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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for explaining that John – I was getting confused by the 2 names. This then is not <i>so</i> bad, but is still not good at all. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lori S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> John Jackson <jjackson@web.ca> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 26, 2019 10:43 AM<br><b>To:</b> strothjkl@sympatico.ca<br><b>Cc:</b> GREN <all@gren.ca><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [All] Bleams Road widening + Ford's slashing of the OMB<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Lori<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>I've had a few requests to put this on the GREN agenda and will do so.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Just one clarification: it isn't the replacement for the OMB that Ford is ending. The Liberal government had changed the OMB to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). The liberals had also set up a new agency - the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre (LPASC). It is this latter agency that they are closing down. Closing the LPASC is a major setback for citizen action in Ontario because this organization was providing expert advise and support to those who wanted to participate in planning matters. It's closure will make it harder for citizens to participate in matters that go through the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. See below notice on LPASC website. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><h3>LPASC Mandate<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>LPASC was established under the <em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Local Planning Appeal Support Centre Act, 2017</span></em>, with the mandate to:<o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>establish and administer a cost-effective and efficient system for providing support services to eligible individuals with respect to matters governed by the <em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Planning Act</span></em> that are under the jurisdiction of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>establish policies and priorities for support services based on its financial resources, and<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>provide services that include: <o:p></o:p></li></ul><ul type=disc><ul type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>information on land use planning<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>guidance on Tribunal procedures<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>advice or representation<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>other services prescribed by regulations<o:p></o:p></li></ul></ul><div><p class=MsoNormal> <b>Important Notice to Clients and Stakeholders</b><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The Government of Ontario has made a decision to close the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre (LPASC). LPASC has until June 30, 2019 to wind down the business.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Effective immediately, LPASC will no longer be accepting new requests for professional services from the public. During this wind down period, LPASC is committed to continuing to serve, to the best of its ability, those clients who have retained its services. LPASC staff will be in contact with those clients with further details shortly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>If you have any questions, please send an email to <a href="mailto:info@lpasc.ca">info@lpasc.ca</a> or call 1-800-993-8410.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><br>------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>John Jackson<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>17 Major Street<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Kitchener N2H 4R1<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>519-744-7503<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Feb 26, 2019, at 10:01 AM, <a href="mailto:strothjkl@sympatico.ca">strothjkl@sympatico.ca</a> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks Susan. Please add to the agenda whether GREN should do anything about protesting the Ford gov.’t abrupt ending of the Ontario Municipal Board, now called The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, LPAT, an important democratic tool for everyone other than government to fight development applications. I sent an email about this to GREN back on Sat. Feb. 23<sup>rd</sup><span class=apple-converted-space> </span>but haven’t heard much talk about this. I don’t understand why this isn’t in the news and being talked about more...<b><span style='color:red'>this is huge, isn’t it?</span></b><span class=apple-converted-space> </span>As usual it was pushed through at the end of a Friday on a long weekend so they were hoping it wouldn’t be noticed..and it almost looks like they succeeded. Does anyone have any opinions on this..I know it gets tiresome..all the work fighting Bill 66, and now this..it’s hard to mount the energy to fight issue after issue. But I think this is really important to speak out against.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The story of Ford cutting the OMB:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/02/22/news/doug-ford-shuts-service-helps-ontario-citizens-fight-wealthy-developers"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/02/22/news/doug-ford-shuts-service-helps-ontario-citizens-fight-wealthy-developers</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The Ontario Municipal Board was established in 1906, and some sources say even earlier, as<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><b><span style='color:red'>an</span><span class=apple-converted-space> </span><span style='color:red'>important public tribunal for planning and development disputes</span></b>.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><b>It has been around for a long time -over 112 years+!! <span class=apple-converted-space> </span></b>and plays an important role and should not be allowed to just be slashed by Doug Ford. History of the OMB: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Municipal_Board"><span style='color:purple'>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Municipal_Board</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It’s where you can go if someone wants to build a 20 storey apartment building beside your house, or a farmer gets notice that someone is going to infringe on his/her land with an adjacent development, perhaps involving pollution and noise. <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>How and why it was recently overhauled to be more fair by the Wynn’s Liberals at the public’s request:<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/omb-planning-appeal-tribunal-development-1.4595608"><span style='color:purple'>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/omb-planning-appeal-tribunal-development-1.4595608</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>The LPAT’s homepage now:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="http://elto.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/about-lpat/"><span style='color:purple'>http://elto.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/about-lpat/</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>As far as I know Ontario cities and Regions also would go to the OMB in the past to get a decisions on many development issues, so this will be closed to them also. I remember over the years, working on many environmental issues with all 3 cities, the Region, and townships, that they would often be involved with the OMB. Obviously this is a way for Ford to block and reduce opposition to development proposals such as the proposed glass plant that wanted to use over a million litres of water per day between Guelph and Cambridge.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/residents-try-to-block-proposed-glass-plant-near-guelph-1.4731971"><span style='color:purple'>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/residents-try-to-block-proposed-glass-plant-near-guelph-1.4731971</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Under Ford, there would be less options to fight such environmentally-damaging things.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>I want to contact CBC-KW radio to talk about this issue. Does anyone feel knowledgeable and angry about this to speak to it, if they ask me if I know anyone they could talk to about why this is abhorrent?<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Thanks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Lori Strothard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Waterloo<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>On Feb 26, 2019, at 9:12 AM, Susan Koswan <<a href="mailto:susankoswan@execulink.com"><span style='color:purple'>susankoswan@execulink.com</span></a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi GRENers,<br><br>Thought I'd share this as concerns have been raised from Steckle Farm - the widening of Bleams from 2 to 4 lanes could impact their centuries old artesian well that feeds their animals and crops, and it could mean removing some of the heritage stone wall in front of the property. I'm not able to attend the public meeting on Wed, Feb 27 from 5 - 8 pm, so hoping someone from GREN can.<br><br><a href="https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=413f8417-748b-42fa-85f4-67958bd71fac&fbclid=IwAR25bg1wDiHqyfFNqThcaiCVd37tCiN2y0Y2aZQUELmLdeOm6cQwkHC0NP8"><span style='color:purple'>https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=413f8417-748b-42fa-85f4-67958bd71fac&fbclid=IwAR25bg1wDiHqyfFNqThcaiCVd37tCiN2y0Y2aZQUELmLdeOm6cQwkHC0NP8</span></a><br><br>Best,<br><br>Susan K<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>All mailing list<br><a href="mailto:All@gren.ca"><span style='color:purple'>All@gren.ca</span></a><br><a href="http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca"><span style='color:purple'>http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>_______________________________________________<br>All mailing list<br></span><a href="mailto:All@gren.ca"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:purple'>All@gren.ca</span></a><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><br></span><a href="http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:purple'>http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>