[All] Regional Reform, Budget Hearings, Hwy 413, Bill 23, And Two Calls To Action

Fri Jan 19 12:18:19 EST 2024

Hello Everyone,

It has been a busy week with the Pre-Budget Legislative Hearings taking place in Cambridge and the Regional Reform Hearings in Kitchener along with alarming Bill 23 announcements of support from numerous local municipalities.

1) 2024 Pre-Budget Consultation Hearings - A great big thanks to everyone who participated from this area at the 2024 Provincial Budget Consultations lead by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs!  

Folks who belong to our network were overwhelmingly selected to speak at the Cambridge Hearing that took place earlier on Thursday. Kudos to Barbara Schumacher (with 50x30WR), our very own Kevin Thomason (with Grand River Environmental Network), Susan Lloyd Swail (with the Reform Gravel Mining Campaign), Lindsay Dajka (with the Nith Valley Ecoboosters Youth Council,  Dorothy Wilson (with the Nith Valley Ecoboosters) and Kae Elgie (with the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario). Mike Marcolongo (with the Greenbelt Promise) was able to delegate to the Chatham Standing Committee Hearing this past Tuesday as well. 

Thank you to everyone who stepped up!  This is one of the only ways to ensure this provincial government is hearing our concerns and it was great to see so many MPPs hearing our issues and asking questions to all the delegators.  You can still send written submissions to the Standing Committee on priorities for the provincial budget at:

	Send written submissions:
	https://www.ola.org/en/get-involved/participate-committees

2) Calls To Action for 2024 Provincial Budget - Greenbelt Promise and Land Trusts: 

a) Greenbelt Promise -The Keep the Greenbelt Promise Campaign is asking everyone to take action to ensure that the Green Infrastructure and the Greenbelt are considered a priority in the 2024 Ontario Budget:

	https://win.newmode.net/keepthegreenbeltpromise/protectthegreenbeltontarios2024budget

b) Protected Lands - The Ontario Land Trust Alliance, The rare Charitable Research Reserve, Ontario Nature, and others are asking the province to support land trusts and protected places with $100 million in funding for the next four years.  They are asking for people to write the province to help make this a budget priority.  Learn more about how you can help at:

	https://raresites.org/budget-2024/

3) Regional Reform Hearings - Despite a lack of video link or broadcast being provided for the Regional Reform hearings, the Standing Committee hearings on Regional Reform were very well attended yesterday and there has been considerable local media coverage.  Eight hours of hearings heard more than 20 delegations provide a broad range of opinions and options on amalgamation, dissolution of our municipalities, creation of a mega-city, dissolution of the Region of Waterloo, and other possibilities to reform local and regional government in ways that could facilitate more housing construction.

An interesting but alarming development announced just before the meeting was that a majority of area Mayors have come together to try and undermine the Region of Waterloo despite all of them also being Regional Councillors.  It’s a very unique collaboration of municipalities and a significant conflict of interest.  They are also urging the government to immediately pass Bill 23 so that Regional Planning Authority is removed from upper-tier regions before the end of the year.  This is extremely troubling as solving our housing crisis requires stability and not more major upheaval to planning systems.

In the end there was no clear concensus with many calling for amalgamation to a single tier, and many citing the benefits of two tier structures with local municipalities and regional government.  However, there did seem to be broad agreement emerging that few are ready for amalgamation, that we should put off any governance reform until at least 2031, and use our already approved visionary Regional Official Plan to address the housing crisis and climate crisis first.  

	CBC - 6 Local Mayors Want To Keep 2-Tier Governance In Waterloo Region, But Say Modifications Needed:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/six-local-mayors-want-to-keep-2-tier-municipality-in-the-region-1.7087752

	CBC - Amalgamate Or Stay A 2-Tier System?  Residents, Politicians To Voice Their Thoughts At Meeting Thursday:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/amalgamate-or-stay-a-2-tier-system-residents-politicians-to-voice-their-thoughts-at-meeting-thursday-1.7086292

	The Record - Mayors Aim To Take Services Away From Waterloo Regional Government:
	https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/regional-reform/mayors-aim-to-take-services-away-from-waterloo-regional-government/article_e8b0b4a4-f82c-51b8-be33-38a146c8ae60.html

	CBC Radio - The Morning Edition With Craig Norris: Interview With Regional Chair Karen Redman On Amalgamation:
	https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-104-the-morning-edition-k-w

Official media advisory from 6 local municipalities - "Mayors Call for New Vision for Local Government “: 
	https://www.woolwich.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=ffc9c00a-729d-46bf-8f71-3a4e838d7bba&newsId=7fe94d43-5540-4e6c-814e-513961fd26eb#

4) Schneider’s Lands, rare Charitable Land Trust, and Wilmot Township - After almost four years of delays, the incredible donation of these amazing natural lands atop the Waterloo Moraine continue to be threatened and prevented by absurd requirements from Wilmot Township.   

Wilmot Township demands a parking lot to access a forest for RARE. Schneider family says: "We want to give you paradise!". Township of Wilmot responds: "Put up a parking lot”:

The Schneider family is asking for the community’s help to persuade Wilmot Council to action and avoid further delays over the Township’s demands for a parking lot that would destroy the ecologically sensitive lands the Schneider family has worked so hard to protect:

	Call To Action Letter From The Schneider family:
	https://raresites.org/schneider-call-to-action/

Please help by writing Wilmot Council as outlined in the letter above.  Recent media coverage includes:

	CTV CKCO Television News - Schneider Family Land Donation Hits Bureaucratic Road Block In Wilmot Township:
	https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/schneider-family-land-donation-hits-bureaucratic-road-block-in-wilmot-township-1.6732416

	CBC - The Morning Edition With Craig Norris:
	https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-104-the-morning-edition-k-w

5) Recent Media Articles - Current stories include not even drivers wanting Highway #413, the Auditor General’s Report on Aggregates, and the ongoing repercussions of the Greenbelt Scandal for MPPs:

	CTV News London - 3,400 Violations For Ontario Aggregate Industry: Report:
	https://london.ctvnews.ca/3-400-violations-for-ontario-aggregate-industry-report-1.6716374
	- includes footage of Wilmot Council meetings on aggregates

	The Hamilton Spectator - Even Drivers Don’t Want Highway #413:
	https://thespec.pressreader.com/article/281719799432479

	The Toronto Star - Former Doug Ford Cabinet Minister In Political Limbo As RCMP Probes Greenbelt Scandal:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/former-doug-ford-cabinet-minister-in-political-limbo-as-rcmp-probes-greenbelt-scandal/article_4acaaf00-b3b5-11ee-a238-afed5c7e2ce9.html

	CBC - Demand Is Bigger Than What We Can Produce:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/unsettling-immigration-canada-housing-crisis-1.7080697

6) Urban National Park Guelph - I Wish I’d Signed The Petition - We are a couple of days late with our reminder for people to sign the Federal Petition to support the transformation of the former Ontario Reformatory lands into a National Urban Park as the deadline passed earlier this week.  However you can still offer them your support and learn more at:

	Urban Park Guelph:
	https://www.urbanparkguelph.com/home

7) BILD Opinion Article - An Op-Ed in the Toronto Star by BILD President gives us insights as to what we can expect from the housing development industry this coming year including how they are positioning things with the provincial government and housing crisis:

	Dave Wilkes - BILD - 2024 Will Be A Pivotal Year For Home Building In The GTA:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2024-will-be-a-pivotal-year-for-home-building-in-the-gta/article_d583d7aa-aa70-11ee-a181-b38034bcb678.html

8) Other Relevant Issues and Media: Stories you may want to be aware of include wildfires still burning, voters tiring of the Tories, ServiceOntario changes, and the Youth Lead Challenge of our the provincial Climate Plan:

	The Record - Staples Is A Strange Choice To Host Service Ontario:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/staples-is-a-strange-choice-to-host-serviceontario/article_97f91c14-92ad-5c68-96cb-396df399d73f.html

	The National Observer - Voters Tiring Of Tories In Ontario?:
	https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/01/17/news/voters-tiring-tories-ontario

	CBC News - City of Hamilton Leads the Way with Bylaw to Stop Bad Faith Renovictions:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/renoviction-bylaw-1.7086701

	Vancouver Sun - Over 100 Wildfires Still Burning in British Columbia:
	https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/more-than-100-wildfires-still-not-considered-out-after-b-c-s-record-wildfire-season/wcm/2c2116aa-d4a6-4b94-a832-5440b703b63e

	The Globe and Mail - Youth-led Challenge of Ontario's Climate Plan goes before Province's Highest Court:
	Youth-led challenge of Ontario’s climate plan goes before province’s highest court <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-youth-led-challenge-of-ontarios-climate-plan-goes-before-provinces/>

9) 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.  

Planning in for a mid-February in-person/hybrid strategic planning continues.  Please share any ideas.

10) Reminder - Next Meeting - Join us Friday, January 26th 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.

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A) Upcoming Events

Friday, January 26th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Saturday, February 10th - 2pm to 4pm - Greenbelt Valentine’s Tea - Hockley Community Hall - more details in poster below

Wednesday, February 21st - 8pm - Elmira Awareness Event - Rural Roots, Elmira - more details below

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B) Schneider Family Letter to the Community re: Land Donation and Wilmot Township:

Wilmot Council Full Contact Information: https://www.wilmot.ca/Modules/contact/search.aspx?s=EFHOVXSi8AOIMKMStZMNvAeQuAleQuAl

Letter Download As PDF: https://raresites.org/schneider-call-to-action/

Further information: https://raresites.org/schneider-call-to-action/

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C) Greenbelt Valentine’s Tea - Saturday, February 10th at 2pm to 4pm

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D) Elmira Awareness Event - Wednesday, February 21st 8pm:

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E) Recent Media:

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F) 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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