on Regional Reform in Kitchener at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  A number of our members have been selected to delegate and will try to ensure key issues are presented to the MPPs.  It has been a long chaotic process while the provincial government tries to figure out if and how to reform upper tier governments.  It remains to be seen what impact the recent cancellation of the dissolution of Peel Region will have on these other upper-tier reform efforts of the province.


3) Pre-Budget Provincial Hearings - There are hearings happening across Ontario regarding the planning of the provincial budget.  They could be one of the best remaining ways for us to provide feedback to this provincial government and ensure our concerns on issues such as aggregates, Bill 23, climate change, and Highway #413 are heard.

Upcoming hearings include:

	- Chatham - Tuesday, January 16th
	- London - Wednesday, January 17th
	- Cambridge - Thursday, January 18th

You can also send written submissions at:
	https://www.ola.org/en/apply-committees


4) Ford Government Backtracks On Green Energy - In another about-face from Premier Doug Ford who famously ripped up green energy contracts on his first day in office, with Ontario now no longer a green energy global leader, Ford is reversing course and doing an about face to try to bring back the energy companies and wind projects he ran out of town.  

With power shortages looming due to growth and consumer preferences for cleaner, electrified vehicles, appliances, and heat pumps the Conservatives are scrambling to find economical energy sources and repair the damage they created.  Unfortunately, what the province is seeking is still not enough green energy and is still dwarfed by their commitments to much more expensive fossil gas plants and nuclear power:

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Flip Flop On Wind Turbines Won’t Undo All The Damage He Caused:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-fords-flip-flop-on-wind-turbines-wont-undo-all-the-damage-he-caused/article_e999f226-af32-11ee-863f-d7fae447a244.html
	The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-fords-flip-flop-on-wind-turbines-wont-undo-all-the-damage-he-caused/article_2dc811bf-f5a7-53ed-b66a-413aaf1f2afe.html


5) Planner Disciplined by OPPI - Kudos to very determined citizens in Stratford whose persistence and determination helped to ensure that a planner for the Xinyi Glass project who violated several sections of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute’s (OPPI) Code of Conduct was disciplined.  It’s rare for planners to be disciplined and there are very serious consequences.  Learn more at:

	Get Concerned Stratford Website:
	https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=6ce277ca9839afd8acbfe1d0d&id=fc93232ed9


6) Recent Media Articles - The repercussions of the Greenbelt Scandal continuing to impact the Conservatives and a concerning plan by the provincial government to overrule the independent Ontario Energy Board are in the news this week:

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Tories Set To Abandon Lucrative Fundraiser In Wake Of Greenbelt Scandal:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-tories-set-to-abandon-lucrative-fundraiser-in-wake-of-greenbelt-scandal/article_770c0302-ab13-11ee-b244-a71919e44e2b.html

	The Toronto Star - Divided Progressives Are The Best Friends A Conservative Leader Could Have:
	https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/divided-progressives-are-the-best-friends-a-conservative-leader-could-have/article_91e1220a-1ecb-506c-b635-826ce8d64899.html

	Brantford Expositor - Mayor Creates “Hybrid Approach” To City Budget Process:
	https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/mayor-creates-hybrid-approach-to-city-budget-process

	CBC News - How The Tiny Western Chorus Frog Could Stop Doug Ford’s Highway #413:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-highway-413-species-at-risk-western-chorus-frog-1.7055575

	CTV News - Why Critics Want Ontario To Pay For Trucks To Use Highway #407:
	https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video/c2843497-why-critics-want-ont--to-pay-for-trucks-to-use-407

	TVO Today - Why The Ford Government Wants To Overrule Ontario’s Energy Board:
	https://www.tvo.org/article/why-the-ford-government-wants-to-overrule-ontarios-energy-board


7) Strategic Planning - What’s Next? - We are in the process of planning a strategic planning session to help chart our course for the year ahead.  While we have helped to achieve numerous victories against parts of Bill 23, stopped the Greenbelt destruction, prevented the three rural severances per farm that would have been so devastating, and numerous other successes there are still issues to address such as other parts of Bill 23, the new Provincial Policy Statement, land sell-offs from our Conservation Authorities, etc.  We also have no idea what concerning schemes this government could unveil next.  

We will discuss things further on the Friday call and come up with a plan for this important strategic planning.


8) Other Topics That May Be Of Interest - Creative solutions to the housing crisis, food waste, the Monarch butterfly’s status has been upgraded to endangered, a proposed urban park in Guelph, and Kitchener deciding against a by-election are stories that may be of interest:

	The Record - Older Adults And Students Sharing A Home: One Solution To The Student Housing Crisis:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/older-adults-and-students-sharing-a-home-one-solution-to-the-student-housing-crisis/article_438e8cae-c55b-5930-95e2-fdf6fc5c6b52.html

	CityNews - Kitchener Council Votes In Favour Of Runner Up Becoming Next Ward 10 Councillor:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/01/09/kitchener-council-votes-in-favour-of-runner-up-becoming-next-ward-10-councillor/?

	Global News - The Monarch Butterfly Is Now On Canada’s Endangered Species List:
	https://globalnews.ca/news/10186774/monarch-butterfly-endangered-bumblebee/

	Guelph Today - Guelph’s Proposed New Urban Park Endorsed By Mississaugas Of The Credit:
	https://www.guelphtoday.com/following-up/guelphs-urban-park-plan-endorsed-by-mississaugas-of-the-credit-8078275

	The Narwhal - Want To Reduce Food Waste, Ontario?  Be More Like Vancouver:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-food-waste/


9) Time For Ontario To Catch-Up - The Clean Air Alliance is calling on the provincial government to follow the rest of the world and the COP28 commitment to triple renewable energy capacity to install more wind and solar power instead of fossil gas plants.  It’s a well researched and strong campaign.  Learn more at:

	Ontario Clean Air Alliance - Renewable Energy Campaign:
	https://ocaa.cmail19.com/t/y-e-xthjhky-ijfukiijr-z/


10) In-Depth Report on The Climate Crisis You May Have Missed - A March 2023 technical report for the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario on the costs of climate change to Ontario's infrastructure:

	https://www.fao-on.org/web/default/files/publications/CIPI-wsp/cipi-wsp-report.pdf 


11) Reminder - Meeting This Friday - Join us tomorrow - Friday, January 12th at 5:30pm to discuss the latest news and what’s next:

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

Thursday, January 18th - 10:00am to 6:00pm - Regional Reform Hearings - Crowne Plaza Hotel, Downtown Kitchener

Thursday, January 18th - 10:00am to 6:00pm - Provincial Pre-Budget Hearings - Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, 700 Hespeler Road, Cambridge


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B) Recent Media



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C) 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
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 - 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.org <mailto:mschreiner at ola.org> or (519) 836-4190
New! - Aislinn Clancy - MPP Kitchener Centre - new contact information coming soon

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
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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