[All] Renewed Bill 23 Efforts, Greenbelt Scandal, Schneiders Lands, Zoom Meeting Tomorrow, Friday Jan 26th at 5:30pm

Thu Jan 25 16:43:32 EST 2024

Good Day, 

A reminder that tomorrow (Friday, January 26th) at 5:30pm is our regular bi-weekly Update Meeting on Zoom.  Join us to discuss the latest news on concerning renewed Bill 23 efforts, the Greenbelt Scandal, the Schneider’s Lands, and how we can best help to guide the provincial budget in better directions:

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

Here’s the latest news:

1) Six Local Mayors Continue The Call For Immediate Approval of Bill 23 - The Mayors of Kitchener and Cambridge, along with the Mayors of Wilmot, Woolwich, Wellesley and North Dumfries Townships have continued their joint effort for the province to immediately pass Bill 23 so that Regional Planning Authority is removed from upper-tier regions before the end of the year.  This unprecedented collaboration and attack on the Region of Waterloo and our Regional Official Plan is extremely troubling as solving our housing crisis requires stability and not more major upheaval to planning systems.  We already have the visionary, sustainable plan we need for the future and delegating things to a wide variety of local municipalities lacking the staff, funding, and experience isn’t going to build the homes we need now faster, result in cost savings, or simplify things for builders.

We need to be advocating that any governance reform is put off until at least 2031 to provide the needed stability to successfully address our housing crisis and meet our 2030 Paris Accord climate targets first.

	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

2) Internal E-mail Suggests Doug Ford’s Office Knew Greenbelt Land Swap Details Earlier Than Claimed - In a very unusual and inexplicable move, the provincial government released more e-mails they claim to have found from personal e-mail accounts that show the Premier’s Office knew in great detail about Greenbelt land swap deals weeks earlier than previously claimed.  It seems strange that the Conservatives would voluntarily release these e-mails to the Integrity Commissioner and the NDP.  It’s also very troubling to see the use of personal e-mail accounts for official government business.  It may allude to even more significant things yet to come in future investigations and certainly calls into question just what the Premier did or didn’t know.

	The Toronto Star - Internal E-mail Suggests Doug Ford’s Office Knew Greenbelt Land Swap Details Earlier Than Claimed:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/internal-email-suggests-doug-fords-office-knew-greenbelt-land-swap-details-earlier-than-claimed/article_0135204e-b61e-11ee-a747-33618b6751d1.html
	The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/internal-email-suggests-doug-fords-office-knew-greenbelt-land-swap-details-earlier-than-claimed/article_4185fa70-fe5a-5fd5-8bf3-ec313509ed10.html

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Office Fires Back At Claims Of Inconsistencies In Greenbelt Testimony:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-office-fires-back-at-claims-of-inconsistencies-in-greenbelt-testimony/article_c14526a0-b94c-11ee-9cfe-5ba2bd0b45d4.html
	The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-office-fires-back-at-claims-of-inconsistencies-in-greenbelt-testimony/article_23acb22e-efec-5219-99d2-221a000a7ca9.html

3) Other Doug Ford Stories and Insights - a) Bill 136 Hoots - Also in the last few days, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing bureaucrats released the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) submission from the Bill 136: the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act.  We would encourage you to read the comments as many are literally a “hoot” simply click on the blue “View Comments Submitted” box at the site below.  Congratulations on your submissions - there were over 2,800 submissions with over 1,800 of those coming from the Greenbelt Promise campaign!  Well done!

	Proposal To Return Lands To The Greenbelt - Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023
	https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-7739

b) Land Speculator Attempts - The Trillium reviewed the Greenbelt land speculators' submissions and wrote a revealing article on their continued tenacity to push for their lands to be removed from the Greenbelt: 

	The Trillium - Greenbelt Landowners Make Last Ditch Effort To Get Properties Out Of Protected Area:
	https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/greenbelt-landowners-make-last-ditch-effort-to-get-properties-out-of-protected-area-8145970#:

c) Premier’s Deal Pipeline - The Trillium's Charlie Pinkerton also wrote an insightful article on how former Premier's Office staffers have created a pipeline to favourable decision-making for selling off parts of Ontario:

	The Sudbury Star - One Lobbying Firm Shows How An Inside Track Gets It Done Under The Ford Government:
	https://www.sudbury.com/beyond-local/one-lobbying-firm-shows-how-an-inside-track-gets-it-done-under-the-ford-government-8142772

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 for some sort of parking lot though few details are known about what Wilmot is specifically seeking.  There are considerable concerns that a parking lot (or several parking lots if one is needed for each entrance) would destroy the ecologically sensitive lands the Schneider family has worked so hard to protect.

Thank you to everyone who has answered the Schneider family’s appeal for help by writing, e-mailing, and calling Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen, Councillors, and Staff.  Apparently the volume of letters has been overwhelming and is certainly sending a strong message on the need for immediate solutions as well as the tremendous support/passion there is for this amazing land donation.

	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:

	The Record - Schneider Land Donation In Wilmot In Jeopardy After Township Asks For Parking:
	https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/schneider-land-donation-in-wilmot-in-jeopardy-after-township-asks-for-parking/article_913011e3-02a9-5437-9fb5-3cbfc8c17196.html

	CityNews - Wilmot Township Blocking 230 Acres of Land Donated to Community:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/01/20/wilmot-township-is-blocking-230-acres-of-land-donated-to-the-community-by-schneider-family/?

	The Record - What’s Wrong With A Parking Lot?:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/whats-wrong-with-a-parking-lot-a-tempest-in-a-teapot-brews-in-wilmot/article_a7ea1a8e-16c2-5c4b-a4d5-50a0ceabf599.html
	Unfortunately, columnist Luisa D’Amato doesn’t seem to understand that a 12 car parking lot wouldn’t come anywhere close to meeting the parking needs many days - significant on-street parking would still be required, and greatly underestimates the complexity, costs, and numerous ecological impacts of a parking lot in such an environmentally sensitive wetland area along with concentrating most visitor traffic on only one small section of the trail properties.

5) Provincial Budget Input Deadline - January 31st - While the Standing Committee is no longer accepting submissions, we still have until January 31st to provide feedback directly to Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy at:

	Ontario Ministry of Finance:
	https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/contact/index.html

And several organizations are providing automatic submission tools to help you advocate for specific asks such as Protected Lands and the Greenbelt:

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 through a handy form letter.  Please note the January 31st deadline:

	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/

6) Recent Media Articles - Current stories include housing reforms, energy storage, and the Premier promising more housing for rural Ontario:

	The Tyee - Brace Yourself For Housing Reforms:
	https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/01/18/Brace-Yourself-Housing-Reforms/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial

	Are We Entering An New Era Of The Co-op?  Let’s Hope So:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/are-we-entering-a-new-era-of-the-co-op-lets-hope-so/article_6909ddf2-b6de-11ee-bc1f-33c1e9989be0.html
	The Record - https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/are-we-entering-a-new-era-of-the-co-op-lets-hope-so/article_a904acf6-48af-5b04-a3ff-3ee3851fa931.html

	The Narwhal - Ontario Needs Energy Storage.  Why Is It Holding Out On Two Big Projects?:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pumped-storage-projects/

	CBC - Linking Immigration To The Housing Shortage May Be Missing The Problem, Experts Say:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-housing-crisis-costs-1.7088878

	CBC - Demand Is Bigger Than What We Can Produce: How Immigrants Help Build The Homes They Hope To One Day Live In:
	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

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Promising More Help For Housing In Rural Ontario:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-promising-more-help-for-housing-in-rural-ontario/article_670d3efe-b927-11ee-978c-5b67e7772940.html
	The Record - https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-promising-more-help-for-housing-in-rural-ontario/article_77918b6d-86bf-5a14-b2ec-2bf822d8df3e.html

	The Toronto Star - Ontario’s High Cost and High Emissions Approach To Electricity:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/ontario-s-high-cost-and-high-emissions-approach-to-electricity/article_a1d41e62-b6f3-11ee-ae2b-6b2421e98d59.html

	CBC - Ontario To Open Housing Infrastructure Funding To More Municipalities After Initial Refusal:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-housing-infrastructure-funding-1.7091271

	Politics Today - Doug Ford’s Stench of Corruption Is Affecting The Future Prospect Of Ontario MPPs Looking To Run In The Next Federal Election:
	https://www.politicstoday.news/queens-park-today/cpc-icy-on-pc-mpps-running-for-federal-nominations-sources/

	National Post - The Impacts Of Provincial Downloading By The Ford Government Make National Headlines:
	https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/burdened-by-shortfalls-ontario-municipalities-resort-to-steep-property-tax-hikes#:

7) Waterloo Region Environmental and Climate Change Groups Collaborative - An initial meeting was held this week with representatives from a broad array of environmental and climate change groups from across Waterloo Region to discuss communications, collaboration, and creating tools that will allow us to better work together and support each others events.  It was a successful meeting with a Steering Committee being created and the date of Thursday, February 22nd at 6:30pm chosen for the next hybrid meeting at the Kitchener Civic Hub and online.  Please reach out to Mats van Kleef at mats.vankleef at gmail.com if you would like more information or to join the next meeting.

8) GRCA - There appears to be increasing pressure from various organizations and individuals to save the three Outdoor Centres as well as pushing for transparency from the GRCA on the development of the inventory of lands for possible disposition: 

	See letters here from the Brant Waterways Foundation as well Guelphite Laura Murr: 
	https://calendar.grandriver.ca/directors/Detail/2024-01-26-GRCA-General-Membership-Meeting/PUBLIC_Addendum%20Package%20-%20GRCA%20General%20Membership%20Meeting_Jan26_2024.pdf

	And you'll note a letter from the Waterloo Region Nature in regards to the Laurel Creek Outdoor Centre here:
	https://calendar.grandriver.ca/directors/Detail/2024-01-26-GRCA-General-Membership-Meeting/Agenda%20Package%20-%20GRCA%20General%20Membership%20Meeting_Jan26_2024.pdf

9) Canada Greener Homes Grant Program Ending - It appears that the Canada Greener Homes Grant program that provided important incentives to help encourage home renovations and green retrofits is ending.  REEP Green Solutions has launched a Call To Action to encourage citizens to write their federal Member of Parliament to encourage a funding extension or to launch a new program immediately:

	https://reepgreen.ca/the-urgent-call-to-save-the-greener-homes-grant-program/?mc_cid=0443d63a5b&mc_eid=573606a0df

10) Reform Gravel Mining Coalition - A reminder to sign the online petition and help reform aggregates in Ontario:

	https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/

	You can directly sign up to demand a gravel mining moratorium: https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/petition?recruiter_id=7128

11) Other Relevant Issues and Media: Stories you may want to be aware of include the provincial government dodging questions about ServiceOntario, concerns about temporary nurses, provincial funding, and the continuing ER crisis:

	CityNews - With Investigation Looming, Ford Government Continues To Dodge Questions on ServiceOntario Deal:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/01/19/ford-government-dodge-questions-serviceontario-deal/?

	The Toronto Star - Ford Government Slammed For Ontario’s Use Of Temporary Nurses:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-slammed-for-ontarios-use-of-temporary-nurses/article_c86e2b9e-b635-11ee-9dde-4764ccc28e12.html

	The Toronto Star - No End To The ER Crisis Without Investment And Addressing Workers Concerns:
	https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/no-end-to-the-er-crisis-without-investments-and-addressing-workers-concerns/article_28e2544e-5169-51a1-92f2-14d26bc2741c.html

	CBC - What The Cap On International Students Means For Doug Ford’s Government:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-canada-international-student-visas-study-permits-1.7094095

	CBC Waterloo Councillor Adds Her Voice To Growing Call To Revise Fiscal Agreement Between Province and Cities:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-councillor-diane-freeman-revise-fiscal-agreement-province-and-cities-1.7088804

12) Help Needed To Create Sustainability Award - There is an opportunity to help create a sustainability award for students engaged in the University of Waterloo Federal/Provincial Simulation event February 21st and 22nd.  Learn more at:

	https://docs.google.com/document/d/14lnsb1J2EMgDtDnpq8_MlNQItpbIxjcojaqck8J_-A8/edit#heading=h.cltmli1jf6ry

13) Reminder - Next Meeting - Join us this 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

Monday, January 29th - 6:30pm - The Cobalt Challenge Film - Princess Cinema, Waterloo - see poster below

Wednesday, January 31st - deadline for submissions to the provincial budget - https://win.newmode.net/keepthegreenbeltpromise/protectthegreenbeltontarios2024budget

February 5th to February 10th - 7 Generations Summit - Toronto - https://www.legacyproject.org/7gen/summit.html#not

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/

-----------------------------------
C) The Cobalt Challenge Movie - Princess Cinema - January 29th at 6:30pm

The next FREE community film event of the Laurier Wellbeing in Film Forum (LWIFF) is coming up at 6:30pmon Jan 29 at the Princess Original!

After hearing from local researchers about how resource extraction activities have harmed the mental health of Indigenous peoples globally <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00079-7/fulltext> and the importance ofFree, Prior and Informed Consent <https://whatis.fpic.info/>. Then we'll watch a documentary about the impacts of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on local communities. Cobalt is an important component of electric vehicle batteries, so after the movie we'll discuss how the "green transition" can avoid the mistakes of the past.

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D) 7 Generation BioRegional Earth Summit - Toronto, Canada - Feb 5th to 10th 2024

https://www.legacyproject.org/7gen/summit.html#not

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

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

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G) Recent Media:

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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
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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