<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Good Day!<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">As Lulu shared in her recent e-mail, this morning the province of Ontario announced ambitious plans that have been many years in the making to protect essential water resources and natural features such as the Waterloo Moraine and the Paris-Galt Moraine that are facing development pressures and are not currently in the provincial Greenbelt.</div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can learn more about these announcements and the 90 day EBR/consultation process here:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="http://www.ontario.ca/greenbelt" class="">www.ontario.ca/greenbelt</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The Ontario Greenbelt Alliance (110 member groups of which GREN is a member) has launched our own joint website and will be undertaking an extensive campaign, meetings, media programs, and outreach over the next few months. You can see the website that is still being developed as we digest today's announcements here:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="http://www.protectourwaters.ca" class="">www.protectourwaters.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I had a call directly from Kitchener MPP Daiene Vernile this morning indicating that the government is looking for feedback and strong mandate to move forward with these proposed Greenbelt expansion areas as they are expecting some opposition. Thus, it will be very important that GREN members send letters and e-mails of support to all levels of government as well as attend the consultations planned for January here in Waterloo Region (I will circulate the details and timing as soon as it is known). The comment period on this 90 EBR closes on March 7th, 2018.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This could be one of the largest environmental achievements in years in Ontario and with a provincial election pending in June we don’t want to see the government distracted or lose interest because of a lack of public feedback.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It has been suggested that GREN create a sub-committee to work with our local governments, build support, and ensure strong positive feedback to the government. Please let me know if you would be interested and able to help on this committee.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It is wonderful to finally see things moving forward on provincial reinforcement of our local protections such as our Regional Official Plan, the ESL’s, Protected Countryside, and Countryside Line that we have worked so hard to develop over the years. We will need to work to ensure that they are strengthened and not diminished by any Greenbelt expansion and that the strongest of either local or provincial protections prevail.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I have spoke with a number of area media outlets already today and there have been several press releases circulated from area groups about this announcement which I have attached below along with a couple of the proposed maps from the provincial government for the expansion dialog.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share any questions or ideas and I will circulate additional information as it becomes available.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers!</div><div class="">Kevin. </div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">P.S. You can send your support to the Premier and key Ministers right now by using the automatic e-mail letter template at: <a href="http://www.protectourwaters.ca/action" class="">http://www.protectourwaters.ca/action</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">-------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>