[All] Food Belt, Tariffs, Achievement Awards, Bill 5 & 17 Events, Water Protection, Bike Lane Win, And More!
Kevin Thomason
kevinthomason at mac.com
Fri Jul 11 15:20:18 EDT 2025
Good Day!
Despite being on summer ‘break’ the provincial government has been busy - including a stealthy proposal to allow water taking permits that could undermine the victory in the battle against Blue Triton in Guelph. There is good news about bike lanes, and opposition to Bills 5 and 17 continues to grow. Momentum for a Food Belt continues to build and we are pleased to announce a special joint meeting with the Ontario Headwaters Institute and award presentation for our next meeting on Friday, July 18th at 5:30pm where Watershed Guardian Awards for Lifetime Achievement, the Watershed Guardian of the Year, and the Community Advocate Award will be presented:
Date/Time: Friday, July 18th at 5:30pm
Registration (if desired): https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xQsDYfEWQ-SV4CC4NWfWdQ#/registration
Zoom Link (as usual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09,
Here’s the latest:
1) New Tariff Threats Means Bill 21 & Food Belt More Important Than Ever - Trump is at it yet again with the new announcement of 35% tariffs in a letter posted on Truth Social filled with false info. This post includes Trump’s rambling, error-filled letter and quick analysis:
https://colenotcole.substack.com/p/breaking-trump-slaps-35-tariff-on?r=dfpu3&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
An excellent analysis into the 35% tariffs proposed on Canada by Stephen Robinson:
Stephen Robinson - An Embarrassing Exercise In Economic And Diplomatic Futility:
https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-tariff-letters-taco?triedRedirect=true
Instead of using the threat of tariffs and the destruction of the Canadian economy as impetus for absurd ideas such as more planet-killing pipelines or delusional Highway 401 tunnels, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady continue to promote national security through food and water security with their ideas for a Food Belt in Bill 21- Protect Our Food Act. They delegated to Hamilton Council earlier this week and MPP Schreiner will be in Waterloo Region on Monday for meetings with farmers and for a community meeting on Monday evening. Details are as follows:
Event: Kitchener South Hespeler Evening of Learning & Action
Date/Time: Monday, July 14 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Details and Registration: https://app.gvote.ca/rsvp/eve_236c85b3e
Media coverage of Bill 21: Protect Our Food Act includes:
CHCH News - MPP’s Schreiner And Brady Take To Hamilton City Hall With Their Bill To Protect Ontario’s Farmland:
https://www.chch.com/chch-news/mpps-schreiner-brady-take-to-hamilton-city-hall-with-their-bill-to-protect-ontarios-farmland/
CBC - Protecting Agricultural Land Is Food Security Says Ontario Farm Family Backing Private Members Bill:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/bobbi-ann-brady-bill-21-1.7578945
Action Required - Speak up for the nation-building, security, and environmental projects that will actually provide a better future.
2) Awards And Achievement - Join us next Friday at 5:30pm as the Grand River Environmental Network and the Ontario Headwaters Institute, supported by Democracy Caledon, Land Over Landings, The Land Between, The Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition, and STORM - Save The Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition present the first Watershed Guardian Awards for Lifetime Achievement, Watershed Guardian of the Year, and the Community Advocate Award:
Date/Time: Friday, July 18th at 5:30pm
Registration (if desired): https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xQsDYfEWQ-SV4CC4NWfWdQ#/registration
Zoom Link (as usual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09,
Join us to learn more about actions for watershed security that we can be undertaking with our local municipalities, recognize community leaders, and go over the latest news/events.
3) Actions Against Bill 5 Continue To Build Momentum - New campaigns to repeal Ontario’s Bill 5 continue to be announced while First Nations promise protest and ongoing opposition to this draconian Bill that creates lawless Special Economic Zones, cancels the Endangered Species Act, removes Heritage and Archeology protections, and tramples First Nations rights.
Upcoming Rallies And Events - The protests and rallies against Bill 5 continue. There has been an Indigenous presence at Queens Park since Bill 5 was passed and they are tending a sacred fire. There will be a rally against Bill 5 in Orangeville organized by multiple groups including HeadwatersStopThe413, GASP, and ecoCaledon. Details are as follows:
Date/Time: Saturday, July 12th at 1:00pm
Location: Mill Square Park, Orangeville
The Green Party is hosting an Evening Of Action & Learning with a strong Bill 5 focus in Conservative MPP Jess Dixon’s Kitchener-South Hespeler riding:
Date/Time: Monday, July 14 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Registration/Details: https://app.gvote.ca/rsvp/eve_236c85b3e
Learn more about Bill 5 with new events posted daily at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/stop-bill-5/
Latest Media - Includes excellent articles on Hamilton, Chatham, and Orangeville:
The Hamilton Spectator - Hundreds Rally To Kill Bill 5 At Hamilton City Hall:
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/hundreds-rally-to-kill-bill-5-at-hamilton-city-hall/article_5bbe438a-4139-56b9-b47a-fd8071311422.html
Orangeville Citizen - Local Groups To Host Rally Opposing Bills 5 and 17 on Saturday:
https://citizen.on.ca/local-groups-to-host-rally-opposing-bills-5-and-17-on-saturday/
Chatham Daily News - Dresden Dump Fight Is Far From Over Rally Hears:
https://www.chathamdailynews.ca/news/local-news/dresden-dump-fight-bill-5-battle-far-from-over-rally-hears
Special Economic Zone (SEZ’s) Red Flag!
The Hamilton Spectator - The Threat Of More Poison In Our Water: A Gold Mining Firm Plans To Discharge Wastewater Upstream Of Grassy Narrows:
https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/the-threat-of-more-poison-in-our-water-a-gold-mining-firm-plans-to-discharge/article_7d821f2c-34ca-582d-a1b0-914b7eb4eb13.html
The Globe & Mail - News Of A Deep Sea Port Along The James Bay Coast Is A Surprise To Those Who Live There:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-news-of-a-deep-sea-port-along-the-james-bay-coast-is-a-surprise-to/
Author and journalist Tanya Talaga wrote a sobering account of how the James Bay Seaport is a pipe dream pushed by colonialists for a long time.
Canada’s National Observer - Ford Gutted Ontario’s Environmental Laws. Now He Wants Ottawa To Clear The Last Line Of Defence:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/09/news/ford-gutted-ontario-environmental-laws-ontario-alberta-want-ottawa-clear-federal-species-at-risk-act
The Hamilton Spectator - Opinion - Mike Schreiner, Green Party Leader - Bill 5 Is A Threat To Farmers And Ontario’s Food Sovereignty:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/bill-5-is-a-threat-to-farmers-and-ontario-s-food-sovereignty/article_b059e61b-7340-5943-849b-0b1b47694d0a.html
Wilderness Committee Article - Bill Baby, Bill: The Spring Trend Of Environment-wrecking, Indigenous Rights - Trampling Legislation In Canada:
https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/news/bill-baby-bill-spring-trend-environment-wrecking-indigenous-rights-trampling-legislation
Recent Webinar Now Online - Environmental Defence - Bill 5 Power Grab: Fast Tracking The Dresden Dump Webinar Recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxh7Gu1MYvU
Current Campaigns - Several organizations have campaigns where you can send letters with one-click:
David Suzuki Foundation - Repeal Bill 5:
https://davidsuzuki.org/action/repealbill5/
NDP Repeal Bill 5 Campaign:
https://ontariondp.ca/repeal-bill-5
Green Party Campaign To Repeal Bill 5:
https://gpo.ca/action_campaign/repeal-bill-5/
Wildlands League Repeal Bill 5:
https://wildlandsleague.org/stop-bill5/
Ontario Federation of Labour - Take Action Kill Bill 5 Sign Up For Updates:
https://ofl.ca/action/take-action-kill-bill-5/
Required Actions - The fight against Bill 5 will continue as we need to continue to speak up against this horrifying omnibus bill and ensure our democracy, environment, clean energy, agriculture, and communities aren’t destroyed by the misguided development efforts of the provincial government under the guise of responding to Trump tariffs. Keep writing, calling, and speaking out.
4) Bill 17 - The Building Faster and Smarter Act, was so rushed by the government it skipped all consultation and committee hearings. Many municipalities are passing resolutions against Bill 17 that will gut Green Development Standards, expand undemocratic MZO powers, negatively impact almost every stage of development, planning, and once again cuts essential development charges municipalities depend on to provision growth.
The province released a very troubling directive to all municipalities (attached in Appendix C) below) claiming they have sole authority over municipal building laws and regulations in Ontario - contravening decades of actions and previous decisions/statements.
Kudos to local activist Hal Jaeger who has undertaken impressive outreach on Bill 17 with all political parties. Local Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife is planning on presenting a petition in the Legislature against Bill 17. Speak up, download the petition, and get people to sign it so that it can be presented to the Premier at:
https://www.catherinefife.com/stop_bill_17
Bill 17 Resource Hub - The Ontario Climate Caucus has created an outstanding website of Bill 17 resources learn everything that you need to know at:
Ontario Climate Caucus Hub on Bill 17 And Green Development Standards:
https://guides.co/g/ontario-climate-caucus-hub/545494
Action Required - Speak up to preserve essential Official Plans, environmental protection concepts such as the Countryside Line, and help ensure Development Charges actually cover the costs of new development. Ensure that municipalities can implement the Green Development Standards and the better buildings we need to combat Climate Change.
5) Water For Life - Not Profit - Water taking permits are not transferable corporate assets. It is very troubling to see changes the provincial government is trying to bring in to allow water taking permits to be transferred and sold that could have far-reaching impacts in Guelph, Wellington and beyond. Kudos to the Water Watchers for a great campaign to raise awareness. Send a one-click letter at:
https://win.newmode.net/waterwatchers/waterpermitsarenottransferableassets-1
Speak up on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) before August 1st:
ERO posting #025-0730 Proposed changes to provide flexibility for water taking activities:
https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0730
Recent media coverage includes:
Guelph Today - Water Watchers Oppose Move To Make Water Taking Permits Transferable:
https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/water-watchers-oppose-move-to-make-water-taking-permits-transferable-10925145
Background: blog/podcast Doreen Nicoll - Mike Schreiner Knows Water Is Life And A Human Right:
https://open.substack.com/pub/doreenn/p/mike-s <https://open.substack.com/pub/doreenn/p/mike-schreiner-knows-water-is-life?r=dfpu3&utm_medium=ios>
Action Required - Speak up now to protect our water.
6) Wilmot Mega-Industrial Land Assembly - Thanks to everyone who joined the Wilmot Civic Action Network (WilmotCAN) on a beautiful sunny afternoon on a farm last Friday afternoon for a Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss recent meetings, the mapping project, and launching legal challenges. Watch for new actions coming soon.
Citizen of the Year - Vote for local musician PunkeyDoodles Steve Todd who has been nominated in the Culture category as Wilmot 2025 Citizen of the Year! Steve has written numerous songs about the Fight For Farmland, the 770 acre mega-industrial development, and performed throughout Waterloo Region over the past year and a half. Check out and enjoy his impressive songs at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aFUmD5xK8MM7cr2BqdX3w
We are also pleased to see that WilmotCAN and Fight For Farmland activist Krista Strauss has been nominated in the Community Service category as Wilmot 2025 Citizen of the Year.
Please vote before July 16th at:
https://www.engagewr.ca/wilmot-citizen-of-the-year-2025
You must be a Wilmot resident and over the age of 18 to vote.
Action Required - Continue to speak up to demand the Region of Waterloo give up its farm destroying mega-industrial fiasco that is already costing taxpayers dearly. It’s more important than ever to keep up the Fight For Farmland signs and voice your concerns to elected officials.
7) Ford Government Demands To Repeal Climate Laws - In an appalling effort, the provincial government along with Alberta continues to call for the federal government to not proceed with a bill that would enshrine clean drinking water rights in law. Several First Nations are calling for the resignation of Ontario’s Environment Minister Todd McCarthy. Learn more:
CBC News - First Nations Call For Ontario Minister To Resign Over Clean Water Drinking Bill:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/first-nations-demand-ontario-environment-minister-resign-1.7581599
Anishinabek Nation - Anishinabek Nation statement on Ontario and Alberta’s opposition to Bill C-61:
https://anishinabeknews.ca/2025/07/09/anishinabek-nation-statement-on-ontario-and-albertas-opposition-to-bill-c-61/
And the concerns continue about Ontario missing essential emission targets:
Global News - On Course To Miss Targets, Ontario Asks Feds To Repeal Climate Laws:
https://globalnews.ca/news/11282224/ontario-climate-letter/
8) Conservation Authority Changes - The provincial changes to our essential Conservation Authorities continues as the Ford government has appointed a new Chief Conservation Executive to “enhance the effectiveness of conservation authorities and drive faster outcomes” and now changed ministry reporting structures (see letter attached in Appendix E) below. Learn more at:
https://x.com/fatimabsyed/status/1938685208875643114
And read the official Provincial Government Press Release at:
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006128/ontario-taking-action-to-make-conservation-authorities-more-effective
>
Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA)
Nature Centres - we continue to try to learn more about the status of local nature centres and education programs facing significant changes.
Frank Kortright Waterfowl Park/Niska Lands - GRCA CAO Samantha Lawson is delegating next Wednesday to Guelph City Council as part of a Special Council Meeting. Lawson’s presentation will focus on budgets and the GRCA’s Strategic Plan. Since the City of Guelph will be disproportionately impacted by the “strategic” decision to sell off two important parcels of public owned Conservation lands, a number of us will be delegating to ask Guelph City Council to ask for Lawson to be asked to return to Council to present on the Niska Management Plan and on the land disposition plans. If you’re able to, please join us in Council Chambers to show support for the pushback against conservation authority land disposition in Ontario:
Guelph Council Meeting Package: https://pub-guelph.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=7a91c5db-16c1-48cd-bd24-6aa47a75852b&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
Lawson’s Presentation: https://pub-guelph.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=63732
Action Required - Speak up to ensure better outcomes for our essential Conservation Authorities.
9) Important Articles - Include bankrupt municipalities, the need for long-term care legislation to keep couples together, vast amounts of empty office space, housing price drops, Elon Musk’s shameful dirty turbines, and strong progress for heat pumps:
CBC - Northern Ontario Township To Shut Down All Municipal Services Next Month Due To Financial Crisis:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/fauquier-strickland-financial-crisis-1.7580829
CityNews - Hope Remains For Till Death Do Us Part Legislation:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/07/03/hope-remains-for-till-death-do-us-part-legislation/?
The Record - Nearly A Third Of All Downtown Office Space In Waterloo Region Is Empty:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/nearly-a-third-of-all-downtown-office-space-in-waterloo-region-is-empty-cbre-report/article_1253a0d6-7b07-5320-b2de-21995c94d831.html
The Record - Housing Prices Drop As Listings Increase In June Across Region:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/housing-prices-drop-as-listings-increase-in-june-across-region/article_4f5eea37-849c-5e31-bc0b-d7d5fef02099.html
Climate & Capital - 35 Gas Turbines, No Permits: Elon Musk’s Dirty xAI Secret:
https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/35-gas-turbines-no-permits-elon-musks-dirty-xai-secret/
Elon Musk’s Data Centres use Methane Gas turbines that were built without permits or scrubbers in marginalized communities.
440 - Heat Pumps Continue To Push Fossil Fuels Out Of Canadian Homes:
https://440megatonnes.ca/insight/heat-pumps-continue-to-push-fossil-fuels-out-of-canadian-homes/
10) Toronto Bike Lanes - There was another good win for citizens and public safety as the provincial government’s attempt to appeal the injunction against pausing the removal of the Toronto bikes lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge was dismissed. While this victory is certainly in the best public interest it is disappointing to see the City of Toronto reducing future bike lanes and active transportation plans at a time that they are needed more than ever:
The Hamilton Spectator - Court Dismisses Ontario’s Bid To Appeal Bike Lane Injunction:
https://www.thespec.com/politics/court-dismisses-ontarios-bid-to-appeal-bike-lane-injunction/article_8a9f2e18-98e9-5cf9-a511-e6aedf2d86cb.html
Canada’s National Observer - Ontario Court Halts Ford’s Plan To Tear Out Bike Lanes:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/09/news/ontario-court-halts-fords-plan-tear-out-toronto-bike-lanes
The Trillium - Court Upholds Injunction Halting Removal Of Three Toronto Bike Lanes:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/court-upholds-injunction-halting-removal-of-three-toronto-bike-lanes-10921003
The Trillium - Toronto’s Latest Bike Lane Plan Doesn’t Propose New Lanes For The First Time In Years:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/torontos-bike-lane-plan-doesnt-propose-new-lanes-first-time-years-10903817
11) More Articles - Include MZO reversals, huge new Kitchener developments, new development in St. Jacobs, troubling lobbying by a former provincial Minister, and more Metrolinx issues:
The Trillium - Reversing Support Of MZO Leads Developer To Seek Legal Advice:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/reversing-support-of-mzo-leads-developer-to-seek-legal-advice-10922889
The Record - Massive 9 Tower, 2,600 Unit Development Proposed In Kitchener:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/massive-9-tower-2-600-unit-development-proposed-in-kitchener/article_e9d4876b-332b-5ec9-a30e-b0477c4fb78b.html
The Record - Long Term Care Provider Hopes To Break Ground In St. Jacobs In 2026:
https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/ltc-provider-hopes-to-break-ground-in-st-jacobs-in-2026/article_9a485761-99df-5e5c-88ec-df8e2273595a.html
CityNews - Multi-Tower Development Aims To Transform Industrial Into Residential In Kitchener:
https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/07/11/9-tower-proposal-to-transform-industrial-into-residential-in-kitchener/?
Spectator - Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says:
https://www.thespec.com/business/cuts-at-ontario-colleges-leading-to-nearly-10-000-job-losses-union-says/article_f2968190-d1fb-5f20-t ft to-e6f0318811b064.html <https://www.thespec.com/business/cuts-at-ontario-colleges-leading-to-nearly-10-000-job-losses-union-says/article_f2968190-d1fb-5f20-9058-e6f03188b064.html>
MSN/Investigative Journalism Initiative - One of Doug Ford’s former cabinet ministers starts lobbying Ontario government:
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/politics/government/one-of-doug-ford-s-former-cabinet-ministers-starts-lobbying-ontario-government/ar-AA1Il85b
Less than six months after he retired, former Minister John Yakabuski has started lobbying the ministry he once lead….
The Trillium - GO Transit X account will no longer respond to riders with AI: Metrolinx:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/go-transit-x-account-will-no-longer-respond-to-riders-with-ai-metrolinx-10922407
12) GO Train Expansion Disaster - The stories continue on how Metrolinx and the Ford government's plans for essential GO Train expansion imploded leaving places like our Grand River Watershed with no hope for improved travel to Toronto for decades. Given the hours people waste trying to get around the GTA daily it is astounding that Doug Ford isn’t paying a political price or citizen’s aren’t more upset.
Press Progress - When Metrolinx Hooked Up With European Rail Experts, The Result Was A Slow Motion Train Wreck:
https://pressprogress.ca/metrolinx-deutsche-bahn-go-expansion-train-wreck/
13) iON LRT Expansion - It’s good to see the community dialog on the need for improved public transit and the need to expand iON Light Rail Transit to more of Waterloo Region:
Doug Craig - The Record - Light Rapid Transit For Cambridge Benefits All Of Waterloo Region:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/light-rapid-transit-for-cambridge-benefits-all-of-waterloo-region/article_a5cff5b9-ca66-581d-8e15-0f938d0bb0d1.html
14) Saving Ontario Billions On Energy - The Ontario Clean Air Alliance continues its excellent campaign calling for low-cost wind and solar energy instead of expansive and challenging nuclear power. Learn more and use their excellent tools to speak up at:
https://www.cleanairalliance.org/no-nuclear-yes-solar-wind/
15) Ontario Place Plans Need Improvement - Therme released their sprawling vision for the mega spa and the concerns about the Ontario Place redevelopment continue with far better ideas being proposed:
The Trillium - Therme Shows Off Design Of Ontario Place Park:
https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/therme-shows-off-design-of-ontario-place-water-park-10913343
The Toronto Star - Olivia Chow Doesn’t Need To Share The Blame For Doug Ford’s Ontario Place Parking Mistake:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/olivia-chow-doesnt-need-to-share-the-blame-for-doug-fords-ontario-place-parking-mistake/article_5abf3ddf-b15c-4ec0-abe2-1ac8725c093c.html
There’s time to correct the mistake of the massive waterfront parking garage simply by relocating it to nearby Exhibition Place grounds where it could benefit more and be topped with attractions.
16) Great Lakes Protection - The Great Lakes Executive Committee is raising awareness about the need for radionuclides to be designated as a Chemical of Mutual Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Act. You can learn more in the following report:
https://www.greatlakesecoregion.org/_files/ugd/d7ed69_ce7300b9e29c49a4bac79348d901b142.pdf
There will be important meetings coming up on July 14th at 10am. To learn more or attend please contact: jjackson at web.ca <mailto:jjackson at web.ca>
17) Additional Articles - Include why the war on EVs is bound to fail, shutting down climate change data collection, concerns about federal climate action, Trump’s America, the power grab behind recent school board take-overs by Doug Ford, and the true cost of EV cancellations:
Canada’s National Observer - The Conservative War On EVs Is Bound To Fail:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/04/opinion/conservative-war-evs-bound-fail <https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/04/opinion/conservative-war-evs-bound-fail?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=NatObserver%2Fmagazine%2FCanada%27s+National+Observer>
CNN - Trump Admin Tries To Kill The Most Indisputable Evidence Of Human-Caused Climate Change By Shuttering Observatory:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/01/climate/trump-cuts-mauna-loa-keeling
Canada’s National Observer - Losing Confidence In Carney’s Willingness To Prioritize Action On The Climate Crisis:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/04/opinion/losing-confidence-carney-willingness-prioritize-climate-crisis? <https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/04/opinion/losing-confidence-carney-willingness-prioritize-climate-crisis?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=NatObserver%2Fmagazine%2FCanada%27s+National+Observer>
The Record - A Letter To My Daughter Living In Trump’s America:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/a-letter-to-my-daughter-living-in-trumps-america/article_1c08bb1b-54b0-59a1-9e92-1e8e4c828aa5.html
The Toronto Star - School Board Takeover: Don’t Be Fooled. It’s Not About Finances - It’s Power Politics:
https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/school-board-takeover-dont-be-fooled-it-is-not-about-finances-its-power-politics/article_43bfccbf-be3a-54a7-a0fa-7e7eea997cca.html
Charlie Angus - The Resistance - The Frightening Lesson From Texas:
https://substack.com/@charlieangus/p-168063102
TAF - Cancelling EV Sales Targest Could Cost 11,000 Canadian Lives, Climate And Health Experts Warn:
https://taf.ca/cancelling-ev-sales-targets-could-cost-11000-canadian-lives-climate-and-health-experts-warn/
“EV standards would result in $90 billion in health benefits for Canadians over the next 25 years, including 11,000 avoided premature deaths due to vehicle-related pollutants."
18) Some Hopeful News - Cities show that reaching climate targets is possible, and encouraging to see a student-led regenerative farming initiative:
Triple Pundit - This Pittsburgh Neighbourhood Halved Carbon Emissions Last Year And Saved Over $44 Milllion:
https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2025/pittsburgh-2030-district-emissions-reduction/823516?
Brant Beacon - Student-led Project Looking For Ontario Grain Farmers:
https://www.brantbeacon.ca/student-led-project-looking-for-ontario-grain-farmers/
19) Reminder - Next Meeting - Join us next, Friday, July 18th at 5:30pm online at the Zoom link below to discuss the latest and a special awards presentation:
Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Bi-Weekly Zoom Meeting and Special Awards
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:
Saturday, July 12th - 1:00pm - Rally Against Bill 5 - Mill Square Park, Orangeville - See poster below.
Monday, July 14th -:6:30pm to 8:00pm - Kitchener-South Hespeler Bill 5 Meeting - https://app.gvote.ca/rsvp/eve_236c85b3e
Friday, July 18th - 5:30pm - Next group update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09
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B) Orangeville Bill 5 Protest - Saturday, July 12th at 1pm

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C) Bill 17 MMAH Letter To Municipalities:

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D) Provincial Minister Letter Re: Conservation Authority Changes:

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E) OGA Webinar Follow-up - Greenbelt Vision Document:

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F) 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
All Wilmot Councillors can be reached at a single simple address: council at wilmot.ca <mailto:council at wilmot.ca>
Letters should also be sent to: clerks at wilmot.ca <mailto:clerks at wilmot.ca> to be included as part of the public record.
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>
Matt Rodrigues, Regional Councillor, Kitchener, mrodrigues at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:mrodrigues 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>
All Regional Councillors and Mayors can be reached at a single simple address: regionalcouncillors at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:regionalcouncillors at regionofwaterloo.ca>
Letters should also be sent to: regionalclerk at regionofwaterloo.ca <mailto:regionalclerk at regionofwaterloo.ca> to be included as part of the public record.
County of Brant Contact list:
Mayor David Bailey david.bailey at brant.ca <mailto:david.bailey at brant.ca> 226-387-2490
Councillor Ward 1 Jennifer Kyle jennifer.kyle at brant.ca <mailto:jennifer.kyle at brant.ca> 519-242-0898
Councillor Ward 1 John MacAlpine john.macalpine at brant.ca <mailto:john.macalpine at brant.ca> 519-757-9359
Councillor Ward 2 Steve Howes steve.howes at brant.ca <mailto:steve.howes at brant.ca> 519-442-4955
Councillor Ward 2 Lukas Oakley lukas.oakley at brant.ca <mailto:lukas.oakley at brant.ca> 226-216-3037
Councillor Ward 3 John Bell john.bell at brant.ca <mailto:john.bell at brant.ca> 519-209-2277
Councillor Ward 3 John Peirce john.peirce at brant.ca <mailto:john.peirce at brant.ca> 519-442-7134
Councillor Ward 4 Robert Chambers robert.chambers at brant.ca <mailto:robert.chambers at brant.ca> 519-449-2633
Councillor Ward 4 David Miller jedamiller at sympatico.ca <mailto:jedamiller at sympatico.ca> 519-449-1240
Councillor Ward 5 Brian Coleman brianatbridgeview at gmail.com <mailto:brianatbridgeview at gmail.com> 519-753-2798
Councillor Ward 5 Christine Garneau christinegarneau at brant.ca <mailto:christinegarneau at brant.ca> 226-802-1217
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
Or cal or text Doug Ford’s Personal Cell Phone - 647-612-3673
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 <mailto:vic.fedeli at pc.ola.org> or 416-326-8475
Rob Flack - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing- rob.flack at pc.ola.org <mailto: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 Natural Resources and Forestry, 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
Joseph Racinsky- MPP Wellington-Halton Hills - joseph.racinsky 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
Prime Minister Mark Carney - mark.carney at parl.gc.ca <mailto:mark.carney at parl.gc.ca>
Local Liberal MPs:
Tim Louis - MP Kitchener-Conestoga - tim.louis at parl.gc.ca <mailto:tim.louis at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 578-3777
Bardish Chagger - MP Waterloo - bardish.chagger at parl.gc.ca <mailto:bardish.chagger at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 746-1573
Dominque O-Rourke - MP Guelph - dominique.orourke at parl.gc.ca <mailto:dominique.orourke 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
Connie Cody - MP Cambridge - connie.cody at parl.gc.ca <mailto:connie.cody at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 624-2828
Matt Strauss - MP Kitchener-South Hespeler - matt.strauss at parl.gc.ca <mailto:matt.strauss at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 571-5509
Kelly Deridder - MP Kitchener-Centre - kelly.deridder at parl.gc.ca <mailto:kelly.deridder at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 746-8867
John Nater - MP Perth-Wellington - john.nater at parl.gc.ca <mailto:john.nater at parl.gc.ca> or (519) 273-1400
-----------------------------------
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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