[All] Fight For Farmland Calls Out EDC, Breaking News On Highway #413, Doug Ford Creates Red Tape For Bike Lanes, Lots Of Local Upcoming Activities, Join Us Friday at 5:30pm
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Thu Oct 17 21:30:40 EDT 2024
Good Day,
The Fight For Farmland calls out Tony LaMantia and the Waterloo Region Economic Corporation over so many misleading claims and statements, there’s breaking news on Highway #413, Doug Ford announces new provincial red tape to hamper essential bike lanes, and there’s lots of upcoming events/activities around the Grand River Watershed. Join us on Zoom on Friday at 5:30pm to discuss and learn more:
Join us tomorrow - Friday, October 18th at 5:30pm:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz0 <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09>
Here’s the latest:
1) Fight For Farmland Calls Out EDC - Significant media attention continued this week including more front page news coverage as the Fight For Farmland group called out misinformation and truly misleading statements from Tony LaMantia and the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation. You can read the Fight For Farmland press release at the following link:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/67073474a6a1cb7490c2a4b7/1728525428615/PRESS+RELEASE+-+OCTOBER+9.pdf
Media coverage continues including:
Farms.com - Fight For Farmland Challenges Tony LaMantia’s Statements Advocating Wilmot Land Assembly:
https://m.farms.com/news/fight-for-farmland-challenges-tony-lamantia-s-statements-advocating-wilmot-land-assembly-218629.aspx
And listen to Alfred Lowrick, Spokesperson for Fight For Farmland on the Mike Farwell Show on 570News on Friday (tomorrow) at 9:30am.
There was also excellent front-page coverage in The Record on the impact on surrounding farms:
The Record - “It’s Not Just The 770 Acres. What Happens To Our Farm?”:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/its-not-just-the-770-acres-what-happens-to-our-farm/article_ae626c76-fe3b-5a3e-9ed2-2d409af30375.html
As well the media continued to cover the NDP speaking up against the Wilmot Land Assembly and demanding the provincial government abandon this absurd mega-industrial scheme:
CityNews - Agriculture Minister Grilled On the Province’s Role In Wilmot Land Acquisition:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/10/11/agriculture-minister-grilled-on-the-provinces-role-in-wilmot-land-acquisition/
The Record - No Government Should Expropriate Farmland, Says NDP Critic:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/no-government-should-expropriate-farmland-says-ndp-critic/article_e9dd95bf-df18-5312-826a-bc3eec9c002e.html
There were also many more great Letters To The Editor including:
The Record - We Need Jobs - Not On Fertile Farmland:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/oct-11-appeasing-world-dictators-always-comes-with-a-price-jobs-shouldnt-come-at-the/article_deb2e032-3a3a-552a-a743-87ceb6dbc680.html
Action Required - Please keep speaking up and watch for more push back against the EDC campaign, advertisements, and actions trying to justify this Wilmot Land Assembly that still hasn’t even had a single public meeting, nor any studies/reports, or even the most basic concerns addressed.
2) Federal Government Denies Any Involvement In Wilmot Land Assembly - Local Liberal Member of Parliament Tim Louis released a flyer and a video making support for agriculture, the need for farmland protection and the lack of any federal involvement in the Wilmot Land Assembly very clear. In fact, Tim Louis states that unlike municipal, regional, and provincial elected officials, he is under no Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and is able to talk freely about things - but that he doesn’t know anything more than the community knows.
Watch his video firsthand at: https://www.facebook.com/reel/801572098651345
Action Required - We need to keep writing and calling MPP Mike Harris Jr, Cabinet Ministers, and the Premier to reinforce we are an UNWILLING community who knows that the province is leading this land assembly effort despite their attempts to foist the blame on others.
3) Upcoming Council Meetings on Monday and Wednesday - This coming week there is a Monday (Oct 21st) Wilmot Council Meeting where we hope there will at least be a General Interest delegation or two on the Wilmot Land Assembly. Please register to speak with the Wilmot Clerk at clerks at wilmot.ca if you can speak about your concerns with the proposal and how it will impact you and your family. We will take a break from protesting at Wilmot Council this month but hope that you will join us on Wednesday (Oct 23rd) at 6:30pm to protest in advance of the Region of Waterloo Council meeting and then join us inside Council Chambers at 7pm for delegations in support of the Fight For Farmland as well as to push back on delegations from Ian McLean at the KW Chamber of Commerce advocating for this mega-industrial site that still hasn’t had a single public meeting.
The Shredding Of The Corn Staff Report is also on the Regional Agenda to be discussed as we learn more about the status of the unprecedented and mysterious provincial NDA. Given the Premier’s own statements recently at the International Plowing Match about his concerns regarding the lack of transparency, it is hoped that the government will finally stop hiding and not be afraid of the proper transparency such as massive, community changing initiative requires.
Details for the meetings are as follows:
Wilmot Township Council: 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden - Monday, October 21st - Council Meeting starts at 7:00 pm
Region of Waterloo Council Meeting: 150 Fredrick Street East, Kitchener - Wednesday, October 23rd - 6:30pm Rally & Protest, Council Meeting starts at 7:00pm
Questionable comments from the Wilmot Mayor - It was intriguing to see Mayor Natasha Salonen make the following comment this past week regarding the Erb’s Road Shelter for those experiencing homelessness:
“I really don’t have great faith in the Region proceeding as an effective landowner in Wilmot.”
And then the Mayor listed a very long list of concerns about the Region of Waterloo. If she can have so many concerns about a simple one acre cluster of tiny homes on the extreme edge of Wilmot that is being expertly run by the amazing team at The Working Centre on land that has been owned by the Region for decades, how can the Mayor be so supportive of this massive Regional land assembly for this mega-industrial site that is exponentially more complex and challenging with so many potential issues and so little information?
Lawn signs - Demand for lawn signs continues to be strong with many more lawn signs distributed this past week. New colour and black & white signs have arrived as we surpass more than 4,100 signs in the community. Find a Sign Captain close to you at www.fightforfarmland.com <http://www.fightforfarmland.com/> and continue to show that our communities are unwilling!
Action Required - Please write and call elected officials to state your concerns and ensure as many lawn signs are up in our communities as possible to show that We Are Unwilling!!!.
4) Rebels With A Cause - Princess Film Festival Night - On Monday October 28th plan to attend a special Fight For Farmland movie night at the Princess Cinema in Uptown Waterloo as part of the Laurier Wellbeing Film Forum (LWIFF). Join Fight For Farmland and LWIFF for a free screening of Rebels With A Cause by Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto followed by a community discussion regarding the proposed Wilmot mega-industrial development and what it would mean for the future of Waterloo Region.
Rebels With A Cause is about how starting in the 1950’s a ragtag group of citizens banded together to protect open spaces near urban areas from rampant development. This documentary is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Frances McDormand and shows the power passionate individuals have to influence an entire nation while setting precedents that shaped the environmental movement as we know it today.
Advance registration for this free screening is required to guarantee entrance. Please sign up for free at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rebels-with-a-cause-free-film-screening-discussion-tickets-1038678975777?aff=oddtdtcreator
A poster is attached below and watch for future updates and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/00lwiff/
*** Breaking News - 5) New Information On Highway 413 And A Surprise New Act Announced Today To Bypass Environmental Reviews And Commence Construction - New Information has been released through Freedom of Information Requests from both Environmental Defence and The Narwhal. Learn more in the following articles:
The Narwhal - What The Federal Government Really Thinks About Ontario’s Highway #413:
https://thenarwhal.ca/highway-413-federal-feedback/
Environmental Defence - Federal Impact Assessment Staff Voiced Concern Over Ontario’s Approach to Protecting Key Values Threatened by Highway 413 Project:
https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/10/16/federal-impact-assessment-staff-voiced-significant-concern-over-ontarios-approach-to-protecting-key-values-threatened-by-highway-413-project/
BREAKING NEWS! - The Province of Ontario just announced The Building Highways Faster Act To Get Drivers Moving Act this afternoon which designates priority highway projects to “speed up construction” including Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, and twinning the Garden City Skyway Bridge (QEW bridge over the Welland Canal, in St Catharines). This involves creating an “accelerated environmental assessment process for Highway 413” and will also streamline utility relocations, accelerate access to property and property acquisitions, and introduce new penalties for obstructing access for field investigations or damaging equipment:
Government Of Ontario Press Release - Ontario Building Highways Faster To Get Drivers Moving:
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005191/ontario-building-highways-faster-to-get-drivers-moving
This press release acknowledges that all 400-series highways in the GTHA including Highway 407 will be at or exceeding capacity within the next decade - but ironically does nothing to suggest any solutions for the traffic gridlock on all these area highways. The answer is simple - get people out of cars and moving on vastly improved public transit, active transportation such as bike lanes, and high speed rail - all of which the Doug Ford provincial government has done everything possible to prevent and circumvent.
Here’s some breaking media coverage:
Trillium - PCs To Reduce Environmental Assessment, Allow 24/7 Construction On HWY 413:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/pcs-to-reduce-environment-assessment-allow-247-construction-on-hwy-413-9671887 <https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/pcs-to-reduce-environment-assessment-allow-247-construction-on-hwy-413-9671887?utm_source=Villager&utm_campaign=Content&utm_medium=Twitter>
The Toronto Star - Ford Government Aims To Fast-Track Construction Of Highway #413, Bradford Bypass, And Garden City Skyway:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-aims-to-fast-track-construction-of-highway-413-bradford-bypass-and-garden-city/article_67327d9e-8c90-11ef-8b42-a7114ce6afde.html
It’s worrth noting, as @TDotResident pointed out, there is not yet a plan or cost estimate that have been made public for Hwy 413 - https://x.com/tdotresident/status/1846997398125482356?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw
6) Greenbelt Scandal Continues To Have Impacts - It is now a year since the RCMP launched their investigation into the Greenbelt Scandal and there continues to be impacts and fallout as the Ex-Minister Kaleed Rasheed who was forced out of the PC Caucus and demoted after massages with one of the key developers in the scandal announced that he will not seek re-election. It had become apparent in recent months despite all his efforts that he would not be welcomed back into the Conservative Caucus.
However, Ex-Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark got another promotion and pay increase despite his pivotal role in the Greenbelt Scandal. Read more about these stories in the articles below:
The Trillium - Ex-Minister Who Was In Las Vegas With Developer Won’t Run For Re-Election:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ex-minister-who-went-on-vegas-trip-with-developer-wont-run-for-re-election-9650055
The Trillium - Ford Gives New Responsibility, Small Pay Bump To MPP Who Oversaw Greenbelt Removals:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/ <https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ex-minister-who-went-on-vegas-trip-with-developer-wont-run-for-re-election-9650055>
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Needs To Come Clean About Greenbelt Scandal, Opposition Says - RCMP investigating European bank accounts:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-needs-to-come-clean-about-greenbelt-scandal-opposition-says/article_5f0c96f2-870b-11ef-8920-e333cf437a37.html
7) Doug Ford Creates More Red Tape By Regulating Bike Lanes - In a confounding move the province is demanding that municipalities will soon require provincial approval for new municipal bike lanes and that considerable data will need to be provided by the municipality showing there will be no impact on automobile traffic. In an era of global climate change and declining health where it is clear that we have to reduce fossil fuel use and improve human activity levels it is unbelievable that Doug Ford would seek to reduce active transportation while promoting more unsustainable automobile use on our already gridlocked roads. We need more efficient ways to more more people and so many leading cities around the world such as Paris, Amsterdam, Singapore, and elsewhere are showing firsthand the benefits of bicycles and the many positive outcomes. Learn more in the following articles:
CBC - Legislation To Limit Bike Lanes Will Be Introduced In Coming Weeks:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lanes-legislation-ontario-ford-sarkaria-1.7352228
CambridgeToday.ca - Concern Over Province’s Plan To Restrict Bike Lanes On City Streets Gains Momentum:
https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/concern-over-provinces-plan-to-restrict-bike-lanes-on-city-streets-gains-momentum-9658148
The Record - Ontario To Give Itself Veto Power Over City Bike Lanes, Worsening Gridlock:
https://www.therecord.com/news/ontario/ontario-to-give-itself-veto-power-over-city-bike-lanes-citing-worsening-gridlock/article_22320230-c7e4-55fa-8e7e-132d30f34541.html
Canada’s National Observer - City of Toronto And Advocates Defend Bike Lanes From Ford Government Legislation:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/10/16/news/city-toronto-advocates-bike-lanes-ford-government-legislation
***** Breaking News - The Trillium - Premier Ford Promises To Tear Out Existing Bike Lanes:
https://www.thetrillium.ca
Tories Anti-bike Stance Heats Up As Potential Snap Election Looms - It looks like Doug Ford is doubling down and really trying to anger people while distracting from other issues….
Tunnel Vision - And another absurd idea for a Highway 401 Tunnel from our Premier who doesn’t seem to mind wasting tax payer dollars on feasibility studies for projects that don't even appear to be grounded in reality is clearly spelled out in this detailed article from The Pointer:
The Pointer - Doug Ford’s Highway 401 Tunnel Scheme Is Latest Disconnect From Environmental Realities:
https://thepointer.com/article/2024-10-14/doug-ford-s-highway-401-tunnel-scheme-latest-disconnect-from-environmental-realities
8) Recent Articles - Includes even more unbelievable schemes to waste taxpayer money while buying votes, huge legal costs incurred by the government fighting our own public sector workers, Catholic School Board Trustees spending tens of thousands of dollars on a trip to Italy to buy artwork for schools, and the NDP demand an investigation of Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma:
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Poised To send Pre-Election Cheques To 16 Million Ontarians (exact amount TBD, estimated to be at least $200 per person - that’s $3.2 B!!):
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-poised-to-send-out-pre-election-cheques-to-16-million-ontarians/article_87a56eaa-8b2e-11ef-8b0a-3b68e949aa70.html
Just Posted - The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Wants To Buy Your Silence:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-wants-to-buy-your-silence/article_319359b6-8cc1-11ef-aecc-3fa29ef06663.html
Canada’s National Observer - Using Social Media To Explain The Climate Crisis:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/10/08/opinion/youth-climate-socialmedia-karishma-porwal
TVO Today - Governments Add Red Tape To Stuff They Want To Suffocate - Housing And Bike Lanes:
https://www.tvo.org/article/opinion-governments-add-red-tape-to-stuff-they-want-to-suffocate-housing-and-bike-lanes
The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Poised To Send Put Pre-Election Cheques To 16 Million Ontarians:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-poised-to-send-out-pre-election-cheques-to-16-million-ontarians/article_87a56eaa-8b2e-11ef-8b0a-3b68e949aa70.html
The Triilium (Charlie Pinkerton) - NDP leader Marit Stiles requested Integrity Commissioner investigation of Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma for possible violation of ethics law (preferential treatment of Therme re: Ontario Place):
https://x.com/charliepinkerto/status/1846890441133687128?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw
Canada’s National Observer - David Moscorp - Doug Ford’s Private Gravy Train Adds New Passengers:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/10/17/opinion/doug-ford-MPP-assistants-raises
9) Provincial Speaker Ted Arnott, MPP for Wellington - Halton Hills To Retire - Long-time local MPP Ted Arnott has announced he will not run in the next Ontario election ending decades as MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and Official Speaker for the Legislature:
https://x.com/MPPArnottWHH/status/1846252903113056357
10) Canada Transit Action Week - It is Canada Transit Action Week with activities happening across Canada. Join the Tritag event in Waterloo at the Waterloo Town Square this coming Saturday, October 19th and speak up for the transit system you would like to see:
Tri-Cities Transit Action Group - October 19th Event:
https://tritag.ca/
Learn more about events happening across Canada at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/transit-action-week/
11) MP Mike Morrice Petition For Better Rail Transit - Kitchener MP Mike Morrice has a federal House Of Commons Petition to advocate for better rail transit to Waterloo Region - in-particular two way, all day GO Train service. Sign it online and show your support at:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5163
12) CAPE - Tipping Points For Planetary Health Virtual Conference - The Canadian Association of Physicians For The Environment (CAPE) is holding a full day virtual seminar on building a healthy planetary future together on Saturday, October 26th. Learn more and register at:
https://ubccpd.ca/learn/learning-activities/course?eventtemplate=824-climate-emergency-tipping-points-for-planetary-health
13) Climate Emergency Vigil This Friday! - This Friday, Oct 18th, Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region will be hosting a public climate emergency vigil in Waterloo Public Square, free for all to attend. These vigils build on the power of the 16 vigils hosted last fall, and are designed to create sacred spaces to process complex climate emotions together, to reflect, and to share opportunities for action leading up to the Conference of the Parties climate talks, COP29 happening in November. Spread the word and we hope you will join us. For more information see the poster attached below or visit:
https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/clim <https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/climate-vigils.html>ate-vigils.html <https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/climate-vigils.html>
14) Reform Gravel Webinar - Tuesday, October 22nd at 7pm - Join advocates on the front lines of the fight against a gravel rush that is impacting all of Ontario. Learn from West Grey residents confronting three simultaneous pit applications and from renown lawyer David Donnelly. Please RSVP to attend:
https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/gravel-rush-webinar
15) Basic Income Waterloo Region Meeting - November 6th, 20224 from 7pm to 8:30pm - Joins folks from Basic Income Waterloo Region to learn more about Basic Income, how it would work, and success stories from other locales. The meeting will happen at the John M. Harper Branch of the Waterloo Public Library. Learn more at:
Basic Income Waterloo Region:
http://www.biwr.ca/
16) Ontario Farmland Trust Webinars Return - Join Ontario Farmland Trust for a series of upcoming webinars on farmland protection, species at risk, farming with conservation in mind and more. Learn more at:
Ontario Farmland Trust Webinars:
https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/
17) Other Articles - Include High School students keeping our rivers clean, large legal bills taxpayers are on the hook for, and other wasteful spending:
The Narwhal - Two High School Students Want To Keep Trash Out Of The Great Lakes. They Think Rivers Are The Key:
https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-river-trash-great-lakes/
Global News - Ontario Taxpayers Fork Over $4.3 Million To Settle Legal Costs In Bill 124 Cases:
https://globalnews.ca/news/10811820/ontario-legal-costs-bill-124/
The province lost two court cases defending a wage-cap law that was struck down as unconstitutional. The province has so far paid out $6.7 billion for retroactive pay increases to broader public sector workers after the law was struck down.
Expositor - Catholic Trustees Travel To Italy To Buy $100,000 Worth Of Artwork For New High School (and billed travel expenses of more than $45k for 4 trustees for one week for flights, meals & accommodations):
https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/catholic-trustees-travel-to-italy-to-buy-100000-worth-of-artwork-for-new-high-school
18) Finally Some Good News - Ontario Youth Win In Court Today In Landmark Climate Case - It’s fantastic to see Ontario’s top court ruling in favour of seven youth who challenged the provincial government over greenhouse gas emissions. The court sent the case back to the lower courts where the Ford government will have to answer for its climate record:
The Toronto Star - “This is a David vs. Goliath Fight:” Ontario Court Allows Appeal In Landmark Youth-Led Climate Case:
https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/this-is-a-david-vs-goliath-fight-ontario-court-allows-appeal-in-landmark-youth-led/article_f765aee6-8c94-11ef-b16e-93428bbd30f6.html
19) Reminder - Next Meeting - Join us tomorrow Friday, October 18th 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! And keep us posted on your events so we can share them:
Friday, October 18th at 5:30pm - Next group update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09
Friday, October 18th - 8pm - Climate Emergency Vigils - Waterloo Town Square - https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/climate-vigils.html
Monday, October 21st - 7pm - Wilmot Council Meeting - Support The Fight For Farmland - www.fightforfarmland.com
Tuesday, October 22nd, 7pm - Reform Gravel - Gravel Rush Seminar - https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/gravel-rush-webinar
Wednesday, October 23rd, 6:30pm - Region of Waterloo Council Meeting - Support The Fight For Farmland - www.fightforfarmland.com
Saturday, October 26th - All Day - CAPE Virtual Planetary Health Conference - https://ubccpd.ca/learn/learning-activities/course?eventtemplate=824-climate-emergency-tipping-points-for-planetary-health
Monday, October 28th, 6:30pm - Fight For Farmland/Laurier Film Festival Movie Night At Princess Cinemas - See poster below
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B) Fight For Farmland - Response to EDC’s Three Reasons The Wilmot Land Assembly Has To Happen:
Tony LaMantia, CEO of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation state the following three points in italics followed by responses correcting the misinformation:
Here are three reasons the Wilmot land assembly has to happen:
1) We’ve had the lowest industrial vacancy rate in Canada for years. This is a big problem - we’ve missed out on billions in investment and thousands of jobs.
This is not true. According to the Region of Waterloo’s own studies our industrial vacancy rate has averaged 2.6%, several times higher than most GTAH municipalities that average only a 0.6% industrial vacancy rate. We currently have several million square feet of industrial and commercial buildings sitting vacant in Waterloo Region, and we have entire industrial parks such as Waterloo’s Generation Park and Wilmot’s Industrial Park that have yet to sell a single lot in decades despite being shovel-ready and on the market with hundreds of acres of industrial lands and room for dozens of major companies.
2) Wilmot is the best option, it’s flat, close to transportation routes, far from our water sources and represents just 0.35% of the Region’s farmland. This isn’t a food scarcity issue.
Wilmot is not the best option and it appears that not only were no other sites considered but proper studies haven’t even been completed yet for this site that is contrary to our Regional Official Plan, the Wilmot Official Plan, and all previous Master Plans as well as in violation of the Countryside Line and other significant farmland protection regulations.
The site is not flat as there is more than 6 storeys of elevation change from one end of the site to the other and it is directly adjacent to some of the hilliest parts of Waterloo Region - greatly complicating needed rail spur construction.
The site is far from Highway #401 with no easy access to it, only a single highway reaches this distant site, and more than 80% of local municipal roads only being tar & chip are not suitable for large traffic volumes.
It is actually directly adjacent to the primary groundwater recharge areas of the Waterloo Moraine, contains several creeks and streams, and parts of the proposed site are already within well-head protection areas without even taking into account the significant water/sewage needs of such a massive industrial development within a watershed that is already exceeding its assimilative capacity.
While the farms to be destroyed may represent 0.35% of Waterloo Region’s farmland, this development will negatively impact and compromise agricultural operations for kilometres in every direction and this absurd location for such a massive industrial complex more than 25km distant from our urban centres of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge and where any sort of development has never even been contemplated will have negative implications on groundwater, area wells, local roads/traffic, noise, pollution, and numerous other negative impacts that will disrupt one of the most productive prime agricultural areas of Canada. The negative impacts will be very costly and far-reaching.
We are already losing more than 319 acres of farmland every day in Ontario, the loss of such a vast tract of farmland in Wilmot - not only for this mega-industrial site but hundreds if not thousands of additional acres for accompanying developments is certainly not sustainable - particularly when our Regional Official Plan had a viable plan for more than 300,000 new residents and 170,000 new jobs with almost no farmland loss. It seems that no climate change, sustainability, nor environmental considerations have been taken into account for this proposed mega-industrial site as it is so contrary and stands to override so many Regional and municipal efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and lower our environmental impact. The use of already compromised greyfield, brownfield, and exhausted aggregate pits which abound throughout the Region doesn’t even seem to have been considered instead of the destruction of this prime agricultural land that comprises less than 1% of all land in Ontario.
In an era of rapidly changing global climate, food scarcity is an issue that we all need to anticipate. - particularly in light of scientific predictions for the years ahead and the 40% of the world already facing food and water scarcity.
3) The business community is supportive. We are hearing the loudest voices in opposition, but anyone who supports growth and prosperity in our community - especially business leaders - are for it. I know because they tell me.
No one is against growth and prosperity in our community. However, Agriculture and Food Processing is our #1 Industry in Waterloo Region, generating more revenues and providing more jobs than any other industry. Our farms are amongst the most successful and profitable in all of Canada. We shouldn’t be destroying our #1 economic driver, our countryside and our farmland in hopes that one day some new unknown industry might be convinced to come and set up shop here.
It is this distant, confounding location with so little existing infrastructure, such significant costs to develop, and with so many negative impacts that seem to have been so poorly studied that is causing concern. It is the lack of transparency, so many secret backroom meetings, the lack of any studies or research made publicly available (if they even exist), or even a single public meeting for what could be one of the largest developments in the history of Waterloo Region that is causing so much concern and causing tens of thousands of citizens to speak out in concern and opposition.
Lets build a mega-industrial site using proper transparent planning processes, that is congruent with our Regional Official Plan and all previous planning, that has proper plentiful public consultation and engagement, that our elected officials can actually talk about and not be muzzled, and that has full financial accounting and cost estimates so taxpayers clearly understand the costs and benefits.
Lets ensure that it is sustainable and doesn’t come at the expense of other already successful industries, businesses, and communities. Lets ensure that it can compete globally to attract world-leading companies - not this proposed Wilmot site that only meets 7 of the 44 criteria of Ontario’s own Job Site Selection criteria compared with other potential sites in Waterloo Region meeting 36 to 42 of the 44 criteria.
We can’t have winners and losers in our community. The widespread public opposition to this proposed site is clear by the thousands of lawn signs up throughout the Region and the tens of thousands of signatures against it. We need a site that everyone in Waterloo Region supports - not just some of the business people who stand to profit the most from it.

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C) Rebels With A Cause - LWIFF/Fight For Farmland Movie Night At Princess Cinema - Monday, Oct 28th 7:00pm

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D) CAPE - Tipping Points For Planetary Health Virtual Conference - Saturday, October 26th -

https://ubccpd.ca/learn/learning-activities/course?eventtemplate=824-climate-emergency-tipping-points-for-planetary-health
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E) Climate Emergency Vigils every Friday, 8-9pm - October 4th to November 29th
https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/climate-vigils.html

https://www.faithclimatejustice.ca/climate-vigils.html
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F) Basic Income Event - Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

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G) Recent Media - Martin Regg Cohn - The Toronto Star:
Opinion | Doug Ford wants to buy your silence
Updated 1 hr ago
Oct. 17, 2024
3 min read
Save
<https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-wants-to-buy-your-silence/article_319359b6-8cc1-11ef-aecc-3fa29ef06663.html#>
(3)
The unspoken reason Premier Doug Ford wants to send cheques to Ontarians is to satisfy the premier’s lust for power. The official rationale is to support people’s purchasing power, Martin Regg Cohn writes.
Chris Young THE CANADIAN PRESS
<https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/Martin-Regg-Cohn>
By Martin Regg CohnPolitical Columnist <https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/Martin-Regg-Cohn>
Martin Regg Cohn is a Toronto-based columnist focusing on Ontario politics and international affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @reggcohn <https://twitter.com/reggcohn>.
Some politicians try to buy votes.
Doug Ford wants to buy your silence. And acquiescence.
For a roughly $200 payout, to be handed out to everyone in Ontario, the premier hopes voters will forgive his political sins and forget his legal transgressions.
The planned cash bonanza, to be distributed early next year, is a calculated gamble. The goal is to clear the way for an early election before any bad news — legal and political — erodes the support Ford’s Tories now enjoy in public opinion polls.
As my colleague Robert Benzie reported this week <https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-poised-to-send-out-pre-election-cheques-to-16-million-ontarians/article_87a56eaa-8b2e-11ef-8b0a-3b68e949aa70.html>, the premier’s sudden generosity will be made public later this month. In its annual fall economic statement, the government is dropping any pretence of fiscal probity as it invests heavily and recklessly in its own political survival.
<https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-poised-to-send-out-pre-election-cheques-to-16-million-ontarians/article_87a56eaa-8b2e-11ef-8b0a-3b68e949aa70.html>
STAR EXCLUSIVE
Doug Ford poised to send out pre-election cheques to 16 million Ontarians <https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-poised-to-send-out-pre-election-cheques-to-16-million-ontarians/article_87a56eaa-8b2e-11ef-8b0a-3b68e949aa70.html>
While the precise amount of the rebate cheques is still being finalized, it should be at least
Ford’s PCs want an early election, no matter the cost. Never mind the unnecessary $155-million election expense — that’s the least of it.
If they settle on the $200 figure for every adult and child in Ontario, that works out to as much as $1,000 for a family of five — and perhaps $3.2 billion out of the treasury in total. That money is badly needed to shore up our schools, our hospitals and our homeless, but the premier believes he needs it more desperately to soften up voters.
There are twin legal challenges facing Ford.
The first is deadly serious: potential violations of Ontario’s criminal laws now being probed by a high-stakes RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt scandal.
The headlines have faded, but few have forgotten the $8.28-billion imbroglio over protected land made available to private developers on the premier’s watch (until he reversed course under pressure). That police probe could be released sometime next year, delivering potentially bad news and a political death sentence.
Rather than wait for the police to rain on their re-election parade — scheduled for June 2026 under Ontario’s fixed election law — the plan is to move the campaign up by more than a year to early 2025. But to bump up the date, the Tories would have to ignore the election law.
Fortuitously for Ford, that second potential legal peril is more symbolic than real. While the law mandates that any majority government should serve a full four-year term in power before triggering another, there is no legal penalty for flouting it — only a political price if the press and the people cry foul.
Hence the payout. The premier is banking on voters being more interested in money than morality.
It’s an elegant, if expensive, election plan: a kickback for voters, gifted by a government accused of kickbacks from developers (despite those opposition allegations in the legislature, no criminality has been proven and the police aren’t talking).
Why aim for a potential $200 giveaway? In the past, as a Toronto councillor, Ford famously doled out a wad of $20 bills to impoverished voters at a Toronto Community Housing building in 2013.
He later apologized for the spectacle. And subsequently opted for juicier giveaways that, historically, have hit a sweet spot with voters.
Ahead of the 2022 election, Ford’s Tories cut cheques to rebate motorists for licence plate fees that the government cancelled, at a cost of more than $1 billion to the treasury. During the COVID pandemic, parents received as much as $250 per child. And the previous PC government of Mike Harris issued $200 “dividend” cheques.
How to justify such shameless pre-election (early election) vote-buying?
The unspoken reason is to satisfy the premier’s lust for power. The official rationale is to support people’s purchasing power.
The premier points to post-pandemic inflation raising the price of food and fuel, but it’s not so simple. In fact, the inflation rate plunged to a remarkably low 1.6 per cent last month, thanks mostly to falling fuel prices, according to the latest Statistics Canada data.
And then there’s the federal carbon levy, one of Ford’s favourite targets. It is scheduled to increase again next spring, raising the price of gasoline.
Ford has fulminated over gasoline prices for years — even though the amount taken in by the federal government is fully rebated to the average family. Before the 2022 election, he used the federal carbon levy as a pretext for the province to reduce its own fuel tax in another vote-buying gambit.
For the Tories, the upcoming handout could be the gift that keeps on giving (if not voting). First, by soothing any public disgust over an early election; second, by serving as a counterpoint to the federal carbon levy, allowing Ford to fight an election on his perennial slogan, “Axe the tax.”
In a preview of his campaign rhetoric, Ford complained Thursday <https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-signals-rebate-cheques-for-all-ontarians-will-stimulate-the-economy/article_30958308-8c8b-11ef-bd79-0f8d0604c45b.html> about the “impact of inflation and high interest rates, alongside the growing cost of the federal carbon tax, which in my opinion is the worst tax you could ever put on the backs of people.”
There you have it — an evil levy imposed by Ottawa (albeit rebated), versus a helpful handout from the province, pre-election. Ford has it all figured out.
But does he have voters figured out?

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H) 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
Vic Fedeli - Minister of Economic Development- vic.fedeli at pc.ola.org or 416-326-8475
Rob Flack - Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness - rob.flack at pc.ola.org or 416-326-3074
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
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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