<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=""><div class=""><div><div class=""><div class=""></div></div><div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">Happy New Year Everyone,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">2018 has given us a lot to reflect upon, and to ponder how to make the world a better place. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">The current US President has demonstrated what failed leadership looks like. He continues to campaign rather than to govern; caters to a narrow demographic rather than the broader welfare; and demonstrates personal insecurity with summary rejections of differing perspectives, often while insulting others. Analogies in Canada are emerging, to the detriment of our tradition of working toward consensus. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">This has been evolving for a while. Leaders, whether national, provincial, or in the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">environmental arena, need to provide a big tent under which most people can find comfort, those who wish can fill a role. Followers are little different, but owe themselves and society authentic acts of goodwill that balance their tacks with prevailing winds. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">Ignoring for now any soapbox suggestions on whether or not the current provincial government is still campaigning or starting to govern, allow me to share some personal observations about leadership and followership in the environmental community. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">We are an unruly community. Sometimes, we expect too much of the bigger organizations, as if they should bend over backwards to somehow include the smaller ones, and/or that they jeopardize their funding by speaking truth to power in more direct ways. And while smaller organizations can sometimes really deliver on that, and can rally local communities, it can be frustrating when they just don’t have the capacity to take on more or even just support a strategic effort.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">But if there ever was a time to work together – it is now</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">. In its Bill 57, the current government tabled almost universally-opposed changes to the Environmental Bill of Rights and the Environmental Commissioner. Less than four days after it allocated a whopping 6 hours of committee hearings on the 48 schedules in the bill, the government used its brute strength to not only pass the bill but to include a few mean-spirited amendments not previously circulated. And immediately after that, it introduced Bill 66 which, amongst other things, violates the Premier’s campaign promise to not allow development in the Greenbelt and curtails public engagement in municipal discussions regarding that expansion. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">READ THAT AGAIN. After pledging to not develop the Greenbelt, the Premier seeks to delegate this power to municipalities, without a need for public input. In short, in Ontario the economy currently trumps the environment; being “open for business” trumps democracy; and the special interests who apparently had a strong hand in writing Bill 66 lay bare the pretense of a government “for the people”. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">Fortunately, several leading Ontario environmental organizations are collaborating in the massive effort that will be required to derail the draconian elements of Bill 66. There is a legal analysis, petitions to sign, regional hubs being formed, and draft letters to MPPs and municipal councils. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">We salute the leaders on this, and we hope to be an excellent follower.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class=""> Yes, we will be trying to rally our BFFs in a watershed caucus against the bill, but we will be working within the OGA, the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, where there will be greater collective resources and strength.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">We urge all our sister environmental, agricultural, and community groups to be involved in the coming effort. Local outreach is needed. A clear voice is needed to talk with our local councils and MPPs. And if you are not already part of a larger alliance, consider lending your support. See, for example, item 6 in the links below. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">Please join the effort against Bill 66. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">Andrew </span></b><b class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">McCammon</span></b><b class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">Executive Director</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">416 231 9484<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Links<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">A summary of Bill 66 and information on the deadline for comments can be found on the Environmental Registry, <a href="https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTM2NzI0&statusId=MjA4MzU1&language=en" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(3, 49, 96);" class="">here</span></a>;<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">The full draft of Bill 66 can be seen at <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-66" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(3, 49, 96);" class="">https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-66</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(16, 28, 50);" class="">;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><b class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">A FABULOUS legal analysis by CELA can be seen at</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><a href="https://www.cela.ca/sites/cela.ca/files/CELAlegalanalysis-Bill66andCWA.pdf" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">https://www.cela.ca/sites/cela.ca/files/CELAlegalanalysis-Bill66andCWA.pdf</a>;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">There are a lot of blogs and petitions to help you voice your concern. One excellent petition that you can amend as desired is available through Ontario Nature, at <a href="https://ontarionature.good.do/schedule10/sign/" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(3, 49, 96);" class="">https://ontarionature.good.do/schedule10/sign/</span></a>; <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">Another resource is </span><a href="http://stopbill66.ca/" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">http://stopbill66.ca</a>. <span style="color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">That is currently hosted on the Environmental Defence website and contains just a petition, but it will become an independent website this week and numerous tools and resources will be added; and, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class="">Please excuse the duplication of the e-mail below from the OGA if you’ve already received it. The OGA (see <a href="http://www.greenbeltalliance.ca/" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(3, 49, 96);" class="">http://www.greenbeltalliance.ca</span></a>) will be holding a meeting <u class="">for members</u> on Saturday January 12 in Ajax, and I’ve added in a few red bits below for clarity. <b class="">If you aren’t currently affiliated with a larger organization, this might be a good time to consider joining the OGA.</b><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 56, 100);" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""> The Ontario Greenbelt Alliance<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Sent:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""> December 29, 2018 7:27 PM<br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b> Re: Let's get together to stop Bill 66, January 12th.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">As you prepare to usher in the New Year please take a moment to register for the January 12th Bill 66 organizing meeting in Ajax.<span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);" class=""> ..... </span>Ontario Greenbelt Alliance groups will be joined by local community groups, grassroots groups, conservation groups, water conservation groups and others to share tactics, network, and pick up lawn signs. The day<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">-</span>long meeting <span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);" class="">(9:30 – 3:00 pm</span><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">) </span>will begin with an overview of Bill 66 including legal analysis, a question and answer session, and overview of key messages. At 3 p.m. we are planning a field trip to Minister Rod Phillips Constituency Office a few blocks away in Ajax to ask him to Stop Bill 66. The event is at La Roya Banquet Hall in Ajax just a short walk from the Ajax Go station, at <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(84, 84, 84);" class="">185 Westney Road South, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 2C9</span>. <o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class="">To register for the meeting click <a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/35964/petition/1" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">here</a> -</b> <a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/35964/petition/1" class="">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/35964/petition/1</a></div></div><div><br class=""></div><div><br class=""></div><div>----------------------------------</div><br class="">Kevin Thomason</div><div>Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network<br class=""><br class="">Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">Twitter: @kthomason<br class="">E-mail: <a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">kevinthomason@mac.com</a><br class=""><br class="">-----------------------------------------</div></div></body></html>